Entering Year 3 of the series, the Wildcats still are looking for Win No. 1.

First-year UK coach Mark Pope and his team will try to notch that victory tonight, as a top-10 tussle with the Bulldogs awaits in Seattle.

When Kentucky traveled to Spokane, Washington, two years ago, it left with an 88-72 loss. And when the Bulldogs returned the favor last season by visiting Rupp Arena, the visitors took a victory back home with them. It doubled as a historic setback for UK: It was the third defeat at Rupp Arena in as many outings, marking the first time the program had dropped three straight games at the venue since it opened in 1976.

As it tries to reverse its recent bad luck against Gonzaga, No. 6 UK also will try to rebound from its first loss of the season (and first setback under Pope) after a 70-66 defeat at Clemson on Tuesday. The Wildcats (7-1) and Bulldogs (7-1) boast the same record through eight games.

Prior to the past two seasons, the programs had met just once: Kentucky notched an 80-72 victory in the third-place game at the Maui Invitational on Nov. 27, 2002, in Lahaina, Hawaii.