PREVIEW: Kentucky WBB set for Top 10 matchup with Texas at home

Kentucky lost its last game on the road against Ole Miss, but things get tougher against Texas, the No. 3 team in the nation, at home.

Learn more about the Longhorns before the game is underway.

Bio Blast

It’s time for a good old fashioned comeback, this time, Kentucky needs a win over No. 3 Texas at Historic Memorial Coliseum. The Longhorns are everything they’re said to be: physical, talented, and one of the best teams in the nation. Coming off of a win to South Carolina, Texas’ momentum is high. After eight wins in a row, the Longhorns are looking to make it nine with a victory over the Cats.

While the Cats and the Longhorns have only met twice ever, that doesn’t make this matchup any less heated. Any Top 10 matchup — especially between two SEC teams — is bound to be madness. Thankfully, Kentucky has the home court advantage, and hopefully, an impressive crowd. Unfortunately, Texas is a really, really, really good team with lots of talent, so it’s going to take more than a good crowd for Kentucky to pull off the win.

As the regular season comes to a close, it becomes increasingly important for teams like Texas to seal the deal on a one-seed with wins — especially wins over teams that they should probably beat, like Kentucky. While Kentucky is a very good team, the Cats have yet to face a truly dominant, national title-contender team like Texas. The closest so far has probably been the Alabama game on Jan. 30 or Oklahoma on Feb 2.

So, for Kentucky to come out on top with a win, the team will have to be firing on all cylinders. Just like against Mississippi State, the Cats will need to be hot offensively, and dominant defensively. Plus, Kentucky could use some help from the crowd. While Texas is ranked third in the nation, that doesn’t make the Longhorns unbeatable. If anyone is going to break the Longhorns’ streak, why not Kentucky?

Scouting Report

Madison Booker has not only been the best player for Texas this season, but she has arguably been one of the best players in the SEC and in the country. The 6-foot-1 forward averages 16.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, making 48.2% of the shots she takes and 46.5% of the shots she takes from three-point range.

She poses a major, major matchup problem for Kentucky’s front court. After getting handled by Ole Miss on the boards, Booker — a more talented big than what we saw in Oxford — could be prone for a big night in Lexington if Kentucky can’t manage her.

Rori Harmon has been one of the best facilitators in college basketball, averaging 9.8 points and 6.2 assists per game, which ranks seventh in the country and second in the SEC, behind Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore (7.4). There’s also Taylor Jones, who puts up 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for Texas.

Projected Kentucky Starters

#3 – Georgia Amoore

5-FOOT-6 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT

19.2 PPG – 7.4 APG – 2.3 RPG

#7 – Teonni Key

6-FOOT-4 – FORWARD – JUNIOR

11.7 PPG – 8.4 RPG – 1.9 BPG

#10 – Dazia Lawrence

5-FOOT-8 – GUARD – REDSHIRT SENIOR

13.0 PPG – 2.3 APG – 2.1 RPG

#13 – Clara Strack

6-FOOT-5 – CENTER – SOPHOMORE

15.4 PPG – 9.6 RPG – 2.9 APG

#32 – Amelia Hassett

6-FOOT-3 – FORWARD – JUNIOR

10.0 PPG – 8.6 RPG – 2.0 APG

Initial Availability Report

Starting this season in conference play, SEC teams are required to release an availability report, listing players and their injury statuses for their upcoming game.

Here is the initial report for Kentucky-Texas:

The final availability report will be available closer to game time.

**Note: Kentucky’s Dominika Paurová is not listed as “Out” because she is completely exempt from the season due to an ACL tear she suffered in the offseason. Jordan Obi, who also suffered a lower leg injury in the summer, may return to the hardwood this season, hence why her name appears on the availability report.**

How to Watch/Listen

Place	Tipoff	TV	Radio	Live Stats
Historic Memorial Coliseum (Lexington, KY)	7 p.m. ET	ESPN 2 (Courtney Lyle and Carolyn Peck)	630 WLAP, 790 WKRD (Darren Headrick)	StatBroadcast

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 on the website an hour before the 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).