Tonight, the Kentucky Wildcats take on the UNC-Ashville Bulldogs in Freedom Hall. Game particulars are as follows:
Date & Time Monday, Nov. 30 7:00 p.m
Coverage TV: FS South Radio: BBSN
GameTracker 
Online Audio 
Online Video via ESPN360
Tonight, I am going to combine the pre-game analysis and the open game thread, and put it up early. This way, there will be no need to change from pre-game to game. I did this to save myself some time, as much as anything.
Analysis and more following the jump.
UNC-Asheville Team Statistics
Statistical Comparison (Via StatSheet.com)
| Team | POS | PPG | PPP | FLR% | Eff | eFG% | TS% | FTR | 2P% | FTP% | 3P% | OR% | DR% | A% | A/T | T% | S% | B% |
| UNCA | 374 | 74.8 | 0.83 | 47.6 | 82.6 | 41.8 | 43.8 | 24.7 | 60.2 | 14.6 | 25.2 | 35.5 | 62.4 | 50.4 | 0.62 | 25.7 | 10.4 | 8.5 |
| UK | 428 | 71.3 | 1.14 | 59 | 113.8 | 56.8 | 59.5 | 51.4 | 54.6 | 23.2 | 22.2 | 46.9 | 67.9 | 53.3 | 0.8 | 26.2 | 8.6 | 13.9 |
| UNCA Opponents | 374 | 74.8 | 1.19 | 56.1 | 119.3 | 56.6 | 61.7 | 48.3 | 47.1 | 25.3 | 27.6 | 37.6 | 64.5 | 63.7 | 1.21 | 20.6 | 13.4 | 6 |
| UK Opponents | 428 | 71.3 | 0.93 | 46.7 | 93 | 43.2 | 47.2 | 31.3 | 39.7 | 20.4 | 39.9 | 32.1 | 53.1 | 54.5 | 0.85 | 19.9 | 12.9 | 3.3 |
Four Factors analysis (Via Kenpom.com)
| Four Factors Comparison | ||
| UK | UNCA | |
| eFG% | 56.8 | 41.8 |
| TO% | 26.3 | 25.7 |
| OR% | 46.1 | 35.5 |
| FTA/FGA | 51.4 | 24.7 |
Analysis
The UNC-Ashville Bulldogs have not won a game so far this year, and were thrashed by Tennessee by 75 points (Yes, you read that right). UNC-Asheville is only averaging about 62 points per game this year, so they have some major offensive issues. Couple that with the pressure defense they are likely to face against Kentucky, and you get the picture of how one-sided this affair could wind up.
A quick look at the stats and analysis, and you will see that the Bulldogs have very few statistical areas in which they are remotely similar to Kentucky, let alone superior. Even turnovers, for which the Wildcats are 320th in the land, are no easy match for the Bulldogs, who are 316th.
The Bulldogs do shoot it a bit better than UK from three, but not so much as to be likely to overcome their woeful 0.83 points per possession, especially when compared with UK's 1.14 PPP. If UK is able to get the possessions up to their season average, this game could easily go over the century mark, while the Bulldogs would just crack 70 points.
Even though the Bulldogs have several taller players on the roster, the tallest starter is only 6'6", so you can see that they have a real height problem in their starting lineup. They are also extremely young.
Tonight's game will be in Freedom Hall, a place where the Wildcats have enjoyed mixed success lately, winning last year vs. Appalachian State, but losing the year before against UAB.
Look for the Wildcats to dominate this game from tip to horn. There is really nothing to be done about it, as the bottom of UK's bench could easily beat this team by 30 points.
Projected score: UK 110, UNC-Asheville 80.
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Here's what I hope to see tonight:
- Better ballhandling by everybody.
- Better three-point shooting.
- Improved decision-making (I'm looking at you, DeMarcus Cousins).
- A Patterson-palooza.
- More of the DDM than we have seen so far this year.
This game should not be too difficult, and if it is, we have major problems with chemistry. Go, 'Cats!