I’ve been assigned the task of painting my kid’s room and the guest bathroom today, and I’m not looking forward to it. Not the actual painting, it’s not too bad. But the prep work involved sucks. Taking down outlet covers, and light switches, and towel hangers, and mirrors, and taping around doors and windows. I don’t like it. It doesn’t help that, tonight, I have a house full of no less than 4 screaming basta-I mean, adorable little angels- that NEVER scream or cry or freak out over something stupid. It will be great times, and I will cherish it till the end of my days.
Speaking of preparation, our beloved Cats are going through pre-game preparations as we speak, getting ready to do battle on the Bayou against the LSU Fightin’ Haven’t-Been-Relevant-Since-Glen-Davis-Playeds. It’s a game that Kentucky will win, unless 3 of the starters come down with food poisoning and can’t play. Here’s all you need to know about this series: When LSU is unranked, Kentucky has won 18 straight against them. When LSU is ranked, UK is 0-4. Today, the Cats are tops in all the land, while LSU is sucking at the hind teat. Tell me why I should be worried about them.
Series history notwithstanding, I have never, in my life, been excited about a Kentucky-LSU basketball game. For the moderate success LSU has had, they are quite possibly the most boring team in America. I like the coach, they’ve never had any annoying players, and as far as I know, the basketball fans are fairly classy. But when was the last time you came away from this series matchup going “Man, what a great game that was!”. Without looking, two come to mind: the 31-point comeback in ’94, and the SEC semifinal in 2005. After looking…yep, nothing else stands out to me aside from those two tangles. Add to this the fact that, under Calipari, Kentucky is 2-0 with a total margin of victory of 64 points, and you can color me unenthused.
Still, there will be a couple things worth watching in this one. For starters, LSU has a former Kentucky Mr. Basketball in freshman Anthony Hickey, who is surely looking to make a statement today against the coach who never recruited him. Also, there is the subpar offensive showing against Georgia on Tuesday. Yes, Kentucky won by plenty, but they also scored 19 points in the second half, looking obviously uninterested and unfocused for the majority of it.
If the young Cats are as bored playing the game today as I know I’m going to be watching it, look for more offensive indifference. But, truthfully, as long as the defensive effort is there, this team won’t need much offense. Just don’t let Hickey (10 points, 4 assists) have a 30-point eff-you game, and keep Justin Hamilton (14 points, 7.4 boards) in check, and there won’t be any problems.
[I][SIZE=1]Except his apparent willingness to take charges. I’m sure this will end well.[/SIZE][/I]
Instead, look for the starters to show LSU where the bear poops. Tuesday, MKG was the only starter in double figures, and the only Cat other than Darius Miller to get there. Anthony Davis played excellent defense, and Terrence Jones did his recent act of not scoring much but playing hard elsewhere. Doron Lamb just sucked. Marquis Teague didn’t score much, but he played outstandingly at the point, getting 7 assists and 7 boards with no turnovers.
Still, you know this group heard it from Calipari this week. I’m going to put myself amongst those who think Terrence has a big game today. Lets call it 18 and 13. I expect Kentucky to struggle on the boards, as they only average 2 rebounds more a game than LSU. Hamilton is a hosscat at 6’11” and 260, so Davis will have his hands full.
LSU is as bad at shooting the ball as Georgia is, so it will most likely be ugly. But, as long as the Cats win, ugly is okay.
Kentucky by 17, let’s call it 75-58.
