What we'll see

Sunday, Thursday

The University of Kentucky women's basketball team might need to win every game now to have a shot at defending its Southeastern Conference regular-season championship. The Wildcats are a game behind first-place Tennessee with their lone matchup looming in the season finale in Memorial Coliseum. But first things first. Kentucky faces a pair of dangerous opponents this week at Vanderbilt on Sunday (4 p.m., ESPN2) and home against South Carolina on Thursday (7 p.m., WLAP-AM 630).

Tuesday

The UK men's basketball team faces its toughest assignment since its game at Louisville in December when the Cats visit second-ranked Florida in what has suddenly become a late-season battle for first place in a conference race most assumed the Gators had locked up. Two of John Calipari's three previous Kentucky teams escaped Gainesville with victories. If these Cats get one, we'll know they've arrived. (7 p.m., ESPN)

Thursday

On the eve of the All-Star break comes a rematch of last season's NBA Finals, when Miami visits Oklahoma City (8 p.m., TNT). The Heat won the teams' only other regular-season meeting, 103-97, on Christmas Day in Miami.

Friday

The UK baseball team opens its season against UNC Asheville at Spartanburg, S.C. If the Wildcats come close to matching the pre-season accolades they're receiving, a first-ever trip to the College World Series is not out of the discussion this season. We'll learn plenty more when Kentucky opens play in the brutal Southeastern Conference next month. (Noon)

Friday, Saturday

The NBA's All-Star Weekend tips off with Kentucky connections all over Houston. Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Brandon Knight and Kenneth Faried will take part in Friday's Rising Stars Challenge (9 p.m., TNT). On Saturday, watch for Knight in the Skills Challenge and Faried, Eric Bledsoe and Jeremy Evans in the Slam Dunk Contest (8:30 p.m., TNT).

Mathew Graf