This Week in Kentucky Basketball: Champions Classic

If it still feels like the preseason that is certainly understandable. To many folks, even in the Bluegrass state, the month of November is still dedicated to football season. Playing opponents such as New Mexico State and Texas A&M-Commerce doesn’t exactly do much to draw attention to the hardwood either. However, that all changes this week.

On Tuesday evening, the Kentucky Men’s Basketball team will suit up for their annual appearance in the Champions Classic. For many, this event is the honorary start to the college basketball season. Played at the United Center in Chicago this year, the event will feature Duke-Michigan State followed by Kansas-Kentucky. After two additional tune-up games to begin the regular season, the Wildcats will now be thrown to the fire against the nation’s top-ranked team.

While the first two games of the season may not have been the most exciting, they were at least successful. Kentucky is 2-0 after defeating the Aggies 86-46 and the Lions 81-61. The Wildcats offense is still clicking on all cylinders. Questions loom about the status of the three seven-footers, along with Adou Thiero (concussion protocol), but there certainly are no questions about what this group can do offensively. In both games so far this season the ‘Cats have put five scorers in double-figures. Additionally, despite playing three freshmen guards major minutes, Kentucky has committed just nine turnovers in two games. That is incredibly impressive regardless of the competition level. Now head coach John Calipari and company will get a chance to measure themselves against one of the best teams in college basketball.

As we do each Monday, it is time to take a look ahead at the week as it pertains to the Kentucky Men’s Basketball program. We will highlight the biggest storyline currently surrounding the team, quickly preview the week’s upcoming opponents, and take a broader look around the Southeastern Conference. Finally, in a new segment this season, we will give out a few of Brandon’s Best Bets. Let’s dive into another edition of This Week in Kentucky Basketball.

Top Kentucky Basketball Storyline – Who is Healthy?

Obviously, all eyes are now on the Champions Classic and Kentucky’s matchup with Kansas. However, most Kentucky Basketball fans have one, or really now four, questions in mind. When will the trio of seven-footers be available?

Aaron Bradshaw is the most important name on that list and also likely the closest to actually contributing in a game. Any goal of having him back to guard Hunter Dickinson though seems to have gone out the window. The latest word was that he would return to practice in a week or two, but a recent cryptic Instagram post got fans buzzing about a quicker timetable. At this point, we will likely all find out together when Bradshaw is back. It is certainly understandable though why Big Blue Nation is clamoring to get their five-star rim protector and lob threat added into this talented rotation.

Aside from the seven-footers, Adou Thiero added himself to the injury report last week. The sophomore wing left Tuesday’s matchup with New Mexico State due to a headache and ultimately entered concussion protocol. Thiero sat out Friday’s game and is questionable to return for Kansas on Tuesday. Kentucky’s frontcourt got even thinner without the athletic, versatile 6’8″ Thiero. He had been filling in at forward for an undersized ‘Cats squad and was an important helper on the glass. Having to face the Jayhawks even more shorthanded than expected would certainly not help the cause for Coach Calipari and company.

This Week in Kentucky Basketball: Kansas Jayhawks & Stonehill Skyhawks

Coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks started their season off with two sub-300 KenPom opponents. They defeated North Carolina Central 99-56 on opening night and then took down Manhattan on Friday 99-61. Those two performances clearly say something about Kansas’ ability on the offensive end of the floor. They lead the nation through week one with an effective field goal percentage of 72%. Additionally, they are shooting 46.9% from three-point range and are assisting on a wild 76.6% of field goals. For as good as we feel about Kentucky’s offense, the Jayhawks are performing even better. This is a well-oiled machine that the ‘Cats will be facing in Chicago on Tuesday night. Hunter Dickson has fit in perfectly as well posting 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in the opener followed by 18 points and eight rebounds on Friday.

As for Stonehill, they are on the other end of the spectrum compared to Kansas. The Skyhawks, in their second season of Division I basketball, are one of the worst offensive teams in the country. Stonehill is averaging just 56 points per game through three games and ranks 359th in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency. On Tuesday night they will take on Saint Joseph’s before coming to Rupp Arena on Friday evening. Stonehill is 1-2 so far with an 89-44 loss at George Washington, a 57-44 win against Army, and a 107-67 loss to UConn.

Around the Southeastern Conference

• If there were any doubters heading into the season about just how good this Tennessee Volunteers team was, they should all be gone by now. Coach Rick Barnes and the Vols were one of the winners of the opening week of college basketball. They pounded Tennessee Tech on Monday and then won at Wisconsin 80-70 on Friday night. Dalton Knecht is looking like one of the best players in the Southeastern Conference.
• Alabama started the season by doing Alabama things. The Crimson Tide posted 105 points in a blowout victory over Morehead State and then 102 in an easy win against Indiana State. Neither is a bad opponent. Coach Nate Oats’ squad has made 23 three-pointers while shooting 50% from deep.
• The LSU Tigers were upset at home on Friday evening by Nicholls St. 68-66. In other upset news, Vanderbilt lost their first game of the season 68-62 to Presbyterian.
• Kentucky and Arkansas each took care of business as expected against lesser opponents, but Texas A&M made an early season statement with a quality win at Ohio State. Wade Taylor IV took over down the stretch finishing with 21 points and four assists in the game. It was an SEC Player of the Year type performance.
• Despite missing Tolu Smith, Shakeel Moore, and KeSahwn Murphy the Mississippi State Bulldogs are 2-0 and looking very good offensively. They made 10 three-pointers in a dominant win at the Barstool Invitational against Arizona State and then backed it up with 13 made threes in an 87-63 win over Tennessee Martin.

Brandon’s Best Bets

This new segment started out with a bang going 3-0 on the opening day of the college basketball season. As always all lines are presented by our friends at FanDuel. Let’s find some winners and cash some tickets together once again.

• Duquesne/Stony Brook O145.5 – Coach Keith Dambrot has himself a good team this season and he made that known on Friday with a 90-72 beatdown on a neural floor against Charleston. The Dukes play fast, shoot a lot of threes, and are led by a trio of talented guards. Stony Brook was able to score 74 points in just 68 possessions against St. John’s in their opener. This one has a chance to fly over. Don’t be shocked if you see something like an 85-70 final.
• Duquesne -13.5 – Getting some more money on the table for this game. Stony Brook played better than expected against St. John’s and that likely kept this line a little closer. Not sure Vegas is accounting for just how good Duquesne is this season either. There is a scenario where this is a blowout. You could call it a letdown spot, but Coach Dambrot should have his team playing with a ton of confidence right now.
• Xavier +17.5 – Betting against Purdue might seem scary right now after winning by 43 and 30 points to begin the season. However, they haven’t faced a team as good as Xavier yet. It is in West Lafayette, but the Musketeers are good enough offensively to keep this one close. Xavier has a veteran backcourt and Abou Ousmane has as much of a chance against Zach Edey up front as anyone. Take the points.