UK-UNC Staff Predictions

Football is taking up a lot of oxygen in the room, but Kentucky basketball hosts North Carolina on Tuesday night, and any time those two programs compete, it’s must-see TV.

Kentucky is a home favorite despite two early-season losses, and the short-handed Cats could use a win against a ranked opponent to get things moving in the right direction.

Before the game, Cats Illustrated staff members pivot from football to share what they think about the Kentucky-UNC matchup.

What are your thoughts on the UK-UNC game? How do the teams match up? How important is the game for Kentucky and how do you see it playing out?

Jeff Drummond: This game looms as an unusually important Dec. 2 matchup, given Kentucky’s poor performance against the only ranked teams it has faced this season, Louisville and Michigan State. Big Blue Nation will be teetering on panic mode if the Cats can’t defend home court at Rupp Arena as a solid favorite against the Tar Heels. Not only do they need this one for pride — the UNC rivalry is probably as meaningful as anything outside of Louisville, historically, for UK — but it’s going to matter a lot when it comes to seeding for March. It’s time for the Cats to get going. Give me Kentucky 84, North Carolina 79 with Otega Oweh turning in an SEC Player of the Year type of performance.

Justin Rowland: I would say that Kentucky has been a disappointment so far, and North Carolina has been a surprise, but I don’t expect the Tar Heels to be among the nation’s best teams over the course of the season. They lost to Michigan State just like Kentucky. That doesn’t necessarily make you feel any better about Kentucky for tonight’s game, but I have to believe that for a late game against UNC in Rupp Arena they will come out and play their best game of the year. Based on the betting line, it seems like that’s a pretty widespread expectation. UNC has several interesting pieces, but Caleb Wilson is really the guy you have to worry about. As long as he doesn’t have a monster game, I like Kentucky having a little more firepower. UK gets out and runs its way to a 90-83 win and Denzel Aberdeen leads the team in scoring.

Chris Fisher: Even without Jaland Lowe and Mo Dioubate, this is one Kentucky almost has to have, especially with Gonzaga looming on Friday, and I think we’ll see a desperate set of Wildcats take the floor Tuesday night. Rupp Arena is at its best when there is a true sense of urgency and BBN is on the verge of widespread panic following losses to Louisville and Michigan State in marquee non-conference matchups. On top of that, Rupp Arena should be sufficiently lubricated for a 9:30 PM tip. That doesn’t bode well for a North Carolina team playing in its first true road game of the season. Kentucky 74, North Carolina 69.

As long as UK is able to contain Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar on the interior, I think the Cats come away with a much-needed quality win.
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