St. John's vs. Kentucky: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Game Time and More

Every year it seems there is one game where the St. John's Red Storm pull off a huge upset, and they have a chance to do it very early this season against the Kentucky Wildcats, who are ranked No. 1 in both polls. 

St. John's has had a very strange start to the season. After a 3-0 start, Steve Lavin's squad has lost three of four, including a loss to Nebraska last Saturday. All of that can be forgotten with a victory over the best team in the country. 

The Wildcats have been the most dominant team in the country so far this season. They have won all six of their games by at least 10 points, including a victory over then-11th ranked Kansas on Nov. 15. John Calipari has done a marvelous job with this team since taking over, and could have his best team yet. 

Where: Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky

When: Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. EDT

Watch: ESPN2

Live Streaming: ESPN3.com

Listen: WBBR 1130-AM (St. John's); WKYM 101.7 FM (Kentucky)

Betting Line: Kentucky (-23)

What's At Stake?

St. John's has aspirations of getting back to the NCAA tournament after last season's run that saw them win a game in March for the first time since 2000. A loss to Nebraska does not look good on the resume, but they can fix that with a victory in this game. 

Kentucky has a chance to do something special this year. The team has been fantastic through six games and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones have been a great one-two combination for this team, combining for over 27 points and 11 rebounds per game.

What They Are Saying

Kentucky head coach John Calipari has done a masterful job with this program since taking over in 2009. He knows what his team is capable of and expects nothing less than their best every single time they step on the court. 

From the New York Times: 

"

“I’ve been tough on them,” Calipari said. “Not in a mean way, but just raising the bar to get them to forget that other stuff. Forget ranking. It’s a nice badge of honor, but that badge is a target for someone else. Let’s just worry about getting better.” 

"

St. John's Player To Watch: G Nurideen Lindsey

The super sophomore for the Red Storm has been their most consistent player. He has scored at least 12 points in six out of seven games and contributed at least five rebounds in his last five games. 

The Wildcats have a number of players that can score the ball. St. John's does not. So it is imperative that Lindsey takes control of this game early to keep the team in it and build the confidence of his teammates up. 

Kentucky Player To Watch: F Anthony Davis

There have been better players for the Wildcats so far, but Davis is the one that has the most potential and can be a dominant force as we get deeper into the season. 

As things stand, Davis is averaging 12.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Those are very good numbers for a freshman, but they can be even better. 

Considering that St. John's has virtually no presence in the paint, Davis should be able to have his best game of the young season. 

Key Matchup: St. John's Guards vs. Kentucky Defense

The reason that St. John's has struggled this season is because of inconsistencies on both offense and defense. 

This game will be the Red Storm's greatest test and they will have to score to keep up with the fast-paced style that the Wildcats play. They are 161st in the country in points per game, which is obviously not good enough unless you play lights out defense. 

St. John's has to break through the Kentucky defense in order to stay close and have a chance to win at the end. 

Prediction

Kentucky has shown no signs of slowing down this season, and St. John's looks vulnerable. 

Kentucky 80, St. John's 60