KSR Staff Predictions: Kentucky vs. North Carolina Central

by: KSR8 hours ago

It’s going to be an interesting one tonight in Lexington, with Kentucky set to host the North Carolina Central Eagles, ranked No. 350 in KenPom with a 3-8 record on the year. The Wildcats are coming off a 35-point loss to Gonzaga with the boo birds out in full force at Bridgestone Arena, Big Blue Nation desperate to see this team win against name-brand competition.

That’s not happening tonight, unfortunately, but a feel-good response should be on the table before Indiana comes to Rupp Arena on Saturday. What can Mark Pope’s group do to make you feel better going into that one, if anything? It obviously starts with a blowout victory, and the KSR crew is here to share our Parlour Pizza pregame predictions on just how the Cats get it done.

Drew Franklin

Kentucky should win comfortably on Tuesday night, but the scoreboard is not the part anyone cares about. NC Central is overmatched, ranked near the bottom of Division I, and this is the type of game Kentucky should dominate from the tip. The real prediction is whether the Wildcats look like a team again. After a flat, lifeless showing against Gonzaga, fans want to see effort, energy, togetherness, and signs that these guys have reset their attitudes. I think we see a step forward and a big win, partly because of the opponent. Saturday’s game is the next one that matters.

Score Prediction: Kentucky 86, NC Central 61

Tyler Thompson

If this Kentucky team has proved anything to us so far, it’s that it’s very good against bad teams and very bad against good teams. NC Central is the worst of the bunch, ranked No. 350 in KenPom. The Cats have beaten four teams by 40+ points so far this season; I expect them to do the same tonight. It won’t move the needle with the fanbase, but Kentucky has to start somewhere.

Finding its footing with Jaland Lowe back in the lineup is a good start. Hopefully, Lowe gets more minutes, and we get to see the impact he can have on this roster. Kentucky can’t be much worse than it was vs. Gonzaga when it comes to fundamentals and effort. Even if it’s just cheering two-handed rebounds and making the extra pass for a better shot, I want to see this team get off the bench to celebrate one another. The energy in Rupp Arena could be weird tonight, but the one thing that could get fans to cheer the loudest? Seeing a player dive after a ball.

Stringing together baby steps ten games in is not where any of us expected Kentucky to be right now, but it is what it is.

Score: Kentucky 92, NC Central 51

Zack Geoghegan

At least by KenPom’s rankings, North Carolina Central (350th) will be the worst team Kentucky plays all season. The Eagles have faced quality competition in losses to NC State, Virginia, North Carolina, and Dayton, but their three wins this season have come against non-DI opponents. This is an Eagles team that is among the worst in the country at shooting the ball — from both inside the arc and out. The only chance for NCC to keep this close is for Gage Lattimore, who averages 19.5 points in 36.5 minutes per game on shooting splits of 40/44.9/91.2, to have the best game of his life.

Kentucky could win this game by 90 points tonight and it wouldn’t do much to ease the fan base. That’s understandable after a 35-point loss to Gonzaga. Eyes are already focused on Saturday’s showdown against Indiana inside Rupp. Fans would just like to see this team fight hard and for Jaland Lowe to find a groove.

Score: Kentucky 99, NC Central 62

Adam Luckett

Kentucky has smothered and overwhelmed inferior opponents all season. I expect Tuesday night’s matchup at Rupp Arena to play out the same.

North Carolina Central is a very poor shooting team that might have a hard time getting to 50 points. Meanwhile, their defense also has some issues. Kentucky is reeling right now, but Mark Pope’s squad should shift this one into cruise control fairly early.

The Cats pour in some threes, accumulate a bunch of stops, and record yet another blowout victory before a big game against Indiana arrives this weekend.

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Score: Kentucky 90, NC Central 45

Nick Roush

Since the season-opener, Kentucky has won and covered in every game against an opponent like this. They’ll probably hit a bunch of threes, which will do nothing to quell the concerns of the masses. It’s a game you can’t really win, even if you win by 40, which they will. Kentucky’s defense will be suffocating and turn into easy transition buckets en route to a blowout win.

Score: Kentucky 92, NC Central 49

Jacob Polacheck

Is there anything Kentucky can do on Tuesday night to change the feeling of this season? Probably not. NC Central is, according to the numbers, the worst team Kentucky plays this year. Jaland Lowe is a player I’m watching to see how well he can get back into form.

There’s really not a whole lot to say about this game. Kentucky should win handily. If they don’t, then the panic button will be pressed even harder. If they do, it really doesn’t change anything. Cats by 41.

Score: Kentucky 91, NC Central 50

Jack Pilgrim

NC Central is the worst team on the schedule, according to KenPom, ranked No. 350 nationally overall and dead last (No. 365) in effective FG%, 2P% and block rate. Kentucky has handled every comparable opponent on its schedule up to this point — a 46-point win vs. No. 332 Eastern Illinois being the closest example — so why should we expect anything else at Rupp Arena tonight? Again, that’s not this team’s issue. They’re beating up on the cupcakes, but haven’t proven to be capable of defeating a team with a recognizable logo. Factor in the embarrassment factor of Gonzaga and the Wildcats will want to make whatever statement there is to make against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe, sitting at just 3-8 on the year and coming off a 15-point home loss to North Carolina A&T.

It’s a full-court layup line in Kentucky’s name-your-score win, settled at 70 points. Jaland Lowe is your game MVP before we turn our attention back toward the real stuff this weekend with Indiana coming to town.

Score: Kentucky 111, NC Central 41

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