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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome once again to the greatest basketball show on earth! This time, it's your Kentucky Wildcats welcoming the Texas A&M Aggies to snowy Lexington Kentucky for a little roundball. Now, the Aggies, they're pretty good at football, but this game (hopefully) belongs to the Blue and White.
For the Texas A&M viewpoint on this game, be sure to check out Good Bull Hunting, SB Nation's excellent Aggies community.
Whether it really does or not is a matter yet to be resolved, though. To wit, let's take a look at what's important in this contest:
Kentucky wins if:
- They don't turn the ball over;
- They attack the rim to get layups or fouls;
- The win the rebounding battle;
- They make 70% or more of their free throws;
- They defend more consistently;
Kentucky loses if:
- They turn the ball over liberally;
- They shoot 50% or less from the line;
- They fail to guard the 3-point shot;
- They don't win the offensive rebounding battle;
- Kentucky doesn't match or exceed the effort of the Aggies.
This is a simple game. When you out-talent your opponent, play to your strengths and don't allow your foe out-hustle you. Kentucky, at one time or another this season, has run into difficulty with all the things I noted above, and every one of them have been complicit in a win, or in a loss.
We have been waiting for the Wildcats to break out all season. Will the wait continue?
Go, 'Cats!