Does Kentucky Beat Santa Clara On Friday?

[Farsight Clone]

Kentucky gets the opening game on Friday on CBS.

We play at 12:15.

Do we beat Santa Clara?

 

[Farsight Clone]

Geez sorry guys. My phone auto correct strikes again. I changed the title to Santa Clara, instead of Santa Clause pfft..

 

[Cats4321]

We better win this game! But, I think it will be closer than we'd like.

 

[Farsight Clone]

We better win this game! But, I think it will be closer than we'd like.

I think so as well. I could see a scoring drought that would get them back into the game. I think we win by 4-5 points.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Kam Williams is going to have a great game. He will be a large reason we win!

 

[UKGrad24]

If we’re going to do this let’s do it right.

 

[philstat]

Going to say no, this team has a lot of internalized issues, many due to the lack of strong leadership from Oweh as a player to Pope as a coach, even this weekend during Selection Sunday, to do it privately - shows again, a failure of leadership.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

I looked back at their last 8 games. They’re averaging 30 3pt attempts per game and making 38%. I think they go over the 30 in our game. Hopefully we do a good job of contesting them.

 

[bbn166]

Kentucky gets the opening game on Friday on CBS.

We play at 12:15.

Do we beat Santa Clara?

I think we get that game cause a lot of people think we will lose

 

[JimboBBN]

I said no. Never know with this team.

 

[TTTblue24]

We are so bipolar but comes down to DA and CC, we know what we will get from Oweh and just hope he stays out of foul trouble. MD could be huge and we’ll need his defense on their good player but the tourney always comes down to guard play in the end.

 

[Snarks]

Beat Santa Clara lose to Iowa State

 

[true-blue1]

With this team and Coach it’s hard to predict.

 

[Zuma75]

We better win this game! But, I think it will be closer than we'd like.

Expecting a rock fight that we find a way to pull out at the end.

 

[ArcticChar]

I hope we do but I have no confidence that we will.

 

[RunninRichie]

50/50

 

[cat tat2]

I hope we do but I have no confidence that we will.

Same - hopeful, not confident.

 

[gabbizon]

I haven’t seen any pundits pick UK but that should not be surprising

 

[jrm693]

I fully expect Santa Clara to hit shots like never before, hoping the Cats can get their inside game going...would be nice to win one.

 

[JHBr]

I haven’t seen any pundits pick UK but that should not be surprising

Bilas picked Kentucky, but quickly qualified it to say they could lose...

 

[MidseasonTweak]

Cautiously yes... But I won't be surprised if we lose. Even if we win, our run ends against Iowa State.

 

[Inland_Taipan]

Line is currently up to UK -3.5

 

[BlueBloodKyFan73]

Graves kid is going to be trouble. Top 10 stretch 4 in the nation as a freshman

 

[UKCowboys]

Yes but a tough matchup close game

 

[megablue]

Kentucky 85
Santa Clara 81

 

[megablue]

Graves kid is going to be trouble. Top 10 stretch 4 in the nation as a freshman

Will he be entering the portal ??

 

[BlueBloodKyFan73]

Will he be entering the portal ??

One can hope you take away the seniors and ones going in the draft he’s only behind stretch 4 St Mary’s Paulius, Mirkovic from Illinois and Winter of Wisconsin

 

[Anon1762656614]

UK will handle them 15+ on Friday.

 

[rivercatinfl]

I looked back at their last 8 games. They’re averaging 30 3pt attempts per game and making 38%. I think they go over the 30 in our game. Hopefully we do a good job of contesting them.

That's what I'm worried about. They shoot the 3 ball well. They also play good defense and will likely focus on Oweh.
In the last couple games they played and won they shot better than 40% from 3. We have to run them off the line.

 

[Bugs092056]

They really have no choice but to do so

 

[rivercatinfl]

Can they do it?

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

Saw they have a euro guy that plays guard at 6’9”. Not sure of the rest of the starters but if he has to guard Oweh, we might have something there.

 

[bleedsblue5]

Heck I dunno, I say yes but wouldn't be shocked.

Honestly though, Pope doesn't struggle with non power 5 teams.
But anytime the talent even remotely gets close- watch out.

 

[BigBluefoot]

I looked back at their last 8 games. They’re averaging 30 3pt attempts per game and making 38%. I think they go over the 30 in our game. Hopefully we do a good job of contesting them.

Not good then. We struggle with guarding the perimeter.

 

[BigBluefoot]

I feel.like I need a 3rd."not sure" option.

 

[HenryMuto]

I hate the times of the game. I prefer night and Kentucky and Akron play at same time that is annoying.

Also Ohio State is 1st game Thursday then Kentucky 1st game Friday.

GRRRRRRRRR

 

[UKBB4Ever]

I fully expect Santa Clara to hit shots like never before, hoping the Cats can get their inside game going...would be nice to win one.

Most college players can hit unguarded 3’s.

And they will get any shot they want.

 

[Cerberus]

I believe we will cover

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I voted yes. Pope hasn't proven he can lose to these types of teams at UK. One of the small positives for him so far.

 

[Bill_the_cat]

By 18 or 8.