Kentucky Basketball Men’s team will travel to Seattle to take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs in a matchup of Top five teams and a crucial stretch for Kentucky Basketball. Kentucky is coming off a loss at Clemson on Tuesday night. Kentucky has struggled in these type games in the Non-Conference in the past and it would be great for Mark Pope and Kentucky to come back home with a win over a really solid Gonzaga team who’s one of the top teams in the nation.
The Wildcats haven’t shot the ball particularly well the last three games and right now that’s a concern going into this stretch of basketball coming up. The crowd will be even more intense out in Seattle with a pro-Gonzaga fanbase raining down on them. Kentucky without their offense is going to have to trust their defense to win games for them when the offense is off and having a bad shooting night. Look for Otega Oweh, Lamont Butler, who’s limited right now with an ankle sprain and hopefully comes back for Gonzaga, Amari Williams to pick up the slack when it comes to the defensive side of the ball, these are the bell cows for UKon defense.
Jaxson Robinson mentioned after the Clemson game that he’s excited for Gonzaga. “I feel like our guys handled it really well even though we did’t win the game. We’re all itching and excited to get back to work. The work starts tomorrow, it doesn’t start on Saturday. I like that attitude from a experienced team and leader on this team, it shows the team is prepared to bounce back and figure things out and get things right and get back to what they did early in the season.
These two games with Clemson, Gonzaga is preparing Kentucky for SEC play and how physical the game is going to get. the SEC this year is brutal, from top to bottom. One of the best leagues in College Basketball right now. If Kentucky is going to get back to it’s winning ways, it starts with three point shooting and when the cats aren’t hitting shots they are a vulnerable team and that was the case Tuesday night against Clemson.
Kentucky is also going to need some scoring off the bench to win this game as well, guys like Koby Brea, Kerr Kriisa, and Brandon Garrison needs to step up when it matters and make some shots. Kentucky needs to respond in a big way on Saturday night and it starts with Offense and it ends with defense, if Kentucky isn’t hitting their shots Kentucky’s defense needs to be there and create turnovers and create havoc on Gonzaga.
Lamont Butler Limited for Kentucky
Kentucky is hopeful Lamont Butler can give it a go Saturday against Gonzaga. Butler sustained the injury Tuesday night against Clemson and was limited to 19 minutes after picking up two quick early fouls which put Kentucky offense in a struggle for most of the first half.
If Butler can’t go Kerr Kriisa or Travis Perry could be asked to limit the load and play at the point. Collin Chandler, possibly Trent Noah could be called upon as well. Gonzaga knows and is familiar with Lamont Butler with is time at San Diego St, Butler has emerged as one of Kentucky’s top guys and having him on Saturday night is crucial to a win and leaving Seattle with a quad 1 win. Butler also won Mountain West player of the year last year and nobody can deny his toughness and his ability to make plays, and if I had to guess, Lamont Butler is going to play despite a ankle sprain.
Final Four atmosphere?
That’s what Mark Pope calls it. The battle out West is going to be a Final Four type game and I expect it to be everything it’s painted to be. Kentucky needs this game in the worst of ways, it’s been a while since Kentucky won a game of this magnitude at this early in the season for Kentucky, last year Kentucky lost to Gonzaga at home, Lost to Kansas, this would turn the Tide in a big direction and for Big Blue Nation. Get ready for your popcorn and sit back and relax and enjoy a College Basketball game after dark.
#KentuckyBasketball #MarkPope #Gonzaga #LamontButler
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