PREVIEW: Kentucky faces Arizona State, No. 19 Illinois in Music City Classic

Kentucky will has a challenging two-game stretch coming up, and what makes it even more challenging is that the games are on back-to-back days on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Cats will take on Arizona State first before wrapping up the Music City Classic against No. 19 Illinois the next day. Here’s everything you need to know about both teams before the ball is tipped in Nashville.

Bio Blast: Arizona State

For the first of the two-game stretch, the ‘Cats take on the Arizona State Sun Devils. As it stands, Arizona State is 3-2, the losses coming from Arkansas State and Grand Canyon. Last season, the Sun Devils finished 11-20, and was picked to finish 15th in the Big 12 Preseason Poll.

The Sun Devils are currently allowing opponents to score 70.1 points per game, and are only scoring 61.5 points themselves. They’re shooting 37.8% from the field and only 32% from the perimeter, making an average of 4.5 per game.

Interestingly enough, Arizona State has the height to match Kentucky, which we haven’t seen yet this season. Despite that, the Sun Devils are allowing their opponents to tally 41.9 rebounds per game, while they’re grabbing 33.6. They’re not the best clocking team, but 6-foot-7 forward Kennedy Basham is currently leading her team with 3.2 blocks per game.

Arizona State commits an average of 17.8 turnovers per game, which is good for Kentucky, considering the ‘Cats ability to convert. However, the Sun Devils are coming off a win to Oregon State, where they set a season high 44.4% from the three-point line. Basham and forward Jazion Jackson both had 10 point, 10 rebound double-doubles.

Scouting Report: Arizona State

The Sun Devils may be the only team that is bigger than Kentucky that the Cats will face this season. They have a player that is 6-foot-7, 6-foot-5, 6-foot-4 and four players that are 6-foot-3. Needless to say, Kentucky may actually undersized in this matchup.

However, the ironic part is that their best player is 5-foot-5 — senior guard Tyi Skinner. She averaged a team-high 21.6 points per game on 53.7% shooting from the field and 46.2% from deep. Skinner could have a 50-40-90 if she can up her free throw percentage just a bit (88.9%).

Jalyn Brown is another player to watch for Arizona State. The 6-foot-1 junior guard puts up 15.6 points per game while also dishing out 2.8 assists per game. She shoots 36.8% from three-point range, so she’s another lethal shooter that Kentucky will have to account for.

Bio Blast: No. 19 Illinois

To end the Music City Classic, Kentucky faces No. 19 Illinois. Right now, the Fighting Illini are undefeated, with a nine point win over then No. 19 Florida State. The Seminoles have fallen out of the Top 25 since then. Last year, the Illini finished 19-15, ending with six straight wins to become victorious in the WBIT. That win became the first-ever post season championship for Illinois. The team was ranked eighth in On3’s Preseason Big Ten Women’s Basketball Power Rankings.

Funnily enough, Illinois is also coming off a win to Oregon State. In the 19-point victory, the Fighting Illini shot 35-64 (54.6%) from the field, but only 5-20 (25%) from the perimeter. They added 36 rebounds and 17 assists. Most impressive though, is that Illinois only committed five turnovers. The team scored 40 points in the paint but only held Oregon State to 32.

Unlike Arizona State, Illinois doesn’t have much height, besides 6-foot-6 freshman Hayven Smith and 6-foot-7 sophomore Lety Vasconcelos. But what the Fighting Illini lack in height, they make up for in scoring ability. The Illini average 82.2 points per game, and hold their opponents to 51 points per game. They’re also averaging 48.7% from the field, putting them at 23rd in the nation. Kentucky averages 45.8%, putting the ‘Cats at 59th.

Scouting Report: No. 19 Illinois

The Fighting Illini are a very talented team across the board, but there are two main names for Kentucky to be aware of.

Kendall Bostic is the first of those two names — averaging 18 points and 10.2 rebounds per game thus far. Though she’s just 6-foot-2, her skill on the block and around the rim are not to be underestimated. She makes for a really solid one-two punch with fifth-year senior guard Makira Cook. Cook is averaging 13.8 points and five assists per game as well.

All-around, Illinois may be the best team that Kentucky will have faced up until this point. Shauna Green’s group could very well hand Kenny Brooks his first L as the coach of the Cats if Kentucky doesn’t come ready to play.

Projected Kentucky Starters (both games)

#3 – Georgia Amoore

5-FOOT-6 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT

15.4 PPG – 8.2 APG – 3.8 RPG

#7 – Teonni Key

6-FOOT-4 – FORWARD – JUNIOR

11.6 PPG – 8.8 RPG – 3.2 BPG

#10 – Dazia Lawrence

5-FOOT-8 – GUARD – REDSHIRT SENIOR

14.6 PPG – 1.6 APG – 1.2 RPG

#13 – Clara Strack

6-FOOT-5 – CENTER – SOPHOMORE

15.8 PPG – 10.4 RPG – 4.4 APG

#32 – Amelia Hassett

6-FOOT-3 – FORWARD – JUNIOR

7.2 PPG – 10.4 RPG – 1.4 APG

How to Watch/Listen

Arizona State

Place	Tipoff	TV	Radio	Live Stats
Trojan Fieldhouse (Nashville, TN)	4:30 p.m. EST	BallerTV	98.5 ICONS, 1080 WKJK (Darren Headrick)	StatBroadcast

Illinois

Place	Tipoff	TV	Radio	Live Stats
Trojan Fieldhouse (Nashville, TN)	8 p.m. EST	BallerTV	630 WLAP, 790 WKRD (Darren Headrick)	StatBroadcast

Note: Fans will need to create a BallerTV account in order to make a one-time purchase for the Event Pass to be able to watch each game. The Event Pass itself is $20. The purchase allows fans to watch every game in the Music City Classic — not just the two games that Kentucky plays in.

Follow Along with KSR’s LIVE BLOG

Unable to watch the game? Don’t worry — we’ll be providing real-time updates throughout to keep you informed on the action. Follow along with KSR’s LIVE BLOG, which will get rolling an hour before each game starts.

Join The Discussion on KSBoard

Want to interact with the KSR crew during tonight’s game? Consider joining the conversation on KSBoard, where we’ll be sharing live updates while also answering questions and providing real-time analysis (and probably complaining about the officiating).

New members can get KSR+ for seven days for just $1 and 50% off the annual price.