March Madness thrives on chaos — buzzer-beaters, upsets, and Cinderella stories. But for Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats, the chaos started long before the opening tip. The Southeastern Conference men’s basketball tournament was already shaping up to be one of the most competitive in history. The addition of Oklahoma and Texas pushed the total number of teams to 16, creating a loaded field where even the best programs would face relentless competition. Kentucky has shown flashes of brilliance this season, beating some of the nation’s top teams. But what’s plaguing Wildcat fans heading into the tournament isn’t the strength of the field — it’s the timing of the matches. And now, an unexpected scheduling debacle threatens to throw off Kentucky’s rhythm before the ball even touches the hardwood.
According to Matt Jones, host of Kentucky Sports Radio and NFL Preview on ESPN Radio, “Missouri-Mississippi State will begin at 7:48 pm Eastern. That means UK-Oklahoma will start at 10:18 pm (at the earliest) Lateeeeeeee Night.”
Missouri-Mississippi State will begin at 7:48 pm Eastern
That means UK-Oklahoma will start at 10:18 pm (at the earliest)
Lateeeeeeee Night
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 13, 2025
A 9:30 p.m. tip-off was already tough, but now Kentucky’s tournament opener creeping toward 10:30 p.m. feels more like overtime before the game even starts. It’s no longer just about strategy — it’s about survival. Players face the brutal task of adjusting their game prep and recovery on the fly, knowing they’ll have less than 24 hours to bounce back if they win. For fans, it means burning the midnight oil, hoping their Wildcats can outlast both the Sooners and the clock.
This has frustration mounting across the Kentucky fanbase. One fan vented, “Bball has had a scheduling problem all year. Need a researcher to determine how many games lasted the 2 hours TV allots.”
More to follow…..
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