Kentucky opens 7 1/2 favorite

[mckinneyhog5]

Predictions? Can the hogs keep it close in the first half?

[hawgdavis]

We did in the last game it was in the 2nd half it got away from us

[Beaverfever]

7.5 isn't quite as many as I would have thought considering how much Vegas has disliked Arkansas this year. 

[RazorSax]

I honestly feel like when compared to them  and now, Kentucky is the same team and we are quite a bit better. I like to think we are in this until the final few minutes

[KentuckyFan]

Kentucky has covered 2 spreads in the last 7 games.  One was Friday, 10.5 points, UGA fouls UK with 5 seconds left at 70-60.  Ended -11.

Kentucky has been starting super slow lately, I think Arkansas keeps it close all day.

[hawgdavis]

I also believe we are a much better team than we were then and they are basically the same plus our seniors have finally been playing like seniors witch will be big moving forward. If it's close I think we get it done based on what we have done in close games this year

[PonderinHog]

Sounds about right.  We're a different team now and we are hot.  If that carries over through tomorrow, we'll give them everything they want and more.  Hell, it could get ugly!

[Beaverfever]

Kentucky has covered 2 spreads in the last 7 games.  One was Friday, 10.5 points, UGA fouls UK with 5 seconds left at 70-60.  Ended -11.

Kentucky has been starting super slow lately, I think Arkansas keeps it close all day.

I'm not as wowed by the Cats as I usually am this time of the year.  Obviously Cal has a great team but I haven't seen UK look good enough to say the Hogs can't compete.  I usually pick UK to go to the final four but I haven't seen it yet this year honestly. 

[RaisinHog]

I think the zone is the key no way we have anyone who can stay on Fox .. play the zone and make them beat us from deep

[KentuckyFan]

I'm not as wowed by the Cats as I usually am this time of the year.  Obviously Cal has a great team but I haven't seen UK look good enough to say the Hogs can't compete.  I usually pick UK to go to the final four but I haven't seen it yet this year honestly. 

You're not wrong.  Kentucky has not looked great, despite being on a long winning streak.  Lots of games where they go through horrible offensive stretches and that ended much closer than they should have.

[UKChamps]

We're not what we normally are.  Way too inconsistent for this time of year.  We'll see.  This isn't the tournament we're worried about anyway.  We need it though, can't have the rest of the league pull even with us in number of titles.

[PonderinHog]

We're not what we normally are.  Way too inconsistent for this time of year.  We'll see.  This isn't the tournament we're worried about anyway.  We need it though, can't have the rest of the league pull even with us in number of titles.

Don't look back, they might be gaining on you.  Holy crap!

[HawgnCorona]

I think the zone is the key no way we have anyone who can stay on Fox .. play the zone and make them beat us from deep

Match up for sure...got to keep Fox out of the middle, keep Monk and company quiet on the perimeter.

[lumphog]

www.https://youtube.com/watch?v=ow-Cx9lX4So

[ErieHog]

It'll all come down to what you believe about Arkansas' ability to stop Fox's dribble penetration, and to deny quality 3 point looks to Monk.

That said, its about as bad a matchup as we can draw.   I think Kentucky probably covers.

[Hootiethehog]

It'll all come down to what you believe about Arkansas' ability to stop Fox's dribble penetration, and to deny quality 3 point looks to Monk.

That said, its about as bad a matchup as we can draw.   I think Kentucky probably covers.

We match up worse with Kentucky than we do with Florida, but we can hope the cats are complacent and won't come out with full intensity, while our guys still feel like they have a lot to prove.

I don't see Kentucky covering the 7.5

[ErieHog]

We match up worse with Kentucky than we do with Florida, but we can hope the cats are complacent and won't come out with full intensity, while our guys still feel like they have a lot to prove.

I don't see Kentucky covering the 7.5

They're both terrible matchups for us, but it'll likely come down to Kentucky's ability to hit those open 3 point shots.   They shoot even respectably, they win.  They shoot well, and it may be ugly.

[solitons]

Hogs 79-77 Cats

[Beaverfever]

They're both terrible matchups for us, but it'll likely come down to Kentucky's ability to hit those open 3 point shots.   They shoot even respectably, they win.  They shoot well, and it may be ugly.

Erie, what do you think it is that makes UK a bad matchup with the Hogs?  Is there a top 10 or 15 team that you've seen that you think would be a good matchup for the Hogs?  Just curious if we'd stand a chance against any of these two/three seeds if we got lucky and made it past the first round. 

[HF#1]

I think this is easy money. Kentucky will cover that. I hope they don't but I think they will.

[RacinRazorback]

We're not what we normally are.  Way too inconsistent for this time of year.  We'll see.  This isn't the tournament we're worried about anyway.  We need it though, can't have the rest of the league pull even with us in number of titles.

Not the tourney you are worried about? Cal has the most talent every year but hardly ever has an NCAA tourney tough team, with only 1 Championship. I would think the cat faithful would be growing restless with him with his lack of NCAA titles. He has a D league team for the NBA that rarely wins the NCAA! Go hogs WPS!

[Hogs958]

We gotta contain Fox. That probably goes without saying. That guy is a hell of a player.

[ErieHog]

Erie, what do you think it is that makes UK a bad matchup with the Hogs?  Is there a top 10 or 15 team that you've seen that you think would be a good matchup for the Hogs?  Just curious if we'd stand a chance against any of these two/three seeds if we got lucky and made it past the first round. 

Guards, Guards, and more guards;  teams with dribble pen will always get that spot up look for 3.

Our best matchup in the Top 20 is probably a team like Arizona or Gonzaga--  if you are that level, you are going to have a certain base quality of guards,  but if a team is over-dependent on a single guy to provide that dribble penetration or spot up off it,  that's our best shot.

[Waldron_Hog]

Hopefully a sore ankle will help contain fox.

[MountieDawg]

 

Not the tourney you are worried about? Cal has the most talent every year but hardly ever has an NCAA tourney tough team, with only 1 Championship. I would think the cat faithful would be growing restless with him with his lack of NCAA titles. He has a D league team for the NBA that rarely wins the NCAA! Go hogs WPS!

Surely you jest... 4 out of 7 years at U.K. Cal has made it at least to the Final Four and has an Elite 8...  UK hasn't had any coaches do that in the modern era...

[AugustaHog]

Guards, Guards, and more guards;  teams with dribble pen will always get that spot up look for 3.

Our best matchup in the Top 20 is probably a team like Arizona or Gonzaga--  if you are that level, you are going to have a certain base quality of guards,  but if a team is over-dependent on a single guy to provide that dribble penetration or spot up off it,  that's our best shot.

I feel like our strength is our guards but the combo of Briscoe, Fox, and Monk will be hard for our guys to outplay.  Adebayo is going to be a handful for Moses as well.  Just not ideal like you say. 

[Hooch]

Vandy was a 3 point favorite today, so no reason to play tomorrow. Hogs by 7.

[upperdeck_hawg]

If it makes any difference, KY had to work a lot harder today vs. Bama then we did against Vandy.

[mckinneyhog5]

If it makes any difference, KY had to work a lot harder today vs. Bama then we did against Vandy.

Yep, I took note of that too..Kentucky was also a 10.5 favorite over Bama and we all know how that went. It's now up to 8 1/2.

[reptilehog]

86-75 UK, I hate to say it because we are playing so well, but this will basically be a home game for Kentucky.  Fox is the key.  I just don't think we have anyone that can keep him from getting to the basket and dishing or scoring.  As long as we play well, I'll be happy.  More concerned about winning our 1st NCAA matchup whomever we play.  Glad to be back in the tournament.

[Hogfaniam]

Our best bet is that calamari tries to coach

[Hootiethehog]

We have to pick our poison in this game. Someone is going to go off. I prefer that we stick like glue to monk and Fox and let someone else try to carry the team. That being said, I see the final being 83-78 in favor of the Mildcats. Even with the loss to yUcK I think it could refocus us for the ncaa tournament, like what happened in 1994.

[reptilehog]

One other thing.  We need to get the conference championship done on Saturday instead of Sunday.  That's an extra day of rest or practice when the 1st round of the NCAA starts on Thurs/ Fri.  Big 12 and Pac 12 finished today.

[Hootiethehog]

One other thing.  We need to get the conference championship done on Saturday instead of Sunday.  That's an extra day of rest or practice when the 1st round of the NCAA starts on Thurs/ Fri.  Big 12 and Pac 12 finished today.

I'm all for us finishing on Saturday.  In fact, I think everyone should be done on Saturday so the Selection Committee can have plenty of time to make sure the right teams have the seeds they deserve.

[italian9005]

im worried sec refs will keep us out of reach of a win today. have to protect their golden child in basketball just like they do bama in football

[logic]

7.5 isn't quite as many as I would have thought considering how much Vegas has disliked Arkansas this year. 

That's nonsense! If they did, they would lose money.  The point spread, outside of the opening, is determined by the bets. That was, regardless of who wins, Vegas takes their percentage.

[ErieHog]

I feel like our strength is our guards but the combo of Briscoe, Fox, and Monk will be hard for our guys to outplay.  Adebayo is going to be a handful for Moses as well.  Just not ideal like you say. 

Offensively, they are our strength; defensively, they are not--  they can't stay ahead of good dribble penetration--  some cases its ability,  in some cases its familiarity with hand offs in our D, and in some cases its inconsistent effort.