Here are three facts, keys and quotes for Kentucky's game against Vanderbilt.
Three Facts:
1. Time: The game is at 4 p.m. EST on CBS.
2. Series: Kentucky leads the all-time series against Vanderbilt 141-46. UK hasn't lost to the Commodores on their home floor since 2011 and have won eight straight regular season meetings. The line on Saturday has not been set.
3. Records: Kentucky is 21-7 (11-4 SEC). Last game: 78-53 win vs. Alabama.
Vanderbilt is 17-11 (9-6 SEC). Last game: 87-74 win at Florid.
Three Keys:
1. Desperation: The Commodores once sat at 13-10 and seemed unlikely to make the NCAA Tournament. After going 4-1 in its next five games, Vanderbilt is right back in the thick of things. However, the Commodores are still lacking a signature win. Welcome UK. If Vandy could knock off the Cats, it would show it's one of the hottest teams in the conference and deserving of an NCAA Tournament berth. Vandy finished with a home game against Tennessee before traveling to Texas A&M for senior night. 2-1 would likely have the Commodores in the big dance.
2. Taming Damian: Damian Jones is a mismatch problem for Kentucky just by stepping out onto the floor. He's a 7-foo, 245-pound center that gets other bigs in foul trouble. But then you take into consideration that he's playing his best basketball of the season and things could get hairy for the Cats. He's averaging 19.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game over his last four for the Commodores. Although the Cats were able to cruise past Vandy in the first meeting this season, Jones was still a rebound away from a double-double. If he continues his hot streak Kentucky may be in trouble.
3. Picture Poythress: This time last week it was unclear if Alex Poythress would return home, or near home, for Saturday's game against Vanderbilt. The senior was still sidelined with a knee injury and he was questionable for Tuesday's game against Alabama. However, the Tennessee native played and played well. He finished with 14 points in just 17 minutes of play. That's good news for UK but the Cats will need more production from Poythress on Saturday. The forward torched Vanderbilt for 16 points in the first meeting. Vanderbilt has a major size advantage, and Kentucky won't be able to easily stretch the floor without Derek Willis, so Poythress will have to help inside.
Three Quotes:
1. John Calipari on playing desperate teams: "Every team plays with desperation when they play us. And on the road, it’s them alone with a sellout crowd they haven’t had all year. Or their biggest crowd and all that stuff. You can check the numbers. I know some of you will but I’ll guess that’s what it is."
2. Kevin Stallings on Tyler Ulis: “He’s great. There are no weaknesses in his game. He’s a great defender. He has a great basketball mentality and IQ. He has a great skill level. He has a great heart in terms of his desire to win and desire to compete. He’s a stud, that guy’s terrific.”
3. Wade Baldwin IV on the UK game: “We’re trying to play to get to the tournament and they’re a team we have to beat to get in the tournament. It's a huge game for us.”
Three Facts:
1. Time: The game is at 4 p.m. EST on CBS.
2. Series: Kentucky leads the all-time series against Vanderbilt 141-46. UK hasn't lost to the Commodores on their home floor since 2011 and have won eight straight regular season meetings. The line on Saturday has not been set.
3. Records: Kentucky is 21-7 (11-4 SEC). Last game: 78-53 win vs. Alabama.
Vanderbilt is 17-11 (9-6 SEC). Last game: 87-74 win at Florid.
Three Keys:
1. Desperation: The Commodores once sat at 13-10 and seemed unlikely to make the NCAA Tournament. After going 4-1 in its next five games, Vanderbilt is right back in the thick of things. However, the Commodores are still lacking a signature win. Welcome UK. If Vandy could knock off the Cats, it would show it's one of the hottest teams in the conference and deserving of an NCAA Tournament berth. Vandy finished with a home game against Tennessee before traveling to Texas A&M for senior night. 2-1 would likely have the Commodores in the big dance.
2. Taming Damian: Damian Jones is a mismatch problem for Kentucky just by stepping out onto the floor. He's a 7-foo, 245-pound center that gets other bigs in foul trouble. But then you take into consideration that he's playing his best basketball of the season and things could get hairy for the Cats. He's averaging 19.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game over his last four for the Commodores. Although the Cats were able to cruise past Vandy in the first meeting this season, Jones was still a rebound away from a double-double. If he continues his hot streak Kentucky may be in trouble.
3. Picture Poythress: This time last week it was unclear if Alex Poythress would return home, or near home, for Saturday's game against Vanderbilt. The senior was still sidelined with a knee injury and he was questionable for Tuesday's game against Alabama. However, the Tennessee native played and played well. He finished with 14 points in just 17 minutes of play. That's good news for UK but the Cats will need more production from Poythress on Saturday. The forward torched Vanderbilt for 16 points in the first meeting. Vanderbilt has a major size advantage, and Kentucky won't be able to easily stretch the floor without Derek Willis, so Poythress will have to help inside.
Three Quotes:
1. John Calipari on playing desperate teams: "Every team plays with desperation when they play us. And on the road, it’s them alone with a sellout crowd they haven’t had all year. Or their biggest crowd and all that stuff. You can check the numbers. I know some of you will but I’ll guess that’s what it is."
2. Kevin Stallings on Tyler Ulis: “He’s great. There are no weaknesses in his game. He’s a great defender. He has a great basketball mentality and IQ. He has a great skill level. He has a great heart in terms of his desire to win and desire to compete. He’s a stud, that guy’s terrific.”
3. Wade Baldwin IV on the UK game: “We’re trying to play to get to the tournament and they’re a team we have to beat to get in the tournament. It's a huge game for us.”
