This Week in Kentucky Basketball: Bouncing Back

Big Blue Nation is entitled to their frustration. Kentucky Basketball fans are not used to 10-5 records, 1-2 in the Southeastern Conference, and suffering 26-point losses. Per KenPom, the Wildcats have only beaten one Top 50 team this season and that is #50 Michigan. #80 LSU and #92 Yale are the only other Top 100 victories. That makes for a very lack-luster resume that genuinely needs building at this point in the season. Kentucky is closer to fighting for a NCAA Tournament bid than they are a Final Four. However, while we as fans can worry about the big pictures, the players and coaching staff just have focus on winning the next game.

That next game for the ‘Cats this week is at home against the South Carolina Gamecocks. Holding serve in games like this at home is exactly what Kentucky must do at this point. There are plenty of opportunities for marquee wins in the SEC. If you can just win a couple of those big games then the Wildcats will go dancing. However, you can’t afford to lose any of these home games to teams that will likely be in the cellar of the conference standings. A trip to Knoxville to take on Tennessee looms on Saturday as well.

As we do each Monday, it is time to peel back the curtain and take a look at the Kentucky Basketball program as a whole. We will address the biggest storyline surrounding the team, preview the upcoming opponents, take a look at the SEC standings, and highlight the top games of the week to watch nationally. Let’s dive on in to another edition of this week in Kentucky Basketball.

Top Kentucky Basketball Storyline: Another Embarrassing Loss

The Kentucky Basketball team has played three true road games this season. Those road trips have not gone well at all. A 16-point loss at Gonzaga, a 14-point loss at Missouri, and a 26-point loss at Alabama. For the majority of the second half of each of those games the Wildcats were not very competitive. Saturday’s loss at the Coleman Center was the Wildcats worst loss to the Crimson Tide in school history. Those are not the type of records we are accustomed to breaking.

Even during the stretches in the first half against Alabama where the score was close it didn’t ever feel like Kentucky was going to win the game. There were five different possessions in the first half where Kentucky had a chance to either tie or take the lead. On three of those possessions they turned the ball over without even getting a shot. That is the type of execution, or lack thereof, that simply does not work on the road against a quality opponent.

None of the Wildcats losses by themselves are all that concerning. All five came against very good opponents and were away from Rupp Arena. However, it is the five of them together that becomes so concerning. To be considered a good team you have to, at some point, beat a good team. Kentucky has a marquee matchup against rival Tennessee to look forward to on Saturday. They cannot get caught looking ahead though. The ‘Cats need to be tough enough and mature enough to understand how to take care of business at home. Every conference win is a good win and Tuesday night is the next opportunity to add to the win column.

That is what it is all about at this point. Beat the teams you are supposed to beat and then find a couple Top 25 wins. Big Blue Nation isn’t used to setting expectations that “low,” but as we sit here today recalibrating expectations is necessary. “This is Kentucky” doesn’t win you any actual basketball games. The Wildcats aren’t who we thought they were in the preseason. However, there are still two long months ahead to reach those preseason goals. Each time out can be a step in that direction.

This Week in Kentucky Basketball: South Carolina Gamecocks & Tennessee Volunteers

The Wildcats have two very different games coming up this week. First, they take on the South Carolina Gamecocks who look like they might be the worst team in the Southeastern Conference. Coach Lamont Paris, who came from Chattanooga, has the Gamecocks at 7-8 overall, 0-2 in the SEC. They lost their conference opener to Vanderbilt in overtime and then got doubled-up by Tennessee on Saturday 85-42. Aside from star freshman G.G. Jackson there simply isn’t a whole lot of talent to work with in Columbia this season.

They play slow, are among the worst nationally in two-point, three-point, and free throw percentage, and turn the ball over far too much for a team that plays as deliberately as they do. Ranked #215 currently in KenPom, this Gamecocks team is more similarly to Kentucky opponents North Florida and Bellarmine than any other future SEC matchup. As always, stay tuned for a full scouting report on Tuesday.

As for Tennessee, they are flat out really, really good. The Volunteers are the best defensive team in college basketball, the best offensive rebounding team in the country, and are very capable of getting hot from beyond the arc. Santiago Vescovi leads a balanced scoring attack with 12.8 points per game. However, five other Vols average between 9.1 and 12.0 points per game. Josiah-Jordan James has returned to the floor just in time to take on the ‘Cats as well. Kentucky will get one more look at them this week on film as Tennessee hosts Vanderbilt on Tuesday night.

In SEC play, Tennessee has allowed 59, 53, and 42 points to their opponents. On the season, teams have failed to break 50 seven different times and have only gotten past 60 points three times in 15 games. It goes without saying that the Kentucky Basketball team will have their hands full scoring on Saturday in Knoxville.

Around the Southeastern Conference

We are just two weeks into the SEC season and the standings already starting to take shape. As expected, Alabama and Tennessee are out ahead of the pack with perfect 3-0 starts to their conference schedules. Texas A&M is the other remaining undefeated team with a 2-0 record. Down on the other end, South Carolina and Ole Miss are winless at 0-2 and 0-3 respectively.

On the Tuesday/Wednesday conference slate the game to watch will be Arkansas versus Alabama on Wednesday evening. The Crimson Tide go on to host LSU on Saturday. If Coach Nate Oats and company can remain unscathed this week it will be very impressive. The Tennessee against Kentucky matchup on Saturday is obviously a marquee one as well that will take place at Noon on ESPN.

Games to Watch Nationally

Tuesday, January 10th

#11 Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPNU)

#18 Wisconsin vs. Michigan State @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

#14 Iowa State vs. Texas Tech @ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

#2 Kansas vs. Oklahoma @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

#5 Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (SEC Network)

#13 Virginia vs. North Carolina @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

Ole Miss vs. #21 Auburn @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPNU)

#23 San Diego State vs. Nevada @ 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Wednesday, January 11th

#15 Arkansas vs. #4 Alabama @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

#25 Marquette vs. #6 UConn @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time

#12 Xavier vs. Creighton @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (FS1)

#16 Miami (FL) vs. Boston College @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPNU)

UNC Wilmington vs. #22 Charleston @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time

#24 Duke vs. Pittsburgh @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ACC Network)

#1 Houston vs. South Florida @ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

Texas A&M vs. #20 Missouri @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (SEC Network)

#10 Texas vs. #17 TCU @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

Thursday, January 12th

BYU vs. #8 Gonzaga @ 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

#7 UCLA vs. Utah @ 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Pac 12 Network)

Oregon State vs. #9 Arizona @ 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

Friday, January 13th

#3 Purdue vs. Nebraska @ 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Big Ten Network)

Saturday, January 14th

#5 Tennessee vs. Kentucky @ Noon Eastern Time (ESPN)

NC State vs. #16 Miami (FL) @ Noon Eastern Time (ACC Network)

Indiana vs. #18 Wisconsin @ 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (CBS)

#17 TCU vs. #11 Kansas State @ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Vanderbilt vs. #15 Arkansas @ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Creighton vs. #19 Providence @ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (FS1)

#7 UCLA vs. Colorado @ 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (FOX)

Florida vs. #20 Missouri @ 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time (SEC Network)

#2 Kansas vs. #14 Iowa State @ 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN+)

#4 Alabama vs. LSU @ 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

Florida State vs. #13 Virginia @ 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

#22 Charleston vs. Elon @ 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Clemson vs. #24 Duke @ 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ACC Network)

Oregon vs. #9 Arizona @ 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time

#10 Texas vs. Texas Tech @ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN)

#21 Auburn vs. Mississippi State @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (SEC Network)

#23 San Diego State vs. New Mexico @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time

#8 Gonzaga vs. Portland @ 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN2)

Sunday, January 15th

#6 UConn vs. St. John’s @ Noon Eastern Time (FS1)

#12 Xavier vs. #25 Marquette @ Noon Eastern Time (FOX)