Kentucky prepares for 'hungry' and 'perimeter-oriented' LSU squad on Senior Day

The home game against South Carolina on February 8 was considered a ‘must-win’ at the time — Quad 3 competition after losing four of five. There was a similar mindset going into the rematch against Vanderbilt back on Feb. 19, hoping to avoid the season sweep with the Commodores in what was deemed the second-easiest matchup left on the schedule as a Quad 2 at home. Oklahoma in Norman last week? It was a Quad 1, but the Sooners were the worst team since the Gamecocks in terms of NET ranking — find a way to win that one, too.

That’s the nature of the beast when those games are layered between the league heavyweights on the schedule. Try to steal the high-profile wins when you can, but take advantage of the favorable matchups as they come.

Kentucky‘s Senior Day battle vs. LSU is the next example of that.

Considered a Quad 3 matchup, the Tigers enter the day ranked No. 84 in the NET — right behind South Carolina at No. 88. You’ll have to go back to New Year’s Eve to find a worse opponent on the schedule, Brown sitting at No. 212 as a Quad 4. As things stand currently, LSU is the tenth-worst team Kentucky will play all year with just one Quad 1 win and a 14-15 record overall, sitting at No. 15 in the SEC.

Look beneath the surface, though, and you’ll find the Tigers have zero bad losses (Quad 3 or 4) and have covered in three of their last five games. They’ve laid some eggs, but they’ve been competitive, too.

Mark Pope expects the latter on Tuesday.

“They’re playing a little smaller, a little bit more athletic — really, really perimeter-oriented. Some really, really talented veteran guys and young guys, and they’ve been in every game,” he said during his call-in radio show Monday night. “They just haven’t had quite the finishing results that they want, but they’re a good team and it’s going to be a great game (Tuesday) night.”

Remember Daimion Collins? The former Wildcat is a starter and the fourth-leading scorer among active Tigers, averaging 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per contest in Baton Rouge.

“He’s been really good, he’s a 1.3 points per possession on the roll, and he’s got a lot of roll possessions,” Pope continued. “He’s doing an unbelievable job as a cutter, as an offensive rebounder, and clearly, he’s an elite-level rim protector.”

The messaging has been clear and consistent for the Wildcats, holding off on any record-based assumptions as they prepare for the Tigers’ best shot. They won’t be making the NCAA Tournament, but with an opportunity to claim their best win of the season on the line, Kentucky is ready for the challenge.

“They’re a great team. In the SEC, we can’t really play the records, you know?” Ansley Almonor said. “Just knowing that they’re going to come in there hungry for a win, that’s something we’ve got to take care of.”

“They’re a pretty good team,” Amari Williams added. “The record doesn’t show how good they are as a team. They’re very talented, they play a good brand of basketball. They’re young. It’s gonna definitely be a challenge.”

All eyes are on Kentucky’s upcoming postseason run and the excitement surrounding March Madness, but the Wildcats know they have business to take care of before they can focus on that.

That starts with a Senior Day win over LSU.

“We’ve still got two big, important games this week — especially one important game (Tuesday). Go out there and take care of (Tuesday), then take care of Saturday,” Almonor said. “Then we can focus on the tournaments. We’re really trying to take it day by day and just get better day by day.”