Kentucky WBB aims for major upset vs. No. 7 LSU at Rupp Arena

Kentucky Women’s Basketball is in a bad place. Unfortunately for them, things are likely going to get worse before they get better.

On Sunday, the Wildcats (8-7) will stand off against the undefeated No. 7 LSU Tigers (15-0). The closer Kentucky comes to the matchup, the more it looks like an execution. The ‘Cats have lost six of their last seven contests, falling to an unranked Georgia squad on Thursday.

Back at it tomorrow. 👌

🎪 Kentucky vs. No. 7/6 LSU
📆 Tomorrow
⏰ 2 p.m. ET
📍 Rupp Arena
🎟 https://t.co/9Wf7O82Oz6#GameOn

— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) January 7, 2023

Despite the string of losses, head coach Kyra Elzy isn’t letting the moment overwhelm her.

“This is a tough time for us, but we go back to the built different mentality,” Elzy said on Friday during a pre-LSU presser. “Everybody keeps saying but you got this and then you have South Carolina and then you have this. No. We have the next game.”

Unfortunately, mental toughness only goes so far against a terrific squad like the Tigers.

Let’s talk about the Tigers

LSU is more talented than Kentucky. Let’s get that out of the way. Although the team hasn’t played the strongest schedule, they’ve earned their esteem. Just over a week ago, LSU smacked No. 24 Arkansas by 24 points.

What’s crazier? That win was a close call for the Tigers. The Baton Rouge brigadiers are yet to have an SEC opponent finish within 20 points of them. Of course, it’s easy to dominate with players such as Angel Reese by your side.

Standing at 6-foot-3, Reese is one of the best hoopers in the country. The Maryland transfer averages 24.1 points and 15.8 rebounds per game. For reference, Kentucky’s top three rebounders don’t average 15.8 rebounds combined.

The Tigers have arrived in Lexington! pic.twitter.com/u6x4ho9Wps

— LSU Women's Basketball (@LSUwbkb) January 7, 2023

Reese is the head of the snake, but the body is certainly dangerous. Flau’jae Johnson regularly adds 13.7 points and 6.7 boards to the Tigers’ effort. While Johnson is a freshman, she is extremely efficient. The 5-foot-10 guard is shooting 49.3% from the field and 38.6% from beyond the arc.

Alexis Morris and Jasmine Carson round out the Tigers’ top scorers, both averaging over 10 points a night. The pair provides LSU with much-needed experience, as well. Morris is a fifth-year senior and Carson is a graduate transfer from West Virginia.

LSU is loaded at every position. Meanwhile, Kentucky is still trying to find more than one player who can consistently score double digits.

Keys for Kentucky WBB

The ‘Cats should be thankful for Robyn Benton. The graduate student missed Kentucky’s contest against Arkansas due to a dislocated finger. In turn, the Wildcats’ offense stalled and UK lost by 21 points. Benton returned against Georgia and was UK’s clear-cut best player.

The 5-foot-9 guard dropped a passionate 19 points in the face of a mid-game knee injury. Elzy discussed Benton’s gutsy performance on Friday.

“We call her ‘Showtime’ for a reason. She wants the ball in her hands. She wants to make big plays. But, what I’m very proud of her for is she wanted to make tough plays,” Elzy said.

🔒💙💪 pic.twitter.com/Qivmutk8oQ

— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) January 7, 2023

Toughness is immeasurable, but field-goal percentage isn’t. Benton must increase her efficiency if she wants to help her team get out of this slump. Benton is yet to score fewer than 10 points in a game this season. However, the Auburn transfer has only shot above 50% in two out of UK’s 14 contests.

Before the ‘Cats can worry about the ball going through the net, they must focus on getting a shot in the air. Kentucky committed a ridiculous 27 turnovers in the loss at Georgia, bringing the team’s assist-to-turnover ratio below 1.0.

Elzy knows the team can’t win games when they waste so many possessions.

“Turnovers are giving too many easy scoring opportunities off turnovers; 27 turnovers. They scored 30 points,” Elzy said. “As a staff, we put our heads together. Whether it’s in the press, whether it’s fatigue, turnovers; whatever it is, we have to help them get better.”

LSU’s defense will be even better than Georgia’s. If Kentucky wants to win, they’ll have to be near perfect. Watch the ‘Cats take on this Herculean task at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon inside Rupp Arena. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network+.