No. 23 Kentucky hosts Vanderbilt, looks to extend win streak

No. 23 Kentucky is immediately hovering and owns the longest energetic successful streak within the Southeastern Convention.

The Wildcats (20-9, 11-5 SEC) will search to document a season-best fifth consecutive win on Wednesday once they entertain Vanderbilt in Lexington, Ky.

Kentucky has moved into third place within the SEC on account of its third four-game successful streak of the marketing campaign. Huge man Oscar Tshiebwe has performed an enormous half by averaging 20.3 factors and 9.8 rebounds through the stretch.

Over the previous two video games, Tshiebwe has been blazing by making 20 of 23 photographs (87 %) whereas averaging 23.5 factors in wins over Florida and Auburn.

Earlier this month, the reigning nationwide participant of the yr averaged 5.5 factors on 5-of-20 capturing over a two-game span.

Wildcats coach John Calipari mentioned Tshiebwe has regained his confidence, and the massive man agreed.

“That is the time of the yr, every little thing we went via was simply to construct my confidence and be ready for the time about to come back — March Insanity and the SEC match,” Tshiebwe mentioned after Saturday’s 86-54 rout of Auburn. “For me now, I’ve no distractions. I am simply within the health club, centered, locked in. …

“I got here again to win a championship. I am fairly assured proper now with this workforce and the place we’re going.”

Tshiebwe registered 22 factors and 17 rebounds within the Auburn defeat and elevated his team-best season averages to 16.4 factors and 12.8 rebounds.

Kentucky shot 56.1 % from the sphere and held a 41-23 rebounding edge in opposition to the Tigers in one of many Wildcats’ greatest all-around performances of the season.

“Refuse to lose. Does not imply you are successful each recreation,” Calipari mentioned. “It means your mentality of the way you’re taking part in. You by no means cease. The clock might run out on you however you simply maintain coming. And these guys are embodying that proper now.”

The Wildcats, who’re 14-3 at house, additionally might be trying to proceed their mastery of the Commodores (16-13, 9-7).

Kentucky has crushed Vanderbilt 14 straight occasions, together with a 69-53 win in Nashville on Jan. 24. Antonio Reeves scored 16 factors and Tshiebwe had 15 factors and 13 rebounds.

The Commodores are additionally on a sizzling streak as they’ve received six of their previous seven video games.

Liam Robbins led the way in which in Saturday’s 88-72 house win over Florida with 18 factors, 9 rebounds and 5 blocked photographs.

Robbins leads the workforce in scoring (15.5 factors per recreation) and rebounding (7.1) and ranks third at school historical past with 82 blocked photographs. Luke Kornet (84 in 2015-16) and Festus Ezeli (87 in 2010-11) are the one gamers with extra in a single season.

The Commodores’ current run of success follows a stretch wherein they dropped six of eight video games.

“We have been knocked down just a few occasions this season, and I feel we have at all times got here out collectively as a gaggle and simply had the mentality to come back out punching each time,” Vanderbilt ahead Myles Stute mentioned after Saturday’s win. “We by no means actually took a step again.”

Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse is in search of his membership to proceed the momentum this week in opposition to the Wildcats and in Saturday’s house recreation in opposition to Mississippi State to shut the common season.

“Now we’re centered on Kentucky, going into a tricky surroundings in opposition to a workforce that is taking part in properly,” Stackhouse mentioned. “However I am assured in my group that we will go in there and get one other one and hopefully get again house and shut out our season the proper method.”

–Subject Degree Media