No. 8 Kentucky Basketball vs. No. 22Mississippi State Game Preview

No. 8 Kentucky Basketball (14-3, 4-1) hosts No. 22 Mississippi State (14-3, 2-2) after defeating Auburn on Saturday. The Wildcats look to go 5-1 in SEC play and stay undefeated at home. 

When: January 22, 2019, @ 7:00 PM ET

TV: ESPN

Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky

SERIES HISTORY

According to Kentucky’s game notes for this game, the Wildcats lead the overall series 95-20. At home, Kentucky holds a 48-5 record over the Bulldogs and head coach John Calipari has a perfect 12-0 record against them.

The Wildcats currently hold an 11 game win streak over Mississippi State as well. However, when both teams are ranked, the record stands at 4-4.

Mississippi State’s last win over Kentucky came in Lexington on Feb. 3, 2009, when the Bulldogs won 66-57.

Both teams rank in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since Jan. 13, 2004. Then No. 5 ranked, Kentucky defeated No. 20 Mississippi State 77-67.

The last time these two teams faced off on Jan. 23, 2018 when Kentucky defeated Mississippi state 78-65.

Scouting Mississippi State

According to Mississippi State’s gameday notes, the Bulldogs are on a two-game win streak with wins over Florida and Ole Miss.

The Bulldogs bench can be as lethal as their starting five. Tyson Carter, Reggie Perry and Robert Woodard II helped the Bulldogs defeat Vanderbilt. The three combined for 25 points and 15 rebounds. Carter led the way with 10 points.

Over the last two seasons, when Carter provides double-digit points, the Bulldogs are 22-2.

In the last seven games, Aric Holman averages 15.3 points and 2.3 blocks per games. He scored 20-plus points in three of his previous five games.

Two more names to keep an eye out for in tonight’s game are Quinndary Weatherspoon and Nick Weatherspoon. Q. Weatherspoon has racked up 10-plus points in 15 of the17 games.

As for his brother Nick, the sophomore averages 10.3 points a game. When Nick has 10-plus points, the Bulldogs are 25-9. However, when both Weatherspoon brothers produce double-digit points, Mississippi State is 21-8.

Two Things Kentucky Must do to Defeat Bulldogs

KENTUCKY’S YOUTH LEAD THE WAY

The Wildcats have a starting lineup that consists of three freshmen, one sophomore and a graduate student. They have four players who average at least 10 points in SEC games.

Kentucky’s three freshmen starters also have won SEC Freshman of the Week a combined six times. Hagans, Johnson, and Herro each have earned the honors twice this season.

Ashton Hagans leads the way with 14.8 points, followed by Tyler Herro with 13.8. Keldon Johnson averages 11.2 points while P.J. Washington is at 10 points a game.

Hagans runs the offense like a general. He leads Kentucky with 3.6 assists per game and has three or more of them in 11 games. Despite him being a freshman, he commands the court like a veteran.

He not only runs the offense like a general but is a sniper on defense.  Hagans has recorded at least three steals in seven straight games. The freshman is putting together an impressive season and seems to get better each game.

Johnson continues to be a dominant force for the Wildcats and has put up double-digits in all but three games this season.

The Wildcats youth always seems to give them that much-needed spark during the season.

If the three freshmen can continue to score like they are, Mississippi State will struggle.

Expect Kentucky to feed Johnson, Herro, and Hagans the ball. The Wildcats average 80.2 points a game, and I  expect them to hit that mark and then some.

IMPROVE FROM THE THREE-POINT LINE

Kentucky is only shooting 35 percent from the arch after 17 games. However, in the five SEC games, the Wildcats have just made 32.1 percent of their three-pointers.

Herro leads the Wildcats making 29 beyond the arch. Johnson has made 23 3-pointers as well.

With a tough stretch coming for the Wildcats, improving from the arch will be crucial. It’s only a matter of time before  Hagans, Johnson, and Herro get hot from the three-point line, and this game could be when it happens.

SL’s Game Prediction:

Kentucky 85- Mississippi 70

Up Next for Kentucky Basketball

Kentucky’s next game will be Saturday against No. 9 Kansas on ESPN at 6 p.m. ET. The game is part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.