Kentucky @ Alabama: Wrap Up

Kentucky started off their game this afternoon at Alabama very slowly, trailing the Tide by six points at halftime after playing arguably their worst 20 minutes of basketball of the year. They seemed to play with no sense of urgency and needed a wake up call before playing the second half.

That wake up call came with a halftime scare from Ramon Harris  that seemed to bring the entire team together for the second half.

After being down 25-19 at the half, UK exploded for 42 in the second half and pulled away from Bama down the stretch by forcing turnovers and hitting free throws. With the game tied with 6:00 to play, UK began a 16-6 run that closed the game. It was all started when a foul-plagued Patrick Patterson re-entered the game to aid Kentucky’s suspect rebounding in the second half.

Jodie Meeks again led the scoring attack for the Cats with a cool 27 points on 10-18 from the floor, including 3-5 from behind the arc. Perry Stevenson paced the Cats as well with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while DeAndre Liggins scored an inconsistent 11 points.

One key for the Wildcat victory was the elevation of the play of some of the key role players. Darius Miller, although he did not score, stuffed the stat sheet with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals while DeAndre Liggins had 11 points and 3 assists.

Although the Cats played perhaps their worst game in conference play thus far, they were still able to win a game on the road by double digits, a sign that has to put a smile on Coach Gillispie’s face. Even with the vocal leader of the team in unknown medical condition, the Cats were able to band together and outscore Bama by 16 in the second half.

INJURY UPDATE

According to Catspause.com’s Matt May, Ramon Harris has been released from a Tuscaloosa area hospital and is in stable condition after collapsing in the locker room at halftime. More coming later on his situation.

Kentucky @ Alabama: Preview

Kentucky comes into today’s matchup with Alabama winning 10 of 11 games and 15-4 (4-0) on the season. Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson have dominated opponents by combining for over 45 ppg this season, the second best duo in the nation scoring wise.

Alabama has not been as lucky, their most recognized player, Ronald Steele, has left the team for, really, unknown reasons. The Alabama sports department claims it was injury-related while Steele denies that report.

KEYS TO THE GAME

There is one area that Kentucky has struggled heavily at in their losses, three point shooting. Kentucky shoots nearly 36% on the year from behind the arc, but in their four losses they have shot a combined 21% (14/67) from the land of three. Obviously Jodie Meeks is the key from the three point arc but UK really will need someone else to step up and help lighten the load that Meeks will have to carry. Odds are Meeks will be the focus of much of the Bama defense so there will definitely be some opportunities for other players to step up.

Kentucky also needs to lessen the turnovers that they commit. Kentucky is last in the conference, and one of the worst in the nation, at turning the ball over so it is key that they don’t throw their way out of the ball game.

When all is said and done I think UK will leave Tuscaloosa with a 76-59 win. Alabama just does not have enough offense to score consistently on the best defensive team in the SEC. DeAndre Liggins and Michael Porter must play a solid game offensively and especially defensively and I believe that they will.

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