The Kentucky Wildcats are coming off their finest win of the season as they traveled to London and beat the Michigan Wolverines 73-69. Coming off of a 5 day break, the Wildcats will return to Rupp Enviornment to play the Yale Bulldogs on Saturday.

Yale could also be a world famend tutorial establishment, however in addition they have a gifted basketball crew. Over the previous six seasons, the Bulldogs have appeared within the NCAA event 3 times – most lately final season – even upsetting Baylor and practically Duke again in 2016.

This season, the Bulldogs are projected to complete prime three within the Ivy League, as they’re presently 8-2 and off to their finest begin for the reason that 1945-46 season. Doing so, regardless of dropping two all-conference alternatives from final season’s roster.

Saturday’s matchup will probably be simply the second time that the 2 groups have confronted, enjoying for the primary time in 1961 because the Kentucky Wildcats – highlighted by Cotton Nash – beat the Bulldogs 79-58.

Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at the matchup.

This season, Yale has made their mark on the defensive finish, holding all however two of their opponents to 62 factors or much less. When it comes to averages, they rank within the top-50 in opponent scoring common (57.8 ppg) and opponent capturing proportion (39%).

Much like Bellarmine, the Bulldogs are additionally a effectively coached group – head coach James Jones is a 3 time Ivy League Coach of the Yr – they usually play disciplined on each ends of the ground.

Saturday’s sport will probably be one other check of how effectively Kentucky can execute and play inside themselves. Within the Wildcats’ sport in opposition to Michigan, they confirmed enchancment in comparison with their early struggles, assisted on 17 of their 27 made subject objectives, enjoying via the offense and making the fitting performs. They have to do the identical in opposition to Yale.

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Regardless of some early season issues, this 12 months’s Kentucky crew has responded and began rebounding significantly better as of late. In fact having Oscar Tshiebwe is an enormous assist to that.

At present, ranked fifth within the nation in rebounds per sport(42.5), Kentucky will play a Yale crew that could be a prime 5 crew within the nation in defensive rebounding proportion (81.9%). Which means, the Bulldogs don’t surrender offensive rebounding alternatives simply.

Nevertheless, Yale has simply solely participant listed over 6-foot-8, and that’s freshman Danny Wolf, who averages the least quantity of minutes on the crew. Given the Wildcats measurement benefit, they need to be capable of get their alternatives, however they have to combat for them, which is one thing they haven’t completed at occasions this season.

The Bulldog’s finest participant unquestionably is Matt Knowling. The junior is averaging a team-high 16.2 factors and 4.7 rebounds, and ranks second within the nation in field-goal proportion with over 100 makes an attempt (64.6%).

Because the Huge Blue Nation is aware of, there have been many opposing gamers come into Rupp Enviornment and have a profession sport, and Knowling has the flexibility to be the subsequent on that checklist. Together with his capability to play in and out, Jacob Toppin and Chris Livingston will most definitely be matched up in opposition to him, that are two of Kentucky’s higher defenders.

With that stated, the Bulldogs’ success is fairly reliant on Knowling, as he’s liable for 2 win shares (worth of profitable two video games), which is amongst the very best within the nation. If Kentucky can restrict him, it ought to make for a a lot simpler sport.

Time/Date: 1:00 pm ET on Saturday, December tenth, 2022.

Location: Rupp Enviornment in Lexington, KY.

TV Channel: SEC Community

Announcers: Roy Philpott and Mark Smart will name the motion.

Dwell On-line Stream: WatchESPN, ESPN+, SEC Community+, or the ESPN app.

Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens have the UK radio community name on the UK Sports activities Radio Community.

Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Community (test native listings).

Rosters: UK | YU

Crew Sheets: UK | YU

Stats To Know: UK | YU

Odds: The betting line has but to launched from DraftKings Sportsbook, however ESPN’s matchup predictor provides Kentucky an 87.7% likelihood of profitable, and Bart Torvik has it at 88%. KenPom is at 92%.

Predictions: Bart Torvik picked the Cats to win 72-60. KenPom tasks a 75-59 victory, Kentucky!