Game preview: Texas at Kentucky

[Matt Cotcher]

No. 6/7 Texas at No. 1 Kentucky

Friday, Dec. 5, 2014 - 6:00PM (Central)

Rupp Arena (23,500)

TV: ESPN


The Basics

- Texas and Kentucky have only played once prior to tonight's meeting. Kentucky won that game, 86-61, in 1993 (Maui Invitational)

- The Longhorns are 0-7 all-time against the A.P. No. 1 ranked team.

- Texas has held each of its first seven opponents to below 60 points AND 37% FG shooting.

- The Horns out-rebounded opponents in 6 of their 7 games and hold a +13.9 rebound margin (44.9-31.0) .

- In their last game (vs UT Arlington), the Longhorns were 22-of-27 (.815) from the free throw line.

- Kentucky is averaging 9.3 blocks per game, the most in the country, and Texas is close behind with 8.3 swats per game, the third most nationally.

- Kentucky is 185-27 all-time when ranked No. 1, and has won 25/27 games as The Associated Press top-ranked team.

- Kentucky is 44-0 under Coach Calipari when holding the opponent to 55 or fewer points.


Schedule/Results

- UK is 7-0 with a notable win over Kansas.

- The Wildcats' 71-52 win over Buffalo is their narrowest margin of victory in the first 7 games.



Scouting Report

- Head Coach John Calipari admits that the Cats' defense is ahead of the offense, and the statistics support his claim:

• Kentucky has held all seven opponents under 40% shooting, including four games under 30%.
• In 50% of the halves UK has played, opponents have scored less than 20 points.
• UK has out-rebounded all 7 opponents this season.

- 10 players are averaging at least 15 minutes/game, but only 3 of them are averaging over 20 minutes/game.

- Freshman Karl-Anthony Towns (6'11", 250) has 21 blocks on the season.

- With so much talent on the floor, the Cats typically make the extra pass that results in an open look. 8 players are averaging more than 1.0 assists/game.

- Freshman Devin Booker (6'6", 206) is the team deep threat - he is 14-30 from 3-point range.

- Tremendous offensive balance is a key for UK. They have 7 players that average at least 8,0 points/game. 

 

[Juan]

Unlike last season, they only have 2 players from the state of Texas to carry them this time.

Advantage: Horns

 

[Matt Cotcher]

If you're not dialed in to hoops yet, and just want a generalization of this game: UK and Texas do the same things well, but UK has even more depth and size to their advantage.

This is a great barometer for the Horns.

 

[joeywa]

I believe the Texas +11.5 line is about 5-8 pts too low. 

 

[monarch]

just win baby!​

 

[Juan]

I believe the Texas +11.5 line is about 5-8 pts too low. 

Indeed.  Would be a better gauge with a healthy Taylor

 

[hoskins5]

Indeed. Would be a better gauge with a healthy Taylor

Agreed, without Taylor it's tough to gauge how good we are. Not making excuses for this game but without him Texas just isn't the same team.

 

[joeywa]

Agreed, without Taylor it's tough to gauge how good we are. Not making excuses for this game but without him Texas just isn't the same team.

Tonight's game will merely be a barometer of how good we are, and how good we can be with Taylor back in the lineup.  Once Taylor is back, I firmly believe that we will be a drastically different ball club come tourney time. 

 

[Juan]

I went to school with a UK alum and he was both a great guy + a complete nut for UK BBall.

That is quite the fanbase they have.

 

[Juan]

And we thought we were a tall team

 

[Aaron Carrara]

The depth is definitely the noticeable difference.  Kentucky shares time with the roster in an efficient manner.  Exciting game for the Horns.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

And we thought we were a tall team

Their advantage in backcourt height could be a problem. Texas has had trouble guarding tall, athletic guys on the perimeter (but who doesn't struggle with that?).

 

[Juan]

Poor Tyler.  He's at the smelly level.

 

[Worster1]

Tonight's game will merely be a barometer of how good we are, and how good we can be with Taylor back in the lineup.  Once Taylor is back, I firmly believe that we will be a drastically different ball club come tourney time.

I really wish Taylor was back and the Horns were at full strength tonight - they will need it.

As a side note, a buddy of mine that is a UK grad took me to a UK home game at Rupp Arena in 1978. That team had several AA's including Jack Givens and Rich Robey. Those KY people are VERY serious about BB - crowd was very loud like they will be tonight vs. TEXAS. UK went on that year to win a NC.

GO HORNS!!!

 

[Juan]

We are wearing the dark unis ("anthracite")

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011