Where: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
When: Saturday, December 3rd, Noon
TV: CBS
Records: UNC 6-1; UK 7-0
Last spring when the dust from the NBA Draft decision storm settled, this date was circled on everyone’s calendar as the college basketball game of the season. With the NBA not playing basketball until Christmas, this will be the only game this season with this many NBA-caliber players on the floor at the same time. So much so ten NBA scouts will be in attendance along with countless members of the national media.
UNC unexpected loss to UNLV last Saturday prevented this game from being the #1 vs #2 match-up everyone thought it be. Still this is widely acknowledged as a potential preview of a Final Four game in New Orleans. For both teams it is a test to go against another team of equal caliber to best ascertain where the holes lie. While winning or losing is important, neither UNC nor Kentucky will be greatly damaged or uplifted by either result. There is simply too much season left and it would only be a single loss.
From the viewpoint of UNC players, there is some familiarity to this team based on the two meetings last season but overall UK brings a different squad into the game. Of the top seven in minutes played, only Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Darius Miller return from the team UNC beat in Chapel Hill and lost to in the Elite Eight. Of those three only Lamb had a memorable outing, 24 points in the regular season game. Of course performance last year mean very little since this is a different UK team with three freshmen now playing significant minutes. UK starts their third straight freshman PG in Marquis Teague. Anthony Davis is very similar to John Henson at the PF. Both are lack bulk, have tremendous length and pride themselves on rebounding and shot blocking. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is going a little bit of everything at the small forward position.
Clearly this is a team that can match UNC talent for talent at every position on the floor. The upside for the Heels is this game will be played a tempo of the Heels’ liking. The downside is Kentucky rebounds and shoots threes fairly well which could create problems for UNC. One edge the Heels have is they are the more experienced team and accustomed to playing and winning in tough games, the results versus UNLV not withstanding. With both teams boasting so many quality interior players, officiating will be crucial as it was last year when UNC got the better of the foul trouble in Chapel Hill only to be bit by it in the regional final. The backcourt matchup is also intriguing since Dexter Strickland can only guard one of two UK guards leaving Kendall Marshall to deal with the other one.
Regardless of previous results this season, both teams will show up and make this a competitive and compelling game to watch. As I said, the result is almost moot providing neither team blows the other one out and even then it is only December 3rd with plenty of time to circle the wagons. A loss here for UNC would means the Heels could still finish the non-conference slate at 15-2 and be in great position for a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. A win would be a nice notch on the belt but like last season, the one that could come later will be the game that matters most.
I have basically been counting this as a loss even before the season started so I am going to go with that in the prediction although I also get a feeling that UNC will be out to prove something in this game following the loss to UNLV and the grind it out effort versus Wisconsin.
UK 77 UNC 72
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Nice hedge-
Let’s go Tarheels!
Officiating will be huge. Henson totally took Jones out of the game in the regular season but was sitting on the pine in the tourney. Let’s hope the refs let the stars on both squads stay on the court and let their play decide the outcome. Also curious about the match-ups. I think Henson should get Jones again (and not Davis), as he is a more dangerous scoring threat and Henson showed he can get under his skin. And if Davis is like Henson, he won’t want to get bodied by Zeller all game.
Oh yeah – Go heels! Kentucky fans are a close second to dookies on the annoying scale.
GO HEELS
JMO, but I think the boys come out and play their best game of the season today…. and get the W
The bench is going to be the difference. Up front, in my opinion, the matchups between the starters is a draw. McAdoo could be the tie breaker. In the backcourt Ky has the advantage… unless Reggie turns into the player we all hoped he would be today. Then all bets are off.
Another key is going to be weathering the first 10 minutes at Rupp. Kentucky doesn’t loaf around the way we have a tendency to. They are going to come out fired up and go for the jugular early (which is something our guys should pay attention too and learn from). We need to match their intensity throughout the game.
The wildcard is Barnes. If he gives us 30 minutes of brilliant basketball instead of just 15 minutes of brilliant basketball we’ll win this game (and every other game we play) easily.
I’m intrigued with the PG performances for both teams, and think this might be the key to the game considering the eveness of matchups everywhere else.
For UNC, that will likely involve Marshall contributing more, offensively, than he’s done so far. For Kentucky it means Teague will have to avoid looking like a freshman, and improve on his less-than-impressive 4:3 assist to turnover ratio. (Some good D against him would help as well)
GO HEELS!
“The wildcard is Barnes.”
Agreed. And don’t forget, Barnes and MKG have a bit of a rivalry stemming back to a summer camp game in 2009, where MKG got the better of Barnes, and Barnes is said to have said that it will never happen again. Barnes is not Jordan, but he does have a bit of the same ability to feed off of what he feels to be a personal slight (real or made up, in some cases). It would not surprise me at all to see Barnes at the top of his game.
And speaking of “vendettas,” there is also this: Tyler Zeller apparently does not forget what happened to him as a freshman. In 3 games since having his wrist broken, Zeller is averaging 29 points and 12.5 rebounds per 40 minutes.
I am going to the game today with a UK fan. I saw Rasheed Wallace yesterday (do not ask him for a picture). I’ve never seen a game at Rupp. This should be a great match up. Barnes is the key.
A PRE-GAME PO-EM IN WHICH THE AUTHOR RHYMES CALIPARI WITH CALIMARI
The way Roy balls,
we should call him ‘Thrilliams’
and today he’s gonna wow ‘em
by the millions
…and Kentucky? Please!
– ya can’t trust Calipari
his programs be shady
like ink from calamari
So today, my buddy Butta be ballin’ hard
Johnny H gonna swat it into the yard
Z gonna sting a cat like a 7′ bee
Strick gonna take it sea to shining sea
And when the clock ticks down
and we’re 39:55 from the start
Harrison B gonna stick one cold
right though their cheatin’ hearts
Kentucky is missing Josh Harrellson who was a very key player in Kentucky’s run last year. His “physical” play helped Kentucky beat UNC and Ohio State. I think today’s key will be the play of the guards. I don’t believe Lamb can stay in front of Strickland and I hope Roy doesn’t ask Strick to help double down when he is defending Lamb or Teague.
bench is key, they are going to have to contribute on defense to pick up Kendall Marshall’s slack, get some stops and contribute some points for Carolina to pull off a win!!
Just arrived in Rupp sittin 7 rows behind our bench. 2 hours before tip off and it’s already half full. let’s go heels! barnes is key baby!
^Harrison! You should be in the locker room! Roy’s gonna be pissed.
…And what’s with the referring to yourself in 3rd person?
As much as I might want our guys to go out and win every game, this is one where I’ll be satisfied if they go out and play well and show that they’ve worked to fix their glaring weaknesses (rebounding and 3 PT defense).
…go where you go, do what you do…
Go Heels!
Has Hairston been completely rules out yet?
I don’t believe I “good losses” but if UNC losses a close game today that might put a chip on their shoulder. Being dismantled like in the UNLV game will open up the flood gates. A win even a blowout win will chalked up to an experienced team beating A very young one.