Arkansas-Kentucky Prediction

[Dreklie]

UK - 92
Arky - 68

 

[jboler]

Cats by 3. Arkansas will finally play the way everyone expected them to. Not enough though.

 

[TankedCat]

I obviously think UK wins, but what I"ve seen from Arkansas, UK is going to get a lead in the first half but by the second half Arkansas is going to put on some clamp down defense. They can play it when they want to. UK will need to keep the offense going when Arkansas decides to flip the switch.

I think UK by 5. 87-83

 

[TankedCat]

As crazy as it sounds, with all of the actions UK runs, Calipari will have to switch to a zone. He has no idea how to scout our offense.

that would actually be hilarious to me (unless they won)

 

[Digger-Cat]

Like it or not they have more talented players, higher ranked players. However, we have Pope and his staff and bunch of players that are enjoying playing for Pope and BBN.

How are they more talented? DJ Wagner was a top 5 recruit 2 years ago, but would you take him, or Oweh?
Davis played great 2 years ago, but would you take him, or Jaxson?
Big Z is okay, but are you taking him over Williams?
Aidoo sucks, you taking him over Garrison?
Thiero is a dog, I think we take him over Almonor, but would you be surprised if Almonor scored more points?
Brazille isn't anything special.

Where is all this talent? On paper, two years ago, sure, but all these guys are struggling in Cal's awful system.

What you're afraid of, is these guys catching fire all the sudden. Well, yeah, I guess that's possible, but none of them have done that this season and if they start hitting 3's early, just give it a minute, they can't sustain that.

 

[Digger-Cat]

I obviously think UK wins, but what I"ve seen from Arkansas, UK is going to get a lead in the first half but by the second half Arkansas is going to put on some clamp down defense. They can play it when they want to. UK will need to keep the offense going when Arkansas decides to flip the switch.

I think UK by 5. 87-83

Oof, if we let Arkansas score 83, we suck. They couldn't do that even when they had Fland. Without him, they can't even get to 70 at home.

 

[AJG-15]

How are they more talented? DJ Wagner was a top 5 recruit 2 years ago, but would you take him, or Oweh?
Davis played great 2 years ago, but would you take him, or Jaxson?
Big Z is okay, but are you taking him over Williams?
Aidoo sucks, you taking him over Garrison?
Thiero is a dog, I think we take him over Almonor, but would you be surprised if Almonor scored more points?
Brazille isn't anything special.

Where is all this talent? On paper, two years ago, sure, but all these guys are struggling in Cal's awful system.

What you're afraid of, is these guys catching fire all the sudden. Well, yeah, I guess that's possible, but none of them have done that this season and if they start hitting 3's early, just give it a minute, they can't sustain that.

Majority of these guys re struggling because they play for Cal. Wagner, Thiero and especially Z would have shine in a system like Pope.

Our best player is Oweh who is just a more experienced Knox or Richmond type of player.

Pope would have been in final 4 with Kentucky last year roaster,

 

[truckbrandon]

Thanks... now I'm hungry!

 

[Digger-Cat]

Majority of these guys re struggling because they play for Cal. Wagner, Thiero and especially Z would have shine in a system like Pope.

Our best player is Oweh who is just a more experienced Knox or Richmond type of player.

Pope would have been in final 4 with Kentucky last year roaster,

It's not just Cal's system, they legit can't shoot.

Also, we don't have a best player, we have a true team where each player has multiple skill sets that make them very good at the roles they play.

 

[true blue1]

82-68 Cats.

 

[BC_Wader]

Cats by 14

 

[villefan76]

26 point win ? What was the last game UK won by that much ? Trust me, I would love to see it happen, just do not think it does.

I looked up the last UK win by 26 or more.
12/31 - v/s Brown by 34, 88-54.

Before that,
11/29 v/s Georgia State by 29, 105-76.

While not world beaters, Arkansas is a lot better than those 2 teams. Brown is 6-11 and Georgia State is 7-14 and not in an even remotely decent conference.

I just threw a number out buddy. But I’m like you, I’d love to see it.

 

[jedwar]

How are they more talented? DJ Wagner was a top 5 recruit 2 years ago, but would you take him, or Oweh?
Davis played great 2 years ago, but would you take him, or Jaxson?
Big Z is okay, but are you taking him over Williams?
Aidoo sucks, you taking him over Garrison?
Thiero is a dog, I think we take him over Almonor, but would you be surprised if Almonor scored more points?
Brazille isn't anything special.

Where is all this talent? On paper, two years ago, sure, but all these guys are struggling in Cal's awful system.

What you're afraid of, is these guys catching fire all the sudden. Well, yeah, I guess that's possible, but none of them have done that this season and if they start hitting 3's early, just give it a minute, they can't sustain that.

I will admit I'm afraid of a few of them catching fire unlike they have this year. I think my fear is the product of wanting to win this game so bad.

 

[jedwar]

It's not just Cal's system, they legit can't shoot.

Also, we don't have a best player, we have a true team where each player has multiple skill sets that make them very good at the roles they play.

I'd love to see some zone. Let them fire up shots and prove they can make them. Z can for sure. Davis hasn't yet but is capable. Anyone else and I'd play off with much space.

 

[AJG-15]

It's not just Cal's system, they legit can't shoot.

Also, we don't have a best player, we have a true team where each player has multiple skill sets that make them very good at the roles they play.

Davis can shoot, Z can shoot , Boggie ( not playing) can shoot…others like Brazile and Wagner are as good as Garrison. If you think system and coaching doesn’t matter , who you trade Pope for Calipari?

 

[Fox2monk]

I think Arkansas could come in and play well for a bit but I really don't think they shoot well enough to stay with us.

Cats 83
Hogs 71

I hope it's a bigger blowout than that. But I don't think Pope will run it up.

Arkansas does play pretty good defense. We know Cal won’t want to run with this bunch on the road. Without Boogie and if we have Butler or Carr I think we win 89-74 or so.

 

[Fox2monk]

I'd love to see some zone. Let them fire up shots and prove they can make them. Z can for sure. Davis hasn't yet but is capable. Anyone else and I'd play off with much space.

Just force Richmond or Knox to beat you. Shade Adou for the drive, play Davis a little tight. Other than that, try to push Big Z out on the perimeter far out and play solid defense. Maybe mix in some zone and don’t foul. Like always a Cal team relies on fouls for a large portion of their points.

 

[65pacecar]

I think UK wins but Cal has a tendency to grab an unexplainable win every season, I hope UK is not it. Ark is awful just like his recent teams at UK, but there is still talent on that roster, but talent is lacking on the sideline.

 

[oldcat52]

I don't care what the score is ...... just blow them out the doors. However, at what point in a game that is well in-hand does Pope call off the dogs and subs out the bench?

 

[Wildcats1st]

I’ve dreaded this game from the time cal went o ark. Not bc of cal rather his team of guys who played in lex last year. They will be hungry. They know teams go off there and they are familiar with the environment.

 

[kywildcat41035]

UK - 92
Arky - 68

Close to what I have in the prediction thread 92-65!

 

[ChicagoCat1990]

The prediction I want from everyone is which Arkansas player will hit the banked in 3? My money is on Karter Knox.

I think it will be closer than we hope for it to be but late game coaching is the difference maker.

UK 77
Ark 71

 

[kywildcat41035]

I think UK wins but Cal has a tendency to grab an unexplainable win every season, I hope UK is not it. Ark is awful just like his recent teams at UK, but there is still talent on that roster, but talent is lacking on the sideline.

He was able to get a win like that at UK but is he at Arkansas? They're 2 totally different animals. He was also able to come to UK and recruit and do things you can do with a name like UK. Well at Arkansas in his first season he's 12-8 overall with a 1-6 conference record. Just can't do them kind of things at Arkansas that you can do at UK.

 

[TankedCat]

Oof, if we let Arkansas score 83, we suck. They couldn't do that even when they had Fland. Without him, they can't even get to 70 at home.

I understand the logic but this is a game circled on the calender for Wagner, Z and Thiero.

My expectation is they will be playing at a different level

 

[DrH. Lecter]

We know how well Cal handled Little Brother....Pitino....for some reason. I think we will get their best effort especially from the 3 who left us. I hope they play tight but who knows, they could play out of their minds for their coach. I just hope we win. I don't care at this point how large the margin.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

I will admit I'm afraid of a few of them catching fire unlike they have this year. I think my fear is the product of wanting to win this game so bad.

The players with the greatest pressure and motivation in this game will be the former 3. I don't think that any of our team really is motivated by the outside influences in this game....or dislike for Cal. So depending how the 3 respond to the crowd and either rise to or get crushed by the atmosphere...that will be the wild card that I find difficult to weigh.