Kentucky's top assignment: Don't let Gage Lattimore get hot

Ranked No. 350 in KenPom, NC Central will not bring a loaded roster into Rupp Arena tonight, but there is one name everyone will need to watch closely. Gage Lattimore averages 19.5 points per game and shoots 44.9 percent from deep, which means he might be the best three-point shooter in the building.

Only a sophomore, Lattimore, who played Division II last season, has already made 35 threes this season, which are the 11th most in the country. And he rarely comes off the floor, averaging 36.5 minutes per game in the Eagles’ backcourt. He’s played at least 38 minutes in eight games, including the full 40 against NC State, Virginia, SC Upstate, and James Madison. The guy rarely sits down.

With all of that time on the court, Lattimore takes lots of shots. Just last week, he had 24 shot attempts in a 67-62 loss at James Madison, including 5-for-13 shooting from outside in a 29-point game. Lattimore’s consistent high scoring earned him two MEAC Player of the Week awards in the first month of the season.

Look, if Lattimore lights up Rupp tonight, Mark Pope needs to find a way to keep him in Lexington. Kentucky could really use a go-to scorer and three-point shooter right now. And one that plays almost 40 minutes per game? Let’s hope he doesn’t show the Wildcats what they’re missing tonight. Shutting him down would be even better.

Watch out for Dionte Johnson, too.

NC Central’s point guard, Dionte Johnson, also ranks nationally in several categories. He is 10th in total assists (64) and 2nd in total steals (36), and his 3.27 steals per game is the fifth-best average in the country. Johnson may not score like Lattimore, but the senior ballhandler drives the offense and will put pressure on Kentucky’s guards on the other end. He’s a New York City guard and a product of The Patrick School, the same high school that produced Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dakari Johnson, and Nick Richards, as well as familiar names like Kyrie Irving, Jonathan Kuminga, and Al Harrington.

Kentucky should control the game, but keeping both Lattimore and Johnson quiet will make the night a whole lot easier.

Tip-off is coming up at 7 p.m. Go Cats.