KSR Staff Predictions: No. 17 Kentucky at Oklahoma

There are only four games left in the regular season. This road trip to Oklahoma might be the last big swing game for the Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament resume. Aside from a home game against LSU, one that the Cats should be able to handle, this is the last game that could penalize them in the seeding process. A win paves a much smoother path to March, but Oklahoma desperately needs one to prove it’s on the right side of the bubble.

Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson could return to the hardwood for the first time in two weeks, listed as probable on the SEC Availability Report. Will that be enough to put Kentucky over the top in the Cats’ first-ever game at Oklahoma? The KSR crew weighs in.

---

Nick Roush

I hate to say that this game completely hinges on a point guard who hasn’t played in two weeks, but that just might be the case. Oklahoma is built similarly to Texas. If their freshman phenom gets hot, they can beat anyone. If Jeremiah Fears isn’t on his A-game, Kentucky could coast.

Even though lateral quickness isn’t a strength of Travis Perry, he’s progressed with additional playing time. You cannot overlook the four steals he had against Alabama. The Sooners are a turnover-prone team. The combination of Lamont Butler and an improved Perry will be enough for the Cats to win ugly because of the advantage in the paint. Andrew Carr is back to his old self and Amari Williams is on a heater. Those two will steady the ship in Otega Oweh’s homecoming and give Kentucky a narrow win in Norman.

Score: Kentucky 86, Oklahoma 80

---

Tyler Thompson

Eleven days ago, Kentucky went to Texas needing to take care of business against an NCAA Tournament bubble team and lost; they’ll face a similar scenario tonight in Norman. I think having Lamont Butler and/or Jaxson Robinson back, even in a limited capacity, will help the Cats avoid the same result.

That doesn’t mean it will be pretty. Oklahoma has been very inconsistent this season, winning just four SEC games thus far, the most recent coming over a ranked Mississippi State team in Norman. In that game, the Sooners put up 93 points, including 11 three-pointers. That’s a far cry from their offense during the preceding five-game losing streak, in which Oklahoma averaged 64.4 points and 5.6 made threes per game. Rebounding is a weakness, especially on the offensive glass. The Sooners rank dead last in the SEC in rebounds per game (28.2) in conference play. That should be music to Amari Williams and Andrew Carr’s ears.

All of that said, I’m sure the Sooners will be the best version of themselves tonight, particularly freshman Jeremiah Fears, who will likely want to show out against Kentucky, which did not extend an offer to him last summer. Having Butler back to help contain him will be big. I’m sure Otega Oweh will also be eager to bounce back in his Oklahoma homecoming, as will Jaxson Robinson, who hails from nearby Ada.

Cats bring home a big dub.

Score: Kentucky 84, Oklahoma 79

---

Zack Geoghegan

After a red-hot 13-0 start to the season, Oklahoma has quickly come back down to earth. The Sooners are just 4-10 in SEC play and sit on the NCAA Tournament bubble. They’re 12th in offense and 13th in defense among SEC schools in conference play. Head coach Porter Moser is on the hot seat in year four. Tonight’s game is turning into borderline “must-win” territory for OU.

Oklahoma is a team that will try to make a living at the free throw line. The Sooners went 24-34 from the stripe in the win over a ranked Mississippi State squad. They average over 22 free throws per SEC game. Jalon Moore and Jeremiah Fears know how to attack the rim and earn freebies. But Oklahoma also fouls a ton on the other end. The officials might have no choice but to make this a long night.

If one or both of Lamont Butler/Jaxson Robinson return, Kentucky should cruise. As mentioned above, Amari Williams is playing like an All-SEC center, Andrew Carr looks better every game, and the freshmen have all turned a corner. Mix in the actual guards on this roster and good things should happen for the ‘Cats.

Score: Kentucky 83, Oklahoma 74

---

Jacob Polacheck

Oklahoma is a team prone to being outmatched physically. That doesn’t bode well for a team lacking in size, set to face off against Amari Williams.

Oklahoma has two standouts in Jalon Moore and Jeremiah Fears who should be able to keep Oklahoma in the game with their scoring prowess. Fears has done a good job lately of creating for his teammates and getting to the free-throw line.

With both Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler probable to return, Kentucky should have too much firepower for the Sooners. One key for Kentucky will be defending the three-point line. If they can keep OU cold from deep, they should set themselves up in a good spot.

Score: Kentucky 81, Oklahoma 71

---

Drew Franklin

There is excitement around the potential returns of Butler and Robinson; however, it’s Andrew Carr time in Norman, Oklahoma, tonight. Carr has a significant size advantage against the Sooners, so I think he’s in for a high-scoring night as he continues to work his way back from his back injury. With Otega Oweh also returning to form from a bad game, they’ll lead UK in scoring against one of the worst defenses in the SEC.

Defensively, Carr and the Cats can’t let Jalon Moore (17.0 ppg) or Jeremiah Fears (15.9 ppg) go crazy. Moore and Fears each played well in the Sooners’ win over Mississippi State, scoring 45 combined points. If Kentucky doesn’t give up a night like they did to Texas’ star duo, it should be a much-needed road win for the good guys.

Score: Kentucky 84, Oklahoma 79

---

Adam Luckett

Kentucky should finally get its team back on Wednesday night in Norman. Are the Wildcats now ready to go on a March run? We will find out soon.

The defensive improvement for Mark Pope’s team feels real over the last few weeks. That alone gives UK a great shot at recording a road win facing an Oklahoma offense that struggled to offensive rebound and has some ball security issues. The Sooners are a poor two-point defense but most of that is because they run opponents off the three-point line.

I don’t think we will see a three-point party, but this should be an efficient offensive game for Kentucky. The Wildcats are deeper and have a chance to build a solid lead as long as the free throw attempts do no pile up for Sooners.

This games feels similar to the Texas matchup. However, UK is healthier and Oklahoma might not get two great scoring performances from their starting backcourt. Pope’s squad starts a big week off with a quality road victory.

Score: Kentucky 85, Oklahoma 77

---

Jack Pilgrim

I could cry knowing Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler are likely to return for Kentucky. It’s only been two weeks, but you never know what you have till it’s gone, right? The role players have stepped up to keep the ship from sinking, but man, I’m excited to see the Wildcats get their second- and third-leading scorers back with a chance to add another Quad 1 win to a resume that already stands apart from most in college basketball.

The backcourt is the obvious (and deserved) talk, but Kentucky has a serious advantage in the frontcourt this evening with Amari Williams and Andrew Carr playing their best basketball of the season. That’s where the Wildcats separate in Norman while neutralizing hot-shot freshman Jeremiah Fears — I’d rather him be coming off a 27-point, 10-assist game in a much-needed win for the Sooners than cold with the team desperate for a victory. They’re still on the bubble, but beating a ranked Mississippi State team just four days ago put them over that line rather than needing a big-time win to get over it.

This has feel-good win written all over it after coming up short in similar spots at times throughout SEC play — namely that loss at Texas. Time to make up for that trip to Austin with the new kids on the block and leave Norman with a victory.

Score: Kentucky 88, Oklahoma 79

---

Kentucky vs. Oklahoma: How to Watch, Listen

• Date, Time: Wednesday, 9:00 p.m. EST
• Television: SEC Network (Roy Philpott, Richard Hendrix)
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 119 or 191
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

You can also follow the game via our new LIVE BLOG on the website, which will begin an hour before tip-off, or join the conversation on KSBoard