Kentucky
Kentucky vs. Bucknell: Players to watch
Saturday’s game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Bucknell Bison is not going to be an easy game for the home team.
The Bison are returning five of their top six scorers from a year ago, and this is a really good defensive team. Bucknell only gave up 67.1 points per game last year, and they could make this game a grind-it-out game for the Wildcats.
This is Kentucky’s last game before they play Duke next Tuesday in the Champions Classic. Let’s look at Players to Watch on the Bucknell Bison heading into Saturday afternoon.
Players to Watch
1. #3 Noah Williamson 7’0” 250 lbs. Jr. Center Riga, Latvia
Williamson is off to a hot start through Bucknell’s first two games this season. He’s averaging 25.5 points per game and is 15-24 from the field. Williamson is also averaging 10.5 rebounds per game. He was a Third Team All-Patriot League selection after finishing fourth in the league in rebounding and eighth in scoring and blocks, and he also had six 20-point games and four double-doubles.
2. #13 Josh Bascoe 6’0” 180 lbs. Sr. Guard Milton, Ontario
Bascoe is also off to a strong start with 16.5 points per game on 43.5 percent from the field and 4/10 from 3-point range. He also leads the team with 36 minutes per game.
3. #1 Ian Motta 6’6” 195 lbs. Sr. Forward Allen, Texas
Motta is averaging 11.5 points per game with 5.5 rebounds per game on 9/17 shooting from the field.
4. #5 Elvin Edmonds IV 6’2” 190 lbs. Sr. Guard Hopewell, Va.
Edmonds is averaging 10 points and 6.5 rebounds per game through Bucknell’s first two games. He’s also second on the team with 31 minutes per game. Edmonds’s durability isn’t something new, for he was second in the Patriot League with 34.3 minutes per game last year. It was a year where Edmonds was also third in the Patriot League in assists, fifth in steals, and 15th in scoring. Edmonds is Hopewell High School’s all-time scoring (1,662) and three-point field goals (240) leader.
5. #22 Ruot Bijiek 6’9” 190 lbs. Jr. Forward Waukee, Iowa
Bijiek is averaging seven points and four rebounds per game through two games this season. He’s 5/8 from the field and 4/6 from 3-point range. He scored 11 points in a road loss to Duke last season.
Head Coach: John Griffin III (2nd season) Griffin is no stranger to Bucknell. He played for the Bison and led them to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2005 and 2006. That 2005 Bison team upset Kansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2006, Bucknell broke through and was ranked in the AP Top 25 on their way to a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they would knock off Arkansas in the first round. Griffin is the all-time leader in Bucknell program history with 220 three-point field goals.
As a coach, Griffin was on the Bison staff for four seasons as an assistant from 2015 to 2019. Bucknell went to the NCAA Tournament in 2017 and 2018 and won four Patriot League Championships. The Bison went 14-19 with a 10-8 Patriot League record last year in Griffin’s first season as a head coach.
Notable Bucknell Alumni
Christy Mathewson: Mathewson is in the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of the greatest pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball. With 373 career wins, Mathewson won two World Series, two pitching Triple Crowns, and led the National League in wins four times and ERA and strikeouts five times. Fun fact: he played for the Reds in 1916 and managed them from 1916-1918.
Leslie Moonves: Moonves is the former chairman and CEO of CBS from 2003-18. He is married to Julie Chen, the host of the popular reality TV show Big Brother, which airs on CBS.
Keys to the Game
1. Patience: Bucknell is going to try and slow the pace of the game down to a slog. If you’re Kentucky, just accept that this is going to be a grind-it-out style of game. Shot selection will be at a premium as a result.
2. Don’t look ahead to Duke: This is a new-look Kentucky team, a completely new-look Kentucky team. With Duke looming on Tuesday, that’s where their focus can’t be. It has to be in this game against a tenacious Bucknell team.
3. Get off to a fast start: Getting off to a fast start can speed Bucknell up, and that’s not their style of play. That would be an advantage for Kentucky.
Score Prediction: Kentucky 78, Bucknell 67
Kentucky
Drone Shows Wintry Mist in Southern Kentucky
Kentucky
Kentucky vs. Jackson State viewing info, what to watch for, and predictions
The Kentucky Wildcats are back in action Friday to face the Jackson State Tigers in the second game of the BBN Invitational.
To put it simply, Jackson State is bad, very bad. Sitting at 0-5 and ranked 321st in KenPom, the Tigers will likely be the worst opponent Kentucky will play all season.
Coached by Mo Williams, one of LeBron James’ old teammates with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Tigers have only finished above .500 twice in the last decade. This season, Jackson State is predicted to finish fourth in the SWAC.
Mark Pope recently said he wanted to build a standard, regardless of opponent and, and that will be tested on Friday.
Let’s take a look at the matchup.
More 3-Point Attempts
Admittedly nitpicking, one of the things that Mark Pope was not happy with in Kentucky’s win over Lipscomb was the amount of three-point attempts. While they shot nearly 50 percent from deep, going 12-25, Pope wants to see the number of attempts closer to 35.
The Tigers have allowed their opponents to shoot 47.8 percent from deep, the second-worst mark in the country. Pope and the staff will certainly generate a game plan to take advantage of this. Expect to see 30+ attempts.
Ball Movement
Despite beating Lipscomb by 29 points, the Wildcats had a season-low in assists with just ten. For context, Kentucky had averaged more than 23 assists per game entering the matchup.
“That’s not us. That’s not who we are,” Pope said after the game.
While there wasn’t a lot of selfishness, the ball just wasn’t ‘flying’ as it has been early this season. This is a priority for the staff and this mature group, and they will aim for 25+ assists.
Keep JSU off Free-Throw Line
Jackson State ranks in the top 100 nationally in one area: Free throws made per game. So, Kentucky, defend without fouling.
Kentucky’s offense makes headlines, but the defense has played very well to start the season, holding all four opponents to under 73 points. Let’s see if they can get down in a stance and defend well for 40 minutes vs. a team that stresses contact and drawing fouls.
Opposing Players to Watch
C Shannon Grant 6-11, 290 lbs
- 7.5 PPG
- 4.8
- Preseason All-SWAC First Team selection
G Jayme Mitchell Jr 6-5, 190 lbs
- 15.0 PPG
- 3.8 RPG
- 44.4% 3P
F Romelle Mansel 6-9, 220 lbs
- 10.8 PPG
- 5.8 RPG
- 31.7% FG (second most FG attempts on the team)
Time: 7 PM ET on November 22nd
Location: Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY
TV Channel: This game will not be on TV and is streaming only,
Online Stream: SEC Network+, ESPN+, and the ESPN app.
Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens have the radio call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings).
Rosters: UK | JSU
Stats to Know: UK | JSU
KenPom: UK | JSU
Team Sheet: UK | JSU
Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook has yet to release the odds for the game, so check Thursday afternoon for an official spread. Multiple projections give Kentucky a 99% chance of winning: Bart Torvik (99%), EvanMiya (99.9%), and ESPN (99.0%). The exception is KenPom (92%).
Predictions: KenPom (93-63), Haslametrics (96-63), Bart Torvik (95-61), and EvanMiya (96-59) all are going with a 30+ point victory, Kentucky!
Be sure to send us your Kentucky vs. Jackson State score predictions! And Go CATS!!
Kentucky
Kentucky vs. Texas Injury Report: Deone Walker, JJ Weaver and others set to return
The Kentucky Wildcats are now getting prepared for one of their hardest games on the schedule as they travel to Austin for a date with the Texas Longhorns.
This disappointing season has also been riddled with injuries across the board for the Cats. Whether it has been offense or defense, Mark Stoops’ squad has not been close to full strength, really, one time this season.
That will be the case again in Austin, as the first injury report of the week has been released.
With D’Eryk Jackson and Gerald Mincey out alongside DJ Waller, it’s Courtland Ford and Kahlil Saunders who carry questionable designations as of Wednesday.
For some good news, however, JJ Weaver seems likely to play, as he is listed as probable.
In addition, Deone Walker, Barion Brown, and Jamon Dumas-Johnson are no longer on the injury report, so they’re set to return this week.
Going to be an interesting afternoon in Austin. Let’s see if any more names pop up on this report as the week continues.
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