Can long, athletic Howard really give Kentucky a game?

Orlando Antigua says Sahvir Wheeler and Oscar Tshiebwe will be game-time decisions tonight. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Orlando Antigua certainly got the message from coach John Calipari not to undersell Howard, Kentucky’s opening-game opponent tonight.

Howard went 16-13 last year, its first winning season since 2002, and its best KenPom.com rating — 234th — since 20022.

“Howard has a really long team, a lot of experience,” Antigua said. “They have capitalized off the transfer portal, bringing guys in who have made a great impact on their team.”

“They are in conversation to win their conference (Mid-Eastern Athletic). They are really long, athletic and can shoot.”

The transfers are 6-0 Jelani Williams who averaged 6.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game at Penn who has had three ACL injuries, and Marcus Dockery, who played sparingly in two years at Maryland.

In fairness to Howard, eight of its 13 losses last year came by four points or less. But the Bisons also ranked 353rd in defensive rebounding percentage.

Kentucky is almost a 30-point favorite.

Antigua did note that John Calipari’s best teams attack, play fast in transition, have solid defense and then run some more.

“We want to see us running, see us flying around, see us rotating and defending,” Antigua said.

Calipari posted a message on social media last week that his team might be “shaky” at times in November and December.

“I think Cal was very clear (with his message). It’s just that. Be patient with the team. We have a lot of guys stepping up into their roles,” Antigua said. “We are trying to see consistency of effort, sacrifice and sharing, talking defensively and running. Those are our strengths.”

“We want to continue to show those things we did this summer (in the Bahamas) now that games are here.”

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Antigua also said Sunday that both center Oscar Tshiebwe and point guard Sahvir Wheeler would be game-time decisions.