#5 UK Hoops Vs. Ole Miss Game Preview

Gameday Information

Kentucky vs. Ole Miss

Thurs., Feb. 2 - 7:00 p.m. ET

Memorial Coliseum

Coverage

Radio: UK IMG

When the UK Hoops Squad hits the floor in Memorial Coliseum tonight, there will be a lot riding on them and their 20-2 record. And Matthew Mitchell knows it. The Hoops squad has started their SEC season 9-0, and it will not be easy to get that 10th straight win to start conference play.

"We have another tough opponent coming into Memorial. We're happy to have a chance to play at home and Ole Miss has a good team and we'll have to be ready to earn a victory. We're looking for a good practice today and we're excited to have another chance to play."

More after the jump...

Ole Miss comes into Memorial at 12-10 overall, and 2-7 in the SEC. While those numbers are not impressive on their own, they are not getting blown out and ridiculed by every team, they have played some close games. They bring the #6 scorer in the SEC to town in Valencia McFarland, and the #2 rebounder in Nikki Byrd who is averaging 9.5 boards per game.Ole Miss will be ready to play and won't back down from the Hoops squad and their smothering defensive skills.

UK ranks in the top 10 of five national statistical categories. The Cats lead the nation in turnover margin (+11.4), are sixth in won-lost percentage (90.9), seventh in scoring offense (78.1), eighth in scoring margin (21.0) and ninth in steals per game (13.1).

Mitchell won't be looking to change much in preparation for the Lady Rebels, but he has continually turned up the intensity in practice and in game situations to try and prepare this team for a Final Four run.I expect the ladies to handle this team, especially within the friendly confines of Memorial. Hoops 82- Rebels 65.

There will be no TV for tonight's game, so there will be on open game thread, but I will try and have a postmortem up shortly afterward. There will be both live and Internet radio feeds.