Saturday is behind us, and Kentucky faces a challenging road test against the Georgia Bulldogs. This matchup allows fans to gauge how the team performs away from home in the SEC.
Let’s preview this big-time matchup between the Cats and the Dawgs in the gauntlet of the SEC.
SEC basketball this season is a gauntlet, and if Kentucky wants to have a chance at the championship, it will need to steal a few road games, which will not be easy. They’ve had their issues on the road as of recently—losses at Clemson and a neutral loss to Ohio State.
The sad reality as we move along in SEC play is that every team will face complex challenges trying to keep a decent road record intact in an absolute banger of a league.
Winning on the road is difficult as it is, and yet a win over Florida is how you stay above water to ensure the balance between home and away games. Winning the majority of your home games in the SEC is crucial, and there are some road games you can afford to lose if you can secure the home games you are favored in.
It’s a challenging task, but they’ve accomplished the first part by winning against Florida. Now, we see where things stand as they head into a tough two-game stretch on the road.
If you haven’t had the chance to catch Asa Newell in action, it’s definitely worth it.
While his shooting from deep hasn’t been spectacular, he’s really made an impact on the defensive end and can create disruptions. Offensively, he has the ability to take defenders off the dribble. If he continues to develop and enhance his skills, there’s a good chance we’ll see him in the NBA, possibly in next year’s draft class.
Keep an eye on this pivotal player as Kentucky heads to Georgia. Amari Williams and Brandon Garrison must be primed to dominate the boards because Newell excels defensively. Once he finds his rhythm offensively, he becomes a tough matchup for any team. He’s a standout talent with tremendous potential, making him a player to watch closely as the game and the season unfold.
This has been the theme the last few times Kentucky has faced a good defensive team, and that question is whether the Cats can play ugly at times, shoot well, and come out with a win. We didn’t see it in both losses to Clemson and Ohio State, and when the game got tough, they couldn’t find a go-to guy to finish the deal. Hopefully, that trend will change in Athens on Tuesday night. Kentucky is ranked No. 5 in offensive efficiency on KenPom, while Georgia is ranked No. 28 in defense.
This will be quite a change of pace from the Florida game, as Georgia will look to slow them down while the Cats will try to run and play a faster-paced game. Play ugly, win, and all is forgotten, or revert to the things that cost them against Clemson, and they might see another road loss on Tuesday night
One thing is for sure: they’ve got to figure out a way to play ugly at times and win, just like they would if they played fast and hit shots. A win is a win, and it doesn’t matter how pretty it can be. Once you get later into the year, you’ll encounter all kinds of challenges in SEC games and tournament play.
The season kicked off on a positive note for Kentucky, with a strong win over Florida on Saturday. A victory against Georgia on Tuesday night could establish a solid tone for the team. It will also be a good indicator of whether Kentucky can manage the challenges of playing on the road and maintain its momentum as it approaches a tough stretch in its schedule.
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