Welcome to A Sea of Blue's open game thread for the Kentucky Wildcats at Georgia Bulldogs game tonight in Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia. Game particulars as follows, courtesy of UKAthletics.com:
| Kentucky @ Georgia |
|---|
| Kentucky at Georgia Tues., Jan. 24 - 9:00 p.m. ET Stegeman Coliseum Athens, Ga. Game Notes: UK  | UGA |
| Coverage |
| TV: ESPN Radio: UK IMG  Live Video via ESPN3 Text Updates |
Since the advent of the SEC section of the season, Georgia has struggled. In fact, they have struggled against every team in Ken Pomeroy's top 100 that they have played except for a couple, and even though Georgia has good talent, they have really not been able to put the pieces together like they were last year. Georgia is experienced in the back court, but very young up front.
The Wildcats come into Athens a perfect 5-0, undefeated (but definitely not untested) in this young SEC season. Kentucky has been winning games without playing particularly well, and that's really more of a glass half-full than half-empty.
To win at Georgia, Kentucky needs to:
- Take care of the basketball. Kentucky has turned the ball over more in their road games than they have at home, and if UK can keep turnovers down, they have a chance to make this game less difficult.
- Make open threes. Kentucky is going to get some, because Georgia has to know that they cannot defend Kentucky's front line one-on-one. UK is simply too quick, too big, and too athletic. That means double-teams and zone, and UK needs to make the most of those opportunities.
- Rebound well. Kentucky is a good offensive rebounding team, but they have not fared as well lately against the bigger inside teams in the SEC.
- Communicate on defense. One of the hardest things to master is being vocal on defense, and Kentucky has struggled with that until recently. They need to continue that improvement at Georgia.
- Finish at the rim through contact. Against Alabama, Kentucky was not able to do that. That needs to change.
Kentucky has an advantage everywhere in this game, so they have no excuses for not getting the job done tonight. Of course, Georgia is going to have something to say about that, and when Georgia plays their best, they are capable of upsetting anyone.
Go, 'Cats!