Kentucky vs. North Carolina: KSR Staff Predictions

For the 43rd time in history, Kentucky and North Carolina will go head-to-head on the hardwood.

Once again, the CBS Sports Classic sets the stage for this one. The No. 14 Wildcats and No. 9 Tar Heels are set to tipoff in Atlanta at 5:30 p.m. EST (CBS) this afternoon. Both teams are 7-2 on the season and could use another signature win before heading into conference play. Kentucky will go in as the slight underdog.

How does the KSR crew see this one playing out? We’ve got final score predictions below.

Tyler Thompson

It’s hard to know exactly what to expect from Kentucky now that Aaron Bradshaw is back in the lineup — and potentially Ugonna Onyenso too. The Cats looked okay vs. Penn last week, but still not the fun, run-and-gun team we got used to before the UNC Wilmington loss. Having Bradshaw and potentially Onyenso back will help Kentucky combat 6’11”, 240 lbs. Armando Bacot, who is averaging a double-double this season, but I’m more interested in the matchups in the backcourt.

Veteran shooting guard RJ Davis has been on fire this season, leading North Carolina in scoring in each of the last five games. Antonio Reeves is not known for his defense, so Kentucky will need to find ways to contain him and Harrison Ingram, especially on the perimeter. With Bacot in the middle and two seven-footers possibly available, slowing down posting up may seem like the safe approach, but with the Cats’ speed and playmaking ability in transition, I hope Kentucky decides to run.

Gimme Kentucky in a feel-good win in Catlanta.

Score: Kentucky 89, North Carolina 84

---

Zack Geoghegan

If you saw the latest episode of our basketball breakdown show Floppy Action (incredibly shameless plug), you already know my score prediction. I’m going with the Tar Heels in this one. Armando Bacot is a load inside to deal with and will make for a tough matchup against any of Kentucky’s frontcourt players. I can even see Kentucky having to use Tre Mitchell on defense against Bacot more than Aaron Bradshaw due to Bacot’s size and strength. Bradshaw struggled defending size in the win over Penn.

RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau create a dangerous backcourt duo. They can break down most guards with ease. UK’s guards haven’t been the best at on-ball defense. Harrison Ingram is going to be tough to handle for any of Kentucky’s defenders as a 6-7, 235-pound wing who can shoot the ball. I still give the ‘Cats the advantage in the backcourt and in transition, but can they do enough on defense to slow down Bacot? Kentucky will need to create more havoc than usual to muck things up and get running.

Both teams employ some of the nation’s most efficient offenses, and we should be in for another fun edition of this series, but I’m siding with the older team on a neutral court.

Score: North Carolina 79, Kentucky 76

---

Nick Roush

POINTS! POINTS! POINTS!

Even though Roy Williams is no longer throwing his patterned blazers across the North Carolina sideline, I can’t see the Wildcats and the Tar Heels on the court and not expect a track meet. Both teams prefer to run and are typically bogged down by less talented opponents who want to turn it into a half-court game. Tomorrow college basketball fans will receive a treat when both coaches take off the gloves and let the two sides run and gun it out.

If it unfolds the way I anticipate, Kentucky has the advantage. Aside from the blip against UNC-Wilmington, the Cats have shown that they’re one of the best passing teams in all of college basketball.

One more thing to consider: North Carolina has a leg up in experience. They are great college basketball players. Kentucky has a bunch of NBA players. Give me the team with the talent advantage in a high-scoring affair in Catlanta.

Score: Kentucky 96, North Carolina 88

---

Jack Pilgrim

Kentucky had a solid gameplan for Hunter Dickinson in its head-to-head battle with Kansas in the Champions Classic — and that was without Aaron Bradshaw. And Armando Bacot is not Hunter Dickinson. He’s your stereotypical plodding big who kinda-sorta pretends to pass and shoot, but is mostly a boat anchor down low. The Cats will not play to his pace, but rather make it a guard-driven track meet with the Tar Heels’ talented guards. And they’ve got a couple, but Kentucky’s got a handful, and that will be the difference in another high-octane back-and-forth in this series.

The Wildcats are in need of a statement victory. They came up short against the Jayhawks, then suffered a setback in an ugly home loss to UNC Wilmington. This is the chance to make up for that ahead of conference play and the start of the new year — with an exhibition game thrown in there vs. Louisville, of course. In a battle of offense vs. offense, it’s Kentucky’s young talent taking over on the big stage and pulling off the win in Atlanta.

Score: Kentucky 83, North Carolina 78