Kentucky At South Carolina Basketball Game Preview (Jan. 16, 2018): Game Time Start, TV Channel Info

The No. 18 Kentucky Wildcats will visit the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday night, and here is everything you need to know before the game.

Kentucky vs. South Carolina basketball preview

The Gamecocks have lost three of their top four scorers, two of them to the NBA: Sindarius Thornwell and PJ Dozier. They also dropped a non-conference game to Illinois State and opened SEC play 1-3.

However, South Carolina (11-6, tenth in SEC) are now coming off a surprise 64-57 upset of Georgia. The Gamecocks average 18.8 fouls per game — more than 214 other Division I teams — and 12.5 offensive rebounds per game (fourth-most in the SEC).

Meanwhile, Kentucky (14-3, third in SEC) have won four of their five conference contests.

John Calipari will have to be extra careful. The Wildcats’ head coach has been ejected at South Carolina twice in the past four seasons — and during the 2015-2016 season, that happened less than three minutes into the game.

“I said, ‘Cal, don’t put me out there with these puppies,’ ” said UK assistant coach Kenny Payne. 

Payne also provided a detailed update on five-star freshman Jarred Vanderbilt, who is vying to return from his third left foot injury in two years. Vanderbilt is cleared to play.

“It’s wrong for adults to force a kid to do anything when they don’t feel like they are ready yet,” said Payne, who also praised Vanderbilt’s skills. “His speed is unbelievable … he can really move … an exceptional ball handler … literally like a point forward.”

Kentucky vs. South Carolina:

• Time: 9 p.m. ET
• Date: Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018
• Location: Colonial Life Arena (18,000), Columbia, S.C.
• Records: Kentucky 14-3, 4-1 SEC, South Carolina 11-6, 2-3
• Favorite: Kentucky by 2.5 (according to seccountry.com)
• TV Channel: ESPN
• Streaming: on ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN app.

Kentucky has been playing the last two games without its starting point guard, Quade Green, who tweaked his back. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been great for the Wildcats.

MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 26: Malik Monk #5 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots against Justin Jackson #44 of the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 26, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)