Home / Kentucky Basketball / Kentucky Starts SEC Play Against Georgia

Kentucky Starts SEC Play Against Georgia

 

LEXINGTON—The Kentucky Wildcats kick off their 2010 SEC season against the Georgia Bulldogs 4:00 p.m. ET Saturday at Rupp Arena. The 3^rd ranked ‘Cats are 15-0 and coming off a hard-fought win against their rival, the Louisville Cardinals. Georgia is 8-5 and shocked their rival Georgia Tech 73-66, Tuesday night.

Georgia was not expected to be much of a threat this year in the SEC, but the win over the 17^th ranked Tech team proves that all SEC teams are dangerous.

 

Georgia is led by 6-10 sophomore forward, Trey Thompkins. Thompkins, a member of the All-SEC Freshman team last year, is averaging 16.2 ppg and 8 boards a game. He scored 35 points and grabbed 15 rebounds against Florida Atlantic, December 23^rd.

 

Travis Leslie is the only other Bulldog averaging double figures with 12.8 ppg and 5.5 rpg. Leslie is a very athletic 6-4 sophomore guard. He seldom shoots behind the arc. He is a great rebounder from the guard position.

 

Coming up big against Georgia Tech was 6-1 senior guard Ricky McPhee. McPhee is the Bulldogs outside sharpshooter. He hit 4 big 3-pointers against Tech on his way to scoring 16 points. McPhee is averaging 9.3 ppg and is leading the ‘Dogs in made 3′s, while shooting 41% behind the arc.

The point guard for Georgia is 5-11 sophomore Dustin Ware. He is averaging 8.2 ppg and just under 3 apg. He is very quick and a great ball-handler.

The final starter for Georgia most likely will be Albert Jackson. Jackson is a 6-11 senior that averages 3.6 ppg and 4.2 rpg. He leads Georgia with 19 blocked shots this year.

Off the bench, Jeremy Price has seen considerable minutes. He is averaging 6.6 ppg and 4.7 rebounds. The 6-8 junior forward gives the ‘Dogs the ability to go to a quicker, smaller lineup as does 6-8 junior forward Chris Barnes.

The Wildcats will counter with their usual line up of: 

John Wall 17.2 ppg, 7.2 apg

Eric Bledsoe 10.2 ppg 46% 3-pt fg

Darius Miller 7.7 ppg 2 apg

Patrick Patterson 16.7 ppg 8.3 rpg

DeMarcus Cousins 15.4 ppg 9.6 rpg

 

Kentucky is averaging 82.8 ppg and 42.3 rpg compared to Georgia’s 65.6 ppg and 35.3 rpg.

Kentucky is shooting 50% from the field, 40% from behind the arc, and 68% from the line.

Georgia comes in at 44% from the field, 33% from behind the arc, and 71% from the line.

Keys to the game for Georgia:

Control the tempo, keep the game in the 60′s.

Force Kentucky to shoot outside.

Win the turnover battle, Kentucky is deadly converting turnovers to points.

Box out, prevent second chance points. Kentucky has a 11.5 rpg margin over opponents.

Neutralize John Wall. Easier said than done, he can take over the game at any time.

Frustrate DeMarcus Cousins. When Cousins rolls the Cats are impossible to match up with. Louisville tried this and he responded with 18 points and 18 rebounds. 

Keys for Kentucky:

Be ready to play. It will be 7 days since the Louisville game which was a very physical intense game. They will need to show up with the same intensity.

Shut down Trey Thompkins. I look for Patrick Patterson to match up with Thompkins. Patterson has won every battle so far this year. It should continue.

Watch for Ricky McFee. McFee isn’t afraid to fire it up from long distance. He comes off of high screens shooting. Kentucky will need to pay attention to him, jump out on screens, and get a hand in his face.

Limit the turnovers and not allow easy baskets.

Stay out of foul trouble.

My take:

So far I am 15-0 predicting Kentucky games and I look for this to continue. Kentucky is too big, too strong, too fast, and too competitive to lose this game. They will be excited to play their first SEC game together. Kentucky may lose a game or two in the SEC this year, but this isn’t one of them.

Kentucky 80 Georgia 64

 

 

Comments