Your Kentucky Wildcats will be taking on the Georgia Bulldogs at 3:30 today for a chance to move on to the SEC Championship game tomorrow. This will be the second meeting between the two teams this year with Kentucky rolling in the first game with an 82-48 win. The Bulldogs really struggle to score the ball and average less than 70 points per game on the year while only 4 players average over 5 points a game. The one area the Cats have to be concerned with today is rebounding, as the Bulldogs rank 37th nationally which is 10 spots ahead of the Cats.

The Bulldogs have went 6-4 in their last 10 games with losses to Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt, and Auburn with two quality wins over South Carolina including one yesterday in the SEC Quarterfinals. Kentucky on the other hand has went 8-2 in the last 10 games with losses to Vanderbilt and Texas A&M on a very questionable call. The Wildcats are currently favored by 11 points but I would be surprised if the game ends that closely. In the last meeting with Georgia the Cats really shut down J.J. Frazier and Kenny Gaines who combined for just 12 points, and if the Cats can shut down Frazier again the Bulldogs won’t stand much of a chance.

Once again I have compiled a list of team stats, team leader stats, and my keys to the game. Also listed once again will be staff predictions for the game and MVP predictions, but with a special quest prediction coming from the one and only Larry Vaught from Vaught’s Views. Let us hear your prediction in the comments section Big Blue Nation and as always, Go Cats!

Team Stats

Kentucky Wildcats                                                   Georgia Bulldogs

79.2 points (42nd nationally)                            69.8 points (254th nationally)

39.1 rebounds (47th nationally)                        39.5 rebounds (37th nationally)

14.6 assists (92nd nationally)                            12.5 assists (228th nationally)

67.6 points allowed (74th nationally)                      68.2 points allowed (88th nationally)

Team Leaders

Kentucky Wildcats                                                Georgia Bulldogs

Jamal Murray: 20.1 points                                    J.J. Frazier: 16.9 points

Marcus Lee: 6.5 rebounds                                     Yante Maten: 8.1 rebounds

Tyler Ulis: 7.3 assists                                             J.J. Frazier: 4.2 assists

Cordell’s Keys To The Game

• With Georgia being one of the best rebounding teams in the SEC the Cats must control the boards
• Contain J.J. Frazier and Kenny Gaines with either Tyler Ulis and Isaiah Briscoe
• Can’t let Yante Maten bully down low, may need Isaac Humphries to matchup with him tod

Game Predictions

Dustin Cordell:    73-55 Kentucky with Tyler Ulis as the MVP with a 20 point game

Michele Brown:    80-56 Kentucky with Skal Labissiere MVP with a double double

Kristin York:    84-60 Kentucky with Jamal Murray as MVP and arrows everywhere

Larry Vaught: 75-64 Kentucky with Isaiah Briscoe as MVP because of his defense