Once Upon A Time In Las Vegas
The No. 7 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (12-2) will host the Kentucky Wildcats (10-4) on Saturday in a SEC showdown. Last season the Wildcats won and covered in both head-to-head match ups.
The Kentucky Wildcats are 16th in the country in the KenPom ratings. They are 17th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 44th on the defensive end of the floor. The Wildcat's strength of schedule is 150th and includes a win over Michigan. Kentucky's losses were against Michigan State, Gonzaga, UCLA, and Missouri. After losing to Missouri 89-75 on December 28, Kentucky has won back-to-back games taking down Louisville 86-63 and LSU 74-71.
#OscarWorthy …
Big O named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List. pic.twitter.com/N2gI9GVqgj
— Kentucky Men's Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 4, 2023
Head coach John Calipari has embraced the one-and-dones in his career, but this season his squad has strong veteran leadership. 6'9 senior Jacob Toppin is averaging 11.5 ppg and 6.1 rebounds, and helped led the victory over LSU with 21 points. Oscar Tshiebwe, another 6'9 senior, had 21 points and 16 rebounds against LSU and leads the team with 16.8 ppg and the nation with 13.8 rebounds. Of course, there is still a freshman star on the team in 6'4 Cason Wallace who is shooting 45.6% from three and averaging 12.9 ppg.
The Wildcats are only 4-9-1 against the spread this season.