This Week in Kentucky Basketball: Louisville Week Gets Cancelled

It is Louisville week! Or not. Unfortunately, that is the current state of the sports world as players test positive and games get cancelled. Kentucky already dealt with it as the North Carolina Tar Heels were subbed in for the Ohio State Buckeyes in Las Vegas. On Sunday evening our fearless leader Matt Jones had reported possible issues within the Cardinals program. Then, around 10:15 a.m. Eastern Time Monday morning, it was officially announced that Wednesday’s game had been cancelled due to positive tests within Louisville’s program.

What a difference one game can make. The fan base was about as down as possible after Kentucky’s loss at Notre Dame. Now, after a thorough 29-point beatdown of North Carolina morale has shifted back to the positive. The Wildcats looked like the team we all expected to see on Saturday in Vegas and will look to keep that momentum rolling this week. Now, we will sit around and wait for a replacement team to be named.

Along with looking inward at the current state of Kentucky Basketball and waiting to learn the Wildcats next opponent, we will also take a look around the Southeastern Conference as a whole and highlight the top games to watch nationally. Let’s dive on in to this week in Kentucky Basketball.

Top Kentucky Basketball Storyline: Carryover From Saturday’s Win

Momentum is generally an overrated topic in sports. Kentucky played their worst game of the season after seven straight victories and then responded with their best game of the year. Over the course of a college basketball season each game is more or less played in a vacuum. However, developing confidence from strong performances definitely is real and can have a positive impact from game to game. That is what the Wildcats will look to bring to the Rupp Arena floor Wednesday (or Thursday) night.

Pretty much everything went Kentucky’s way against North Carolina. The ‘Cats shot 54.2% from the field including an incredible 24/36 in the second half. They connected on 53.3% from beyond the arc while holding the Tar Heels to 1/13 shooting. Also, Kentucky out rebounded one of the best rebounding teams in the country 44 to 26 including 17 to 6 on the offensive glass.

On an individual level, Sahvir Wheeler played a nearly perfect basketball game and Kellan Grady got hot from three-point range in the second half. Oscar Tshiebwe was also his typical consistent self contributing 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Wildcats will need more of the same on Wednesday/Thursday regardless of who they play and then moving forward into conference play. Saturday’s performance could be the building block the ‘Cats needed to spark a new and improved offensive attack.

This Week in Kentucky Basketball: Who Knows?

Typically, this is where we would provide an early preview of Kentucky’s opponent or opponents for the week. However, as of the time of publishing, this week’s opponent is still to be determined. There was some media buzz of Bellarmine being the replacement, but it sounds like that is not going to happen at this point. So, who will Kentucky Basketball face this week? Your guess is as good as mine.

Around the Southeastern Conference

I know it isn’t exactly what anyone wants to do, but it is probably time we starting giving some credit to Will Wade and the LSU Tigers. After two more victories last week, including one over a solid Louisiana Tech squad, the Tigers are a perfect 11-0. Their schedule hasn’t been great, but it certainly isn’t bad either. Tari Eason has proven to be a star averaging 16.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Alongside Xavier Pinson and Darius Days, Eason rounds out a formidable “Big 3” that will allow the Tigers to compete at the top of the SEC.

Auburn had to fight back in a big way at St. Louis on Saturday but escaped with a nice road victory. Trailing by 13 points with just over nine minutes to play, the Tigers roared from behind to win their seventh straight. Walker Kessler is starting to play at a high level while freshman Jabari Smith continues to show that he will be one of the best players in the SEC. Watch out for Bruce Pearl’s squad as conference play tips off.

Speaking of conference play, we are almost there. Teams will finish up their non-conference slate this week for the most part before taking a short break for Christmas. Then, when they return, it is time to play conference games. More on that next week. However, let’s wrap up our around the Southeastern Conference segment with a few superlatives.

Your surprise team award would have to go to LSU. It isn’t just their 11-0 record but also how they have looked. The development of Tari Eason is what has them exceeding expectations more than any other team in the league so far. Conversely, the most disappointing team so far goes to Mississippi State. With a talented influx of players from the transfer portal, expectations were high for Ben Howland’s Bulldogs. However, other than beating Richmond, Mississippi State has lost to all three decent teams they have played. That includes a home loss to Minnesota who was picked to finish last in the Big 10.

Lastly, the SEC’s best player so far has been West Virginia transfer Oscar Tshiebwe. While Kentucky hasn’t necessarily be the best team on paper this season, Tshiebwe has exceeded even the loftiest expectations in Big Blue Nation. The big man is averaging 16.3 points and a nation’s best 14.2 rebounds on 66.7% shooting.

Games to Watch Nationally

Monday, December 20th

Alcorn State @ #1 Baylor (7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+)

Incarnate Word @ #3 Purdue (7:00 p.m. Eastern Time Big 10 Network)

Northern Arizona @ #4 Gonzaga (9:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

Tuesday, December 21st

Davidson vs. #10 Alabama (7:00 p.m. Eastern Time SEC Network+) at Legacy Arena at BJCC

#18 Xavier @ #23 Villanova (7:00 p.m. Eastern Time FS1)

Chicago State @ #9 Iowa State (7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+)

#11 Michigan State vs. Oakland (7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+) at Little Caesars Arena

#7 Kansas @ Colorado (9:00 p.m. Eastern Time ESPN2)

Wednesday, December 22nd

Eastern Washington @ #25 Texas Tech (2:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Murray State @ #12 Auburn (6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, SEC Network)

Georgetown @ #22 Providence

#6 Arizona @ #19 Tennessee (7:00 p.m. Eastern Time ESPN2)

Texas State @ #13 Houston (8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+)

Lipscomb @ #17 LSU (8:00 p.m. Eastern Time SEC Network)

Virginia Tech @ #2 Duke (9:00 p.m. Eastern Time ESPN2)

Thursday, December 23rd

Morgan State @ #24 Wisconsin

#15 Seton Hall @ DePaul (8:30 p.m. Eastern Time FS1)