Saturday night is going to take FOR-EV-ER to get here. I'm so ready for this game and only wish that I could make it to the Hump on Saturday night.
These are two really evenly matched teams. Both teams take care of the ball very well and score a lot of points although they do it a little differently. Kentucky plays at one of the fastest paces in the country and has one of the most efficient offenses out there. They are also better than we are off the free throw line and they get there more often. In a close game, a few free throws can be the difference. Kentucky will also take lot of threes (not exorbitant, but still a lot) and they shoot it well from distance. We shoot it well enough but we supplement our offense with extra possessions by being strong on the offensive glass and by creating more turnovers than we commit. The numbers suggest that these are two key areas for us to be successful.
(For comparison, we have also had five different leading scorers, but in half of our games it has been Hubbard.)
Kentucky is 3-3 in Quad 1 games. The losses are all away from Rupp, two on the road (Clemson and Georgia) and a neutral loss to Ohio State. No one in the country can match their top three wins though - Duke, Florida and Gonzaga are 2, 5 and 10 in the NET. That is stroooooong. We knew Vandy hadn't really played anyone of note before Tuesday. That's not the case with Kentucky. They have been challenged multiple times and won't be likely to wilt in the face of a tough opponent.
I mean it's Kentucky. They will come in expecting to win and it will take a great effort on our part to secure the W. Will we do it? Sure, why not. A home game at night where the Hump is sure to be on fire, an opportunity to jump into the top 10, and a team who seems to be playing with a lot of confidence and unity right now. I'll guess a lot of points and a close win, 83-81 Dogs. Let's goooooooo!!!!!
These are two really evenly matched teams. Both teams take care of the ball very well and score a lot of points although they do it a little differently. Kentucky plays at one of the fastest paces in the country and has one of the most efficient offenses out there. They are also better than we are off the free throw line and they get there more often. In a close game, a few free throws can be the difference. Kentucky will also take lot of threes (not exorbitant, but still a lot) and they shoot it well from distance. We shoot it well enough but we supplement our offense with extra possessions by being strong on the offensive glass and by creating more turnovers than we commit. The numbers suggest that these are two key areas for us to be successful.
- We are a top 50 team in offensive rebounding. Kentucky is top 10 in defensive rebounding. Defensive rebounding is obviously a focus for Mark Pope because they are a very average offensive rebounding team while at the same time cleaning up their defensive boards. I think it will be important for us to really pound the offensive glass Saturday night
- Both teams are top 15 nationally in fewest turnovers per game (under 10). We have shown to be much better at creating turnovers which leads to us being a top 15 team in turnover margin. Kentucky is in the bottom third of the SEC and the country in creating turnovers and thus are outside the top 100 in turnover margin. Would be helpful for Saturday night to be +3, +4, +5.....the more the better.
(For comparison, we have also had five different leading scorers, but in half of our games it has been Hubbard.)
Kentucky is 3-3 in Quad 1 games. The losses are all away from Rupp, two on the road (Clemson and Georgia) and a neutral loss to Ohio State. No one in the country can match their top three wins though - Duke, Florida and Gonzaga are 2, 5 and 10 in the NET. That is stroooooong. We knew Vandy hadn't really played anyone of note before Tuesday. That's not the case with Kentucky. They have been challenged multiple times and won't be likely to wilt in the face of a tough opponent.
I mean it's Kentucky. They will come in expecting to win and it will take a great effort on our part to secure the W. Will we do it? Sure, why not. A home game at night where the Hump is sure to be on fire, an opportunity to jump into the top 10, and a team who seems to be playing with a lot of confidence and unity right now. I'll guess a lot of points and a close win, 83-81 Dogs. Let's goooooooo!!!!!
