Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky and Gonzaga were supposed to be two “desperate” teams playing Saturday when the Zags handed UK another loss and a third straight loss in Rupp Arena for the first time in program history. Now Kentucky is ever more desperate as it goes into tonight’s SEC game with Ole Miss, a team also desperate for a win after losing its last two games to Auburn and South Carolina. However, coach Chris Bear’s team has had a week off to prepare for UK.
“Ole Miss is like a lot of SEC teams,” Kentucky assistant coach Orlando Antigua said Monday. “They’re experienced, they’re good. They like to get out in transition, they shoot the ball extremely well, they cause some matchup difficulties because they’ll play a smaller lineup at times. They have big wings, so it’s gonna be a good challenge for us.”
Mississippi has not been as potent from 3-point range as UK, which leads the nation at 41 percent, but the Rebels rank 10th nationally. However, the Rebels are taking an average of 20 3’s per game despite their high shooting percentage.
“I think one of the things we were trying to do against Gonzaga is to defend the 3-point line (the Zags went 4-for-18),” Antigua said. “We know that teams have come in and shot the ball well against us, we’ve got to do a good job of defending the 3-point line and then securing the defensive rebounds to finish off those possessions.”
“Thought we did that against Gonzaga. We wanted to cut half of their makes from the 3-point line, we just didn’t finish off with the rebounding that we needed to.”
Fortunately for UK, Ole Miss ranks near the bottom of the nation in offensive rebounding despite having 7-5 Western Kentucky transfer Jamarion Sharp and 7-foot Moussa Cisse, a one-time UK recruit. They both average playing less than half of each game as Beard has gone with a smaller lineup much of the season.
“Matt Murrell is obviously a guy that’s been in this league and has been one of the top offensive players in the league for years,” Antigua said. “(Allen) Flanigan as a grad now is also a matchup problem. Big guard that can play multiple positions.”
“(Jaemyn) Brakefield has been there forever as well. He’s another guy that poses challenges. Point guard, Juju (Jaylen) Murray, we got a chance to play against him a few years ago when he was at Saint Peter’s.”
The good news for UK could be that Ole Miss ranks 132nd in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency and that’s the kind of game UK likes to play where offense determines the winner.
“They’ve got a good group, a good team,” Antigua added. “Obviously, by their record, it shows… It’s gonna be a great challenge for us and another opportunity for us to go out there and play a good team and try to get a win against a good team.”
5 Responses
TEAM Off Eff/Rank Def Eff/Rank
Mississippi Adj. Efficiency 116.6 30 103.8 130
Kentucky Adj. Efficiency 121.8 5 103.5 125
So, this is one of those teams that is playing defense as bad as or worse than UK, thus UK has a chance to get a home win.
My how this program’s standards have fallen.
Both teams lost at South Carolina, UK by 17 and Miss by 3
UK lost at Texas A&M and Miss won at A&M.
I don’t think anyone should count the chickens until the eggs hatch on Tuesday night.
After all, the Fraud has a 3 game Rupp Arena losing streak to his credit that he needs to protect.
Win or lose tonight, I am still willing to sever the cord with Cal.I am just tired of the lies, manipulation, and bad coaching. You guys get his house on the market, and I will drive him and Ellen to the airport.
Going to be an interesting April
It was good to finally win one at home again, but now we go to Auburn. Auburn has size and bulk and Pearl will tell them to go for blood. It looks like Mitchell may be out, so Bradshaw and Z need to step up…it would be nice for both to hit 2 or 3 treys to unclog the middle. Dilly and Ugo got the pick and roll going, we should be doing more of that. If ever we needed a statement win, this would be it. I fear a beatdown that could carry over to the LSU game on Tuesday and then we play Bama followed by a trip to Starkville. I wish I could be more optimistic about the outcomes of these 4 games, but our season to date doesn’t offer much encouragement. At least Jimmy can come out of hiding and shoot off his big mouth for 4 more days, but even Jimmy will see the writing on the wall by then. It’s too bad that we can’t play Vanderbilt 7 more times.
We are lucky that we play teams like ARK and Vandy twice, and don’t have to play AUB, BAMA, SCAR, Miss St, TX A&M twice–imagine what the record would be if u switched out just one or two of those for the other—this team will get absolutely annihilated at AUB on Sat–the environment down there is going to be like nothing this team has seen yet, and CAL dosnt have the makeup/DNA to prepare them for handling an environment like that. Another game where he will be outcoached and the team will be outclassed and exposed–ppl like Bradshaw and Z wont be able to hold their jockstrap. This is a game where u really need Mitchell to have any prayer at all. Also, u can bet the officiating will be bent one way and one way only, and I’m sure we will see Pat Adams out there–hes the modern day Teddy Valentine! Also a big time CAL and KY hater!!!