Jeff Walz says 'Kentucky's playing very well' ahead of Saturday's matchup

Kentucky vs. Louisville on Saturday shouldn’t only be a battle between two great teams, but two great coaches as well. Cardinals head coach Jeff Walz spoke highly of Kentucky following their 96-49 win over Morehead State on Wednesday.

“It’s going to be a great game on Saturday,” Walz said in his Morehead State postgame press conference. “Kentucky’s playing very well. They’ve got a veteran team with a lot of experience. They’ve got great size, so we’re going to have to make sure we do a good job of boxing out, put a body on somebody.”

Kentucky’s size has made them a force to reckoned with on the defensive end of the floor. The Cats rank first in a number of defensive stats, and to go along with that, Walz thinks the game will be won on the glass. The turnover battle will be important too.

“You can’t run to the rim, you’ve got to push back and rebound the ball in front of you,” Walz added. “Just some simple basketball things. Easier said than done, but we’re gonna really have to focus on that. Then, we’ve got to take care of the basketball.”

Walz and Kenny Brooks have come to know each other pretty well over the years of their clashes in the ACC. Prior to last year’s game, Brooks noted that while making it very clear that any sort of friendship they have is put to the side when it’s red vs. blue.

“Jeff is one of the pioneers of the ACC,” Brooks said. “He also has a lot of great ideas for women’s basketball. The most respect for him and what he’s done for women’s basketball. Sometimes I don’t think he gets enough credit. So, he’s a staple, and he’s done a great job. He and I, you know, we’re friends. We probably would consider each other friends. I know his daughters, he knows my daughters, and we wish each other luck, except for when we play each other. There is a relationship there, but when we get out on the court, he wants to beat me as bad as I want to beat him.”

Last year, Kentucky got a 71-61 overtime win over Louisville in an emotional, grueling affair. Can they pull off another victory on the road on Saturday?

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