This is the official A Sea of Blue Open Game Thread for the Mississippi St. Bulldogs @ Kentucky Wildcats game tonight in Rupp Arena. Particulars as follows, courtesy of UKAthletics.com:
| Mississippi St. @ Kentucky | |
|---|---|
| Game Notes | Kentucky Game Notes  | Mississippi State Game Notes |
| Date & Time | Tues., Feb. 15, 7:00 p.m. ET |
| Coverage | TV: ESPN Radio: BBSN GameTracker Online Audio Online Video via ESPN3 Text Updates |
| Location | Rupp Arena Lexington, Ky. |
Both teams are coming off road losses, Kentucky to the Vanderbilt Commodores and Mississippi St. to the Auburn Tigers. Both teams are hungry for a win, although only Kentucky really has a shot at an at-large NCAA bid absent an MSU run to an SEC tournament victory. Kentucky is also likely to be without the services of Darius Miller, so the normally thin Wildcat bench gets even thinner tonight.
Keys to a Kentucky win:
- Attack Dee Bost on defense and keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible. MSU turns the ball over quite a bit, but less when Bost handles than others.
- Defend Renardo Sidney in the paint. Sidney is getting better every game, and Kentucky doesn't need him to put up career numbers on them.
- Stay out of foul trouble. This could be the toughest thing of all to do.
- Take open threes. Kentucky has been taking too few three pointers rather than too many lately. Jones and Harrellson must allow the perimeter guys to open up the middle for them.
- Get fouled and make free throws.
Keys to an MSU win:
- Get Harrellson in foul trouble. With Miller likely out, depth is a problem, and it may take all the fouls we have inside to guard Sidney.
- Get Ravern Johnson involved. MSU has been freezing out Johnson, and they need to get him more shots.
- Win the battle on the offensive glass.
- Run the offense to get good shots.
The Wildcats will be hurtin' for certain if they drop this game to the Bulldogs, but MSU is capable. Kentucky must play sharp basketball and put the 'Dawgs away as early as possible.
Go, 'Cats!