Rob Dillingham (Vicky Graff Photo)
Auburn is a 7-point favorite over Kentucky and has won every game at home by 10 or more points this season going into tonight’s game against No. 22 UK.
However, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl made it clear Friday what respect he has for the guard play Kentucky has had this season.
Pearl had his own unique way of describing how explosive UK freshman Rob Dillingham can be.
“Dillingham is a one-man scoring machine,” Peal said Friday.“He scores like I breathe. He’s a very, very dangerous microwave type of a player.”
Dillingham has five games with 20 or more points this season, including 35 against Tennessee
However, Pearl knows what UK guards Antonio Reeves, Reed Sheppard, and D.J. Wagner can do as well.
“Reeves has always killed us,” Pearl said. “He’s a big, big, long, physical guard. Really shoots it. He’s improved his float game, his midrange game.”
What about Sheppard? He leads the SEC in steals and has impressed everyone, including NBA scouts, with his overall play.
“He’s a dynamic point guard, great shooter, great playmaker, has great patience and poise, already a Kentucky favorite,” Sheppard said.
Pearl noted as good as the other UK guards are, Wagner “may be the highest ranked” with the NBA even though Dillingham and Sheppard are normally mentioned well above him in most NBA mock drafts.
“This is the best three-point shooting team that John Calipari has had, in my opinion,” Pearl said. “There’s about three or four guys out there that if they can see it, they can make it. Making them a really, really tough cover.”
However, Auburn ranks fourth nationally in defense according to KenPom. Foes are hitting just 30 percent from the field against Auburn to rank the Tigers in the top 20 nationally. But Kentucky is third in the country in field goal percentage at 40.7 and will need its guards — and others — making shots to compete with Auburn.
18 Responses
I am expecting a beatdown today not to our satisfaction. The Pups will be dominated by the Dogs. Califraudi will not be able to handle the pressure or make the adjustments needed which will be following his usual script.
Lots of yelling and theatrics. I hope he gets thrown out of the game early. We’ll have a chance to win once the assistant coaches take over.
It will be double figures before it is 7 or under
ROFLMFAO
The "PUPS" won’t be prepared to handle an environment like this because the CANCER doesnt spend any time preparing them for these kind of environments–because he doesn’t care. Not on his high priority list. And u can forget about officiating today too–will be 5 on 8–and I’m sure Doug Shows and Pat Adams both will be part of the show too. AUB 92 UK 68
The puppys will miss Trey Mitchell
Nah, Mitchell’s absence will be the easiest fraudulent excuse.
This will Cal the cover for the loss as he has done in the past. It will also give Pearl the opportunity to say the outcome might have been different had Mitchell played. I still can’t believe the number of injuries reported for UK last couple of yrs. They don’t seem to play hard enough or get enough 50/50 balls to sustain so many mysterious injuries.
WHATS YOUR EXCUSE. THE SKY AIN’T FALLING CHICHEN LITTLE!
Hey Prof – I got 8.5 !
Never claimed to be brilliant however.
Pomeroy has it 10. I have it 11 points.
I think 20+ is more likely. How about it Jimmy? Wait…Jimmy has gone into hiding! Who is leading the rah rah club?
I AM CHICKEN LITTLE!
Looks like an easy bet. Total should be over & Auburn will easily cover
Cats have to score 100 to have a chance. Auburn is Final 4 Caliber – Top 10 both offensively and defensively!
Awesome win at Auburn, but I fear that it is fools gold. If this is the "real" Kentucky, we should get a double bye in the SEC tourney and at least be in the final game. We should be no less than a 4 seed in the Big Dance and make it to a regional final, if not more.
If this indeed was more of a bad game from Auburn than a good game from Kentucky, we will have double digit losses before the SEC tourney, not make the SEC final, and not make it past the first weekend of the NCAA tourney. Time will tell…unfortunately.
Calipari was crowing loudly in his post game show, but he was crowing more about how many players HE had put in the NBA all star game than about this win. Come on Jimmy, you can come out of hiding now and crow for a few days. Come on David, tell everyone how I am the worst fan ever and I will wear it, but know this…any team can get lucky in one game, but this team and Calipari will be judged by their final product as I and most of BBN have judged them by the results, or lack of it, for the last 8 years. I really wish this was the "real" Kentucky, but anyone who knows this game knows how the season will end. Squeal Calipari lovers, SQUEAL!
BLAH BLAH BLAH!