Preview

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Interstat) — A pair of college basketball bluebloods on different trajectories will meet Tuesday when North Carolina faces Kentucky at Rupp Arena. The Tar Heels (6-1) are looking to rebound from their first loss of the season, a 74-58 defeat to Michigan State on Thursday that snapped a six-game winning streak. North Carolina, which opened its season with an impressive 87-74 victory over Kansas, was led in the loss by Caleb Wilson’s 18 points. Kentucky (5-2) enters on a high note after a dominant 104-54 win over Tennessee Tech last Wednesday. Denzel Aberdeen and Otega Oweh each scored 16 points in the rout. The Wildcats have shown a Jekyll-and-Hyde tendency, sandwiching blowout wins over lesser opponents around a 17-point home loss to Michigan State and an eight-point road loss to rival Louisville. This high-profile non-conference showdown will test both teams. For the Tar Heels, it’s a chance to prove their early success was no fluke and that the Michigan State loss was an aberration. For the Wildcats, it’s an opportunity to secure a signature win and build momentum before a neutral-site game against Gonzaga on Friday. The game tips off at 9 p.m. EST and will be televised on ESPN.