In October 2022, Kentucky basketball made a significant announcement by setting up a six-year series with the powerful Gonzaga. This series has been a topic of great interest as both teams strive for dominance. Entering its third year, the Wildcats are still in search of their first victory against Gonzaga. First-year UK coach Mark Pope and his team are determined to change that tonight as they face off against the Bulldogs in a top-10 showdown in Seattle.

Historical Encounters and Recent Setbacks

Two years ago, when Kentucky traveled to Spokane, Washington, they suffered an 88-72 loss. Last season, Gonzaga returned the favor by winning at Rupp Arena. This double defeat was a historic setback for UK as it marked the first time the program had lost three consecutive games at the venue since its opening in 1976. Now, as they try to reverse their recent bad luck against Gonzaga, the No. 6 UK team also needs to rebound from their first loss of the season, a 70-66 defeat at Clemson on Tuesday. Despite the setbacks, both the Wildcats (7-1) and Bulldogs (7-1) enter today's game with the same record through eight games.