Did Auburn's near-loss to Arkansas change your mind about our chances?

[silentsaregolden2.0]

I know they beat us, but even at our current situation, we are better than them. So, if they can go into Auburn and almost beat them, do we have a realistic shot against them in Rupp? Do we need Butler back? I don't think Robinson has any real shot of playing.

 

[Chief Paducah]

No not really. I think Auburn probably took Arkansas for granted a bit. Auburn is the best team in CBB. Most well rounded. If they show up to play, they can beat anyone. One game flukes happen so yeah, we can win. But Pearl isn’t bringing Auburn to Lexington unprepared.

 

[Cats192]

I've always felt like we'll be very competitive in that game.

We do a great job of showing up vs good teams. We'll definitely show up for #1 in Rupp. Our guys will be hungry for that one. Add in home court advantage (which admittedly sometimes hasn't been great).

I think we'll be in the game late. I think we need at least one of Butler/Robinson to be able to pull it out. But it's doable.

 

[crawfords corner]

If fully healthy we matchup pretty damn well with Auburn. Its imperative to have Butler out there guarding Denver Jones though.

 

[aceman509]

We can beat anyone in the country when we are at full strength. Without Butler and Robinson it is hard to make that claim. I think with Butler and without Robinson there is still a world where we beat Auburn at home but it would have to take a really strong effort and we'd have to get lucky with how well Auburn shoots.

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

Never fear anybody as a UK fan
They’re coming into our place
Why should we think anything other than a win
Cow’s deal really changed a lot of peoples thinking
I think we give Alabama all they want Saturday too
Hell, we may not lose again

32-8 baby

 

[twwilliams9]

No not really. I think Auburn probably took Arkansas for granted a bit. Auburn is the best team in CBB. Most well rounded. If they show up to play, they can beat anyone. One game flukes happen so yeah, we can win. But Pearl isn’t bringing Auburn to Lexington unprepared.

We beat Duke with Robinson only scoring 1 point. Duke beat Auburn. Auburn isn’t invincible. Georgia almost beat them. We have a chance to beat ANYBODY in college basketball.

 

[BlueBomb]

We have two teams. If the right one shows up, we'll have a chance. If that other team shows up, we could get run.

 

[rob_47]

We beat Duke with Robinson only scoring 1 point. Duke beat Auburn. Auburn isn’t invincible. Georgia almost beat them. We have a chance to beat ANYBODY in college basketball.

Yep this is pretty much the truth. It's crazy how people think some teams are just unbeatable or something. These surprising wins and losses happen all the time to the point it's not really a surprise.

 

[Seth_C]

I suspect it will be a close game, but their performance against Arkansas doesn't tell me much of anything. They will put up much more of a fight against us.

 

[mcwildcats04]

I suspect it will be a close game, but their performance against Arkansas doesn't tell me much of anything. They will put up much more of a fight against us.

They were also 0-10 from 3 in the second half when I saw (not sure where they ended up). Don't expect a repeat of that in Rupp.

 

[cat tat2]

We’re good, we’re at home and I feel like the pressure will be on Auburn. Pretty rare that we play in Rupp aren’t favored. I like our chances.

 

[TTTblue24]

I think we beat lsu & auburn but definitely like our chances being at home and maybe just maybe we have butler and JR back for it. But I’ve always thought this was a winnable game for us.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Didn’t change anything for me. Not can you judge how teams play other teams.


It’s always different when they play UK.

It’s the biggest game on their schedules.


I’ve thought all along that we can beat Auburn.

I still think we can beat Auburn.

 

[billoliver40]

No. Auburn has won just about every style you can. Anything can happen on a given night, but Auburn is right now the legitimate best team in the country

 

[Dreklie]

I'm actually shocked that both teams shot that badly on the same night ... how Arkansas didn't win that game is beyond me, Auburn wanted to give it to them and Arkansas said absolutely not I don't want it.

 

[yes_takeaside]

They just had the big game with Bama .. a letdown was predictable and Hogs play very good D

Changes nothing .. Cats can compete

 

[bowfreak]

If we are healthy we can beat anyone. We beat Duke, Florida, UTx2.

If we have Butler and Robinson, I fully expect to beat Auburn. It doesn’t mean we will but this is not a game I see as a guaranteed loss. Missouri on the road will be a much tougher game to win.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

If one of butler/robinson is back then I think Kentucky can win.

 

[catlogic15]

Auburn was sleepwalking last night. 4-24 from three and still win going away.

 

[Aike]

Auburn is good enough to beat us by 20 if they’re firing on all cylinders, but they’ve had plenty of close games.

I would expect us to be a very slight underdog when they come to Lexington. If I were on the team, I’d go in expecting a win. Absolutely no reason to have any fear.

 

[oldsports_]

We have a better chance of getting Auburn then we do alabama. It's all about matchups

 

[fatguy87]

We have a better chance of getting Auburn then we do alabama. It's all about matchups

Playing Auburn in Rupp is also helpful.

Ranking our remaining games according to likely spread, hardest to easiest:

Alabama
Missouri
Auburn
Oklahoma
LSU

We are favorites in only the last two.

 

[NociHTTP]

If the guys come ready to play each game, and Pope is relaxing on the substitution patterns, we'll be fine. Otherwise it'll be another team like Arkansas that knocks us out.

 

[YardCat]

I think going into every game we have a chance, if we are making shots and the officials call an even game I think we have a chance. Regardless of who we play!

 

[UKWildcats1987]

We have 2 games before auburn on the road. Not even worried about that game.

 

[Tampa_cat54]

If my records are accurate (This is going to be hard to believe), Bruce Pearl has only beaten us in Rupp ONE TIME, and it was his very first trip to Rupp back in 2006 with Tennessee.

He is 1-11 all time in RUPP, and has lost 11 in a row.

Auburn hasn't beaten us in RUPP since 1988!!

That is unbelievable.

Pearl is a big motivator so these will definitely be talking points.

IF we're healthy, I actually like our chances.

Auburn is better than us this year, but we have RUPP and no one else does.

 

[BlueSince92]

Yes, a little.

I’ve always felt that late in this season IF fully healthy I’d take us over Auburn in a best of ten on a neutral floor. Auburn is the best team in college basketball and so were Duke and Tennessee at one time, with UF not very far outside that conversation. Auburn is great but they have two losses and neither to a team as legit as what we are when fully healthy. Not that being fully healthy is really on the table for us.

RE: our regular season game and even putative SECT game with them I’d still rather just sit everyone who’s not a hundred percent than give up a precious minute of healing time for those guys. Save them for when it really matters and maybe just maybe that’ll be enough.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Auburn to me is the best team in America. And I don't think it's particularly close.

That being said, it's not as if we are going to be a heavy underdog in this.

We've already shown the ability to not just beat teams without key players, but beat very good teams without key players.

In a one game scenario, anything can happen.

 

[fatguy87]

Auburn to me is the best team in America. And I don't think it's particularly close.

That being said, it's not as if we are going to be a heavy underdog in this.

We've already shown the ability to not just beat teams without key players, but beat very good teams without key players.

In a one game scenario, anything can happen.

It will be our 3rd easiest remaining game according to vegas spreads. Home court is quite valuable.

 

[CrazyCat74]

If UK can defend for 40 mins and not have a 30 point half offensively we will have a chance to win.

But that would apply to most every game.