When: Tuesday, Feb. 10th, 6 pm CT
Where: Pete Maravich Assembly Center
TV: ESPN
Online: ESPN 3/ Watch ESPN
Jordan Mickey celebrates with the fans after last season’s upset of Kentucky. Courtesy of Fansided.com
LSU upset Kentucky last year in Baton Rouge, but they will have their hands full tonight against the top-ranked Wildcats. At 23-0, Kentucky is off to the second best start in school history, and the best under coach John Calipari.
The Wildcats are led by a pair of talented forwards in freshman Karl-Anthony Towns and junior Willie Cauley-Stein, with both projected to be chosen in the top-15 of this year’s NBA draft. This Cauley-Stein dunk from their win over Florida on Saturday sums up the dominance Kentucky has displayed this season:
All hope is not lost for the Tigers, however. Much like the Wildcats, LSU finds its strength in the post. Sophomore forwards Jordan Mickey and Jarell Martin will need to slow down Towns and Cauley-Stein if the Tigers are going to have a chance tonight. With the nation’s second best shot-blocker in Mickey, LSU might have the best opportunity to take down the Wildcats before postseason play begins.
Projected Starting Lineups:
LSU:
G Jalyn Patterson (6’0″ 173 Fr) 5.4 PPG, 1.9 APG, 2.1 RPG
G Keith Hornsby (6’4″ 210 Jr) 12.5 PPG, 2.1 APG, 4.4 RPG
G Tim Quarterman (6’10” 236 So) 12.3 PPG, 3.2 APG, 5.4 RPG
F Jarell Martin (6’10″ 236 So) 16.0 PPG, 2.0 APG, 9.0 RPG
F Jordan Mickey (6’8″ 235 So) 17.0 PPG, 1.5 APG, 11.0 RPG
Kentucky:
G Dominique Hawkins (6’0″ 195 So) 1.9 PPG, 0.9 APG, 1.0 RPG
G Aaron Harrison (6’6″ 210 So) 11.5 PPG, 1.7 APG, 2.5 RPG
G Andrew Harrison (6’6” 210 So) 7.9 PPG, 3.9 APG, 2.0 RPG
F Karl-Anthony Towns (6’11″ 250 Fr) 9.0 PPG, 1.1 APG, 6.2 RPG
F/C Willie Cauley-Stein (7’0″ 240 Jr) 8.9 PPG, 0.8 APG, 6.3 RPG
Prediction: Kentucky 77, LSU 73
As much as this hurts, I have to pick Kentucky here. Having the second best start in school history would be impressive anywhere, but when you consider all of the championship teams Kentucky has produced, it makes the feat even more outstanding.
That being said, LSU absolutely has a chance tonight. Changes in their starting lineup gave the Tigers a significant boost in their win over Alabama on Saturday. During that game they played their best basketball since blowing out Florida last month, putting at least a temporary end to sloppy play that has plagued them throughout SEC play.
The same Florida team that LSU blew out took Kentucky to the brink just three days ago. Before that, the Wildcats needed overtime to defeat Ole Miss and Texas A&M. Kentucky is by no means unbeatable, but they have shown a tremendous ability to overcome adversity in clutch situations in all of these games.
LSU has no room to throw away possessions tonight, especially down the stretch. If they make the same mistakes that cost them close games to Auburn and Mississippi State, Kentucky will blow the Tigers out early. If LSU is able to control the basketball and make smart decisions, however, they will put themselves in a position to win this game.
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