Kentucky vs. UCLA: KSR Predicts Final Score, MVP

Two of the most storied programs in all of college basketball will take center stage at Madison Square Garden for Saturday’s CBS Sports Classic. What will happen in the Top 25 matchup between Kentucky and UCLA? The experts at Kentucky Sports Radio weigh in…

Nick Roush

Before I tell you how the game will unfold, let me tell you about how much I love Jaime Jacquez. The UCLA forward is a throwback college basketball player who does all of the little things right. He’s not going to out-athlete anyone he plays. He has to use ball-fakes, fundamentals and flat-out hard work to be successful and the guy has throughout his career. This year is his best statistical season yet, averaging 17.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

To beat UCLA, you can’t let Jacquez eat. It’s gotta be Jacob Toppin time in his hometown. Toppin has been fine in a featured role this season (11.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg.), but it’s just been fine. He has not had a breakthrough moment where he has asserted himself against an opponent. This is his opportunity to steal the show on a big stage. He does not have to do everything, but he does have to play aggressively on defense, rebound and assert himself on offense. All too often he starts the game playing passively before flipping a switch when the Wildcats start to struggle.

Additionally, Kentucky is due to get hot from long range and play well in a big moment. I got a feeling it’s going to happen tonight. However, UCLA is going to foul late, send Kentucky to the free throw and the Cats will miss, making it closer than we’d like to see. Still, a win’s a win.

FINAL: Kentucky 75, UCLA 73

MVP: Antonio Threeves

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Tyler Thompson

There’s a weird vibe in the Big Blue Nation right now. Kentucky’s win over Michigan in London was a good step forward, but a lackluster performance vs. Yale from everyone not named Oscar Tshiebwe let the early-season malaise linger. A win over No. 16 UCLA in Madison Square Garden on national television would certainly help clear the air.

Unfortunately, it feels like the Bruins have all the momentum right now. Mick Cronin’s squad has won six straight, a streak that includes victories over Stanford, Oregon, and most recently, a 27-point blowout of Maryland on the Terrapins’ home court. All three of UCLA’s guards are averaging in double figures and forward Jaime Jaquez will be a first-round pick. Further, Jaquez is thriving at a spot that’s giving Kentucky fits right now. Limiting him will be the key to beating the Bruins. As Nick said, this is the perfect time for Jacob Toppin to have his breakout game. Not only will this be a homecoming for the Brooklyn native, he will be playing on his brother’s floor and has yet to turn in the complete, aggressive performance the team needs from him.

Containing Jaquez is key, but the Cats also need offense, which has been a struggle this season. You know Oscar will turn in a double-double. Saturday would be the ideal time for Kentucky’s guards to catch fire, CJ Fredrick especially. The Cats and the BBN need this win. This one makes me very nervous, but I’m going to go with my heart over my head in hopes it happens.

FINAL: Kentucky 67, UCLA 65

MVP: Oscar Tshiebwe

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Adam Luckett

We are entering the third weekend in December and Kentucky basketball is still looking for a signature win. The Cats have a great shot to get it on Saturday evening at Madison Square Garden.

Under Mick Cronin, UCLA has been very good to this point but this was a team that dropped consecutive games on a neutral floor to both Illinois and Baylor in November. The Bruins have also had a tricky lead-up to this year’s CBS Sports Classic.

UCLA defeated Oregon at home on Sunday and then traveled across the country to beat Maryland in impressive fashion late on Wednesday night. From College Park, the Bruins will head to the Big Apple to play their third game in seven days on Saturday. Meanwhile, Kentucky has had a full week off to get ready for this contest.

That will show up at MSG.

The Wildcats have an advantage inside with Oscar Tshiebwe and the All-American will have another monster game to lead John Calipari’s team to a much-needed victory.

FINAL: Kentucky 77, UCLA 66

MVP: Oscar Tshiebwe

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Drew Franklin

I’m a block from Madison Square Garden as I write this, and I must say, my optimism isn’t as high as it should be going into the CBS Sports Classic. Kentucky’s offense has been lacking, the team’s energy too, but Kentucky still has an Oscar Tshiebwe and I’m not picking against Oscar Tshiebwe.

Maybe it’s the holiday spirit up here in the big city, but I’m going to Believe (like the big sign says) that this team is better than what we’ve seen to date, and that the Garden will welcome a breakout performance by the Wildcats. Give me Oscar doing Oscar things and Cason Wallace going off en route to a Kentucky win over a very good UCLA team.

If not, any hope of the Louisville regional site in March seems very unlikely. Gotta win this one for the resume and to keep fans engaged. Go Cats.

FINAL: Kentucky 76, UCLA 69

MVP: Cason Wallace

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Jack Pilgrim

UCLA has been horrendous this season guarding post-ups, creating a major opportunity for success down low with Oscar Tshiebwe. He’ll be guarded by familiar face Adem Bona, who has been productive as a freshman, but has been exposed a bit as an interior defender. He also struggles with foul trouble, something Kentucky should look to take advantage of early. Expect to see John Calipari play through the post and force the issue in that regard, a winning recipe for the Wildcats.

As for the Bruins, they play a safe brand of basketball offensively keeping turnovers low and working inside the arc while also scoring in transition off forced turnovers. Can Sahvir Wheeler and Cason Wallace muck things up on the perimeter and flip the script on UCLA’s gameplan a bit? That also means taking care of the ball on the other end of the floor, crucial for Kentucky’s chances in this one.

Jacob Toppin will be tasked with guarding the Bruins’ leading scorer in Jaime Jaquez Jr., a matchup I actually like for the Wildcat forward. The 6-foot-9 senior has struggled against size and physicality early in the season, but his length and athleticism could present a real issue for Jaquez — assuming he asserts himself and stays locked in, which hasn’t always been the case for him this season. John Calipari and Chin Coleman both made it clear they were looking for more out of Toppin this week, and the UCLA matchup is a good start.

Tshiebwe is going to eat, but Toppin needs to step up on both ends of the floor for the Wildcats to make a statement in the Big Apple. We’re approaching now-or-never territory there, so why not now?

FINAL: Kentucky 81, UCLA 71

MVP: Jacob Toppin

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Zack Geoghegan

I might as well go against the grain from my coworkers here. I’ll first reiterate some of the talking points discussed above, like Jacob Toppin’s need to play an all-around game, particularly on the defensive end against Jaime Jaquez. Jaquez is the engine to UCLA’s patient offense — throwing him off balance early and often is going to be a major key for Toppin. Additionally, Oscar Tshiebwe should have a significant advantage against Adem Bona (or whoever steps in after him) down low. Force-feeding the reigning national player of the year might not be a bad idea for the ‘Cats.

As Adam Luckett pointed out, UCLA is about to play its third game in seven days while Kentucky hasn’t played since Sunday. Even though the Bruins are coming off an eyebrow-raising 27-point road win over a ranked Maryland squad, the Terrapins were already slipping coming into that matchup. UCLA has some quality wins this season, but hasn’t been able to beat the really good teams, losing to Baylor and Illinois in back-to-back contests during mid-November.

The key to a Kentucky win will come down to CJ Fredrick and Antonio Reeves making shots. Can those two combine to make seven or eight triples against a high-quality opponent? So far this season, that hasn’t been the case.

I have a feeling this game could come down to the final possession. Both sides stack up quite similarly. Kentucky will have the rest advantage but UCLA is riding more momentum. In the end, I’m going with the Bruins in a one-possession game.

FINAL: UCLA 79, Kentucky 78

MVP: Jaime Jaquez