Thought I saw where Kris Dunn and one other Friar starter/contributor were expected to miss this one due to injury.

 

I'll say Cats by 17....83-66.

 

This is about what I am thinking.

There is no way Providence will get double figures. UK 72 Providence 7

Kentucky 76-58.

I believe UK is favored by 20.

Providence should have lost that game to Notre Dame and is lucky they didn't lose to Albany in the season opener; they're not great.

 

Bryce Cotton isn't walking through that door.

 

Cats by as many as they want.

Bryce Cotton isn't walking through that door.

 

He was a really good player.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Providence will be at full strength. Coach Ed Cooley has labeled Mcdonald’s All-American point guard Kris Dunn and freshman wing Jalen Lindsey “very doubtful” for tomorrow’s contest. The players also missed the team’s 72-66 victory against Yale last night.

Keys to the Game

 

• Don’t let LaDonte Henton go crazy. As good as all of the Kentucky players are, Henton will be one of the best players on the court in this one. He can just flat out score and if he gets going can single handedly keep the Friars in the game. I expect to see UK try a number of different matchups on him.
  
• Take care of the ball. The Friars have done a good job of turning teams over this season. If those extra possessions lead to points it can definitely keep this game close.
  
• Respond to adversity. Even with the absence of Dunn and Lindsey, Providence has the talent to hang around and make this game very interesting. Even though we have had a couple slow starts, they haven’t come against teams as talented as this one. If everything doesn’t go our way we will have to be prepared to rise up to the challenge.
  
• Dominate down low. While Tyler Harris is a very good player, the Friars are definitely a more perimeter-oriented team. Kentucky should be able to dominate the paint and the glass all afternoon.
  

Kentucky Sports Radio

I expect this to be a close one. Henton will be a handful for sure. I am curious if Providence will stick with their normal style of man to man and full court press defense. If they do it could get out of hand. They did play a little zone in their last game, so I figure that's something they have been working on in prep for today's game. I expect this one will be a hard fought low scoring game, cats win by 12.