We remember all to well how the game in Nashville went against Vandy, so there is no need for me to go into how poorly Kentucky played, or how dumb it was the way Vandy shot the ball. So let's just look at tomorrows game.
First of all, it is Senior Day for Kentucky senior Josh "Jorts" Harrellson. This kid has made more improvement in one year than any Kentucky player in recent memory. Now I'm not saying he is an All-American, or even an All-SEC candidate, but it's hard to dismiss the obvious improvement by Harrellson. Last season he didn't see much playing time, playing behind the likes of Demacrus Cousins and Daniel Orton. But when he did get some playing time, he was no where near the player he is this season. The most improved part of his game is his rebounding, particularly on a the offensive end of things. I mean this time last year did any of you expect that Harrellson would be one of the leaders in the SEC in rebounding? So, tomorrow night, when Josh runs through the hoop for Senior Night, show him the love and respect he deserves!
Now on to the game. This is a must win for Kentucky if they want to have any chance of a first round bye in the SEC tournament. Of course Vandy would have to help them out by losing their last game of the season, but Kentucky has to take care of their end of things first. Vandy always seems to present problems for Kentucky every year, and it's mostly Vandys ability to shoot the ball well from the outside that does the damage. Kentucky, at times struggles with their perimeter defense, and this is not the game to have that happen.
Vandy, as a team shoots the ball well from outside averaging 38% on the season, where as Kentucky shoots 39% from downtown. So you can see both teams have some great shooters, it comes down to who can shut the other down from outside.
That brings us to the inside game. Kentucky has struggled this season with any team that has a inside game, and Vandy is no different. Center Festus Ezeli causes some matchup problems down low for the Cats. In the last meeting, Ezeli only had 14 pts, but he is just a big athletic body to bang around down low and has a great shot blocking ability averaging over 2 bpg. Plus if you foul him, he can hit the free throws as well hitting almost 65% from the stripe. But if he wasn't bad enough, there's Steve Tchiengang, a forward that can play down low, and step outside and hit the three at a 40% clip. So Kentucky's big men will have to be ready to play tomorrow night, and stay out of foul trouble for Kentucky to win this game.
The one player that just killed Kentucky in the last meeting was John Jenkins, shooting 11-17 from the floor, and going 6-10 from three to light up the Cats for 32 pts. In the last meeting, every time Kentucky made a run, Jenkins buried big three, after big three. Kentucky has got to keep him under defensive pressure, limit his touches and force him to put the ball on the floor. Not saying Jenkins can't finish at the rim, because he can. But I would much rather take my chances of him going to the basket, than have him put on a shooting clinic in Rupp. But since the game is in Rupp, and we all know how opposing players shoot there, expect him to look like Pistol Pete tomorrow night.
Kentucky played a decent game in the last meeting, loosing by only 4 but once again, turnovers at the wrong times is what killed them. They only had 8 turnovers, but they just seem to have happened at the worst possible times, as always.
Brandon Knight played a decent game, going for 20 pts on 7-13 shooting, and 4-7 form three. But, out of the 8 turnovers, 4 came at the hands of Brandon Knight. He has got to take better care of the ball tomorrow night. Terrence Jones had a good game, in the second half. Jones was 9-14 from the floor, 1-4 from three and 6-8 from the line, to finsih with a team high 25 pts. The only stat that bothers me, is the 1-4 from three, Jones is not a three point shooter and needs to stick with what he does best. Posting up inside, going to the rim and trying to get Vandys bigs in foul trouble.
Kentucky has got to have better play out of DeAndre Liggins and Doron Lamb than what they got in the last meeting. Doron only had 8 pts in 30 minutes of play, and was 0-2 from downtown. He has got to put up better numbers this time around. DeAndre Liggins had a decent game scoring 10 pts, but again he had momentum changing technical called on him in the second half. Liggins has got to keep his head, quit talking to the refs and just play ball. Calipari will take care of the refs.
This should be a good game, as it always is on Senior Day. Again, Kentucky has got to start the game well, and avoid letting Vandy get a big lead in the first few minuets of the game. If they take care of the ball, and play good defense, there is no reason Kentucky doesn't walk away with the win tomorrow night.
So let's make this last home game a good one, blow the roof off of Rupp, and make Vandy wish they never showed up to play this game in the first a place.
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