CBS To Televise UK-North Carolina, WKU-Louisville Games Saturday

The CBS television network is carrying two attractive basketball games on Saturday, featuring three state schools from Kentucky.

In Las Vegas, No. 21 UK (7-2) will play North Carolina on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET in the CBS Sports Classic in place of the originally scheduled matchup vs. Ohio State. The game vs. the Buckeyes was canceled Thursday afternoon due to positive COVID-19 results within the OSU program.

Western Kentucky's game against Louisville in Bowling Green is being moved to CBS, with the game time also being adjusted by the network to 3 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network and available to stream on Paramount+. The game was originally scheduled to air on CBS Sports Network.

Last year's tipoff between UK and UNC. (UK Athletics Photo by Chet White)

UK-UNC’s matchup will mark the fourth between the two schools in the CBS Sports Classic. UK is 2-1 vs. the Tar Heels in the event after falling to North Carolina in the same event last season. That game was also a rescheduled matchup last season to closely align COVID-19 testing protocols between the competing programs and their respective conferences.

UNC won last season’s matchup 75-63 in Cleveland, but the Wildcats have won five of the last eight matchups overall in the series.

North Carolina is off to an 8-2 start this season and has won five straight games. The Tar Heels have five players averaging double figures, led by sophomore guard Caleb Love at 16.2 points per game. Junior forward Armando Bacot is adding 14.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

The Tar Heels are receiving votes in both major polls.

North Carolina leads the four schools in the CBS Sports Classic with a 5-2 record. Ohio State is 4-3, UK is 3-4 and UCLA is 2-5 in the event.

All-time, UK trails the series vs. North Carolina 25-16. UNC holds a 12-6 edge when the game is played at a neutral site.

In Bowling Green, the gates at E.A. Diddle Arena will open early at 1 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and support Western Kentucky's football team in the Boca Raton Bowl against Appalachian State, which begins at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN. The bowl game will be shown on the Diddle Arena videoboards before tip-off against Louisville.

Western Kentucky is 7-4 this season while U of L is 7-3.

"We'll have to be at our best Saturday to have a chance at winning this game," WKU head coach Rick Stansbury said. "I know this, we need this arena packed. I know there's a lot going on around town, but if you can get away for a couple of hours, maybe we can give you something different to think about and cheer for. Maybe put some excitement back in your life for a couple of hours. It's going to be a great atmosphere in here, and again, we've got to be at our best to have a chance to win this game."

WKU also will be supporting emergency relief for WKU students through the WKU Opportunity Fund at Saturday’s men’s basketball home game against Louisville. The fund provides needs-based awards for unexpected financial needs including housing and meal assistance, loss of income, technology needs to complete courses, and more.

Alumni and fans interested in contributing to emergency funding for WKU students affected by the December 11 tornado can do so by texting “WKURelief” to 83200 or visiting wku.edu/relief.