Kentucky preparing for first punch from Georgia in Athens

In the first head-to-head battle between Kentucky and Georgia in Lexington back on January 17, the Bulldogs threw the first punch. Leading by as many as 11 and going into the break up eight, the opposition allowed the home favorite to shoot just 33.3% from the field and 28.6% from three.

And then Oscar Tshiebwe happened, with Kentucky’s star big man exploding for 23 and 15 in the second half to finish with a career-high 37 points and 24 rebounds, single-handedly willing the Wildcats to an 85-71 victory.

Georgia threw the first punch inside Rupp Arena, but Kentucky found a way to respond to close out the 14-point win. And with the Bulldogs not only desperate for a rematch opportunity, but a win in general — they’ve lost six of their last seven — they’ll be looking to throw that first punch once again.

This time, the Wildcats will be ready for it.

“Them trying to throw the first punch, trying to get back at us after going against them last time,” senior guard Antonio Reeves said of what he expects from the Bulldogs in Athens. “I know they’re going to be very competitive, very physical with us in this game coming up. We just have to be ready for it. The team has to be together and really connected down there.”

Tshiebwe was the star of the show offensively, but Kentucky also locked in defensively after the break, allowing just 29 points in the final 20 minutes. And that’s where the Wildcats have struggled most as of late, dropping to No. 88 overall in defensive efficiency, allowing 48.5% shooting from the field (No. 115) and 33.3% from three (No. 140).

The most recent example? An abysmal effort in the second half vs. Arkansas on Tuesday, a stretch where the Wildcats allowed the Razorbacks to shoot 72.0% from the field and score 47 points. On one end, Kentucky wants to forget those final 20 minutes ever happened, moving on and going back to what worked during the team’s six-game winning streak in the SEC.

On the other, there’s plenty to learn from on film. Finding that happy medium is what the Wildcats are hoping for leading up to the road trip to Athens.

“We’re trying to throw it away, obviously, but we watched film and we’re trying to get better defensively,” senior forward Jacob Toppin said. “I think in the first half, we did really good on both ends of the floor. In the second, we had two turnovers back-to-back, which led to more bad things. Defensively, we just weren’t good. We just have to be better defensively, specifically in our ball screen coverage.”

It starts vs. the Bulldogs, an opportunity for a feel-good performance against a team that struggles offensively as is. Ranked No. 129 in the NET, they average just 69.9 points on 41.8% shooting and 32.6% from three. If there was ever a time to take advantage, it’s now.

But it won’t come easy. A fight is coming, especially Georgia left Lexington with a bad taste in its mouth.

“They’re a good team, they came in here and fought us to the end. It’s going to be a physical game,” Toppin added. “They have good guard play, so we’re going to have to limit their guards and just be effective like we were in beating them the last time they came here. …

“We have to stay connected on the defensive end. That’s when we’ll start winning games.”