Kentucky and Indiana will lock horns for the 54th time later today. Kentucky is coming off a solid win over #23 Notre Dame where the second half lock down defense was the key while Indiana rebounded from it’s first loss of the season with a win over Savannah State.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Here is a look at the match up:
[B]Location:[/B] Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
[B]Series:[/B] Kentucky leads the series 30-23.
[B]First game:[/B] In a scoring frenzy, Kentucky lost the first game ever, 20-18, on 12/18/1924.
[B]Ranked #1:[/B] Eight times they have played, one of the two teams was ranked #1.
[B]Tradition:[/B] Since 1965, the two teams have met only seven times where at least one of the two teams wasn’t ranked in the top 25.
[B]Rupp:[/B] Indiana hasn’t won in Rupp since 1988.
[B]
INDIANA HOOSIERS[/B]
Record: 7-1
Florida Gulf Coast :: Won 88-60
Wright State :: Won 67-44
Mississippi Valley State :: Won 71-54
Evansville :: Won 67-54
North Carolina Central :: Won 72-56
Northwestern State :: Won 100-66
Boston College :: Lost 88-76
Savannah State :: Won 79-57
[B]Upcoming Games:[/B]
SIU-Edwardsville
South Carolina State
Northern Iowa
Penn State
INDIANA NATIONAL RANKINGS:
Points Per Game :: 55th
Per Game Average :: 77.5
Rebounds Per Game :: 126th
Per Game Average :: 37.0
Assists Per Game :: 50th
Per Game Average :: 15.8
Field Goal Percentage :: 12th
Per Game Average :: 50.5%
Team Leaders:
#2 Christian Watford :: 17.8 ppg 5.9 rebounds
#12 Verdell Jones :: 14.3 ppg 3.4 assists
#3 Maurice Creek :: 11.8 ppg 2.5 rebounds
Maurice Creek and Jordan Hulls are the two 3-point threats. Creek is shooting 18-45 for 40% while Hulls is shooting 18-31 for an incredible 58%.
[B]OVERVIEW ::[/B]
For Indiana to pull the upset, they’re going to have to get hot and stay hot from behind the arc. Creek and Hulls could hurt UK, if the Cats give them open looks. IU’s one loss was to Boston College, a school that lost it’s second game to Yale. Granted, Yale would probably dominate in the classroom and the wallet after college, but a loss on the court…
Tom Crean is doing a super job of rebuilding a historical program, but it’s going to take another year or two for the Hoosiers to get to a true competition level. Kentucky should dominate the boards and control the score. This is one team where Kentucky’s height is an advantage. A no fouling Harrellson could be a solid factor on the block, especially on the boards.
If Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb show up, Kentucky should pull away at the end and get it’s 7th win of the season.
The one area that’s always a roll of the dice is Rivalry. This is a rival game and one that Tom Crean and his Hoosiers will be well prepared for as they roll into Rupp.
My useless pick, Kentucky wins 74-63.
Go Cats!!!
Follow Chip on Twitter at [URL]http://twitter.com/ukbigbluenation[/URL] or follow Nation of Blue at [URL]http://twitter.com/uknationofblue[/URL].
