The Transylvania Pioneers will be walking down Broadway to Rupp Arena to play the #2 team in the country, the Kentucky Wildcats, to continue a series that hasn’t been played in 100 years.
Transylvania is loaded with Kentucky talent, only listing 1 player outside the state, with most players from the eastern part of the state.
The Pioneers will be led by Brandon Rash who played high school basketball at Montgomery County and is a All-HCAC performer from a year ago. The 6’4″ forward averaged 11.9 ppg last season and grabbed 4.7 boards a game.
Coach Brian Lane also has several players that are no stranger to Rupp Arena as Ashley Hatfield, Jordan Gilbert, and Tate Cox all played in the Sweet 16 numerous times.
Hatfield, who averaged 10 ppg as a freshman, cut down the nets his senior season as his Shelby Valley Wildcats won the state championship.
Transy is going to have a very hard time matching up with Kentucky, as their tallest player is 6’8″ and the next in line are a couple of guys who are 6’6.”
Needless to say the Pioneers will have a matchup problem with the Wildcats who have what most consider the #2 frontcourt in the entire country.
I look for this game to be a little sloppy early, as I am sure there will be a lot of nerves, but Kentucky will be just too much in the paint and dominate with Terrence Jones, Anthony Davis, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
[B][U]Focus[/U][/B]
There are two players I will be watching in tonight’s game and they are Marquis Teague and Eloy Vargas.
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[*]I am interested in seeing how Teague handles the offense and his decision making in transition. I am sure there will be a ton of transition opportunities for the Cats and Teague will have to do a better job than he did in the Blue/White game of deciding when to take the ball to the basket or find the open man on the perimeter. I want to see improvement in his shot as well and knocking down a couple of threes would go a long way for confidence in his shot by himself and Coach Cal.
[*]If Eloy Vargas can’t show drastic improvement in a game vs. a Division 3 opponent, one would have to wonder if he is going to help this team. Vargas has been labeled the 8th man by many and being able to give Davis and other members of the frontcourt a rest during games will likely be his role. I think if Eloy can give 10-12 strong minutes a game this team could be that much better. Watch Eloy tonight and see if he is strong with the basketball, keeps the ball up high after a rebound and puts the ball back in hole.
[/LIST]It should be a fun night in Rupp Arena as the ball finally starts to roll on the 2011-12 season.
