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Kentucky vs. Stonehill: TV/Streaming Info, Keys to the Game, and Predictions

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1 year ago

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The Kentucky Wildcats play Stonehill College in the Wildcat Challenge at Rupp Arena.
UK Athletics

Following one of the most anticipated games of the season, the Kentucky Wildcats are back in action on Friday night against, statistically, their worst opponent of the season, the Stonehill Skyhawks, in game two of three of the Wildcat Challenge.

Stonehill, just in their second year of Division I competition, is ranked 349th (out of 362 teams) in KenPom. This season they have just one win, coming against Army, but three losses, by an average of 43 points.

This is a get-right game and if they play close to what they’re capable of, the game should be comfortably in hand before the end of the first half. Let’s take a closer look.

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Justin Edwards and DJ Wagner Come Back Game

While there was a lot to like in Kentucky’s performance against Kansas, the biggest disappointments were clearly Justin Edwards and DJ Wagner, the Wildcat’s two highest projected draft picks. Against the Jayhawks, the freshman duo combined for just 5 points on 1-18 shooting, including 0-6 from three.

As talented as they are, it’s hard to fathom they will have that poor of performances again this season, especially in the same game. Their Kentucky teammates have described them both as “dawgs”, but tentativeness did show. That said, they need to respond against a much lesser opponent and display that aggression and toughness, and I fully expect them to.

Perimeter Defense

When you look at their statistics, Stone Hill is ranked near the bottom of the country in nearly every statistical category. The one exception is three-pointers attempted per game, as the Skyhawks average 26.8 per game. That said, they only convert on 27.1 percent of those three-point attempts.

If there is one thing we have learned, visiting teams have consistently shot unreasonably well from deep inside Rupp Arena. Coming off a game where Wagner and Dillingham lacked discipline while defending the perimeter at times, it is an area of focus. Given the talent disparity, Kentucky’s transition offense, and the fact Stonehill turns the ball over at a high rate, I do expect the Kentucky guards to gamble some and get plenty of easy scoring opportunities.

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Play Loose, Have Fun

Let’s be honest for a moment, Kentucky basketball has lacked excitement since the 2019-20 team. The Wildcats’ first-half performance in the Champions Classic may have been the most exciting since at least the 2022, 18-win over Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse.

The players were playing loose, running and gunning in space, getting stops on defense. The staff was coaching loose and Calipari was smiling. That went away once Kansas made their run. Kentucky’s young players could feel the tension and that quickly faded away. Reed Sheppard and Adou Thiero said as much after the game. “Coming in, it was just, ‘have fun and enjoy playing,’” Sheppard said. “I think we were doing that in the first half, but then Kansas went on their run.”

Having a short-term memory of the Kansas loss and having fun is one of the biggest keys to this game. Given the player’s and staff’s postgame comments, that should not be an issue.

#17 Kentucky Wildcats (2-1) vs. Stonehill Skyhawks (1-3)

What’s your prediction for tonight? Let us know in the comments section!

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball Players Say They Think About Winning National Championship “Every Second”

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4 days ago

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November 18, 2024

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Kentucky basketball players celebrate after their big over Duke.
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The expectations at Kentucky are the highest of any school in the country, and there is good reason why. The winningest college program ever. Eight national titles, under five different coaches. Seventeen Final Four appearances. You get it, a lot of success.

Fans want the players to have those same expectations. Despite not having the elite talent or preseason hype of great Kentucky teams past, this year’s team still has their eyes set on doing something “people will remember forever”, winning a national championship.

Asked on social media, if hanging banner #9 was all the players thought about “every second”, Ansley Almonor had a response.

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“We do.”

It takes a lot to win a national championship, including some luck, but this team is certainly going to be loved for their desire to live out their dream of playing at Kentucky and their unselfishness. Those two things can take them a long way this season .

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Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart Seemingly Takes Shot at John Calipari, “Anybody Can Recruit”

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6 days ago

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November 16, 2024

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Mitch Barnhart sitting next to basketball coach John Calipari.
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John Calipari and Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart had their differences over fifteen years, but success can hide a lot of things. Not that they hated each other, but they each had vastly different personalities. As that success weaned towards the end of Calipari’s tenure, those issues started to be noticed publically.

If you need evidence of that, despite their efforts to dispute it, there is the infamous press conference where Barnhart talked about “entitled” coaches, shortly after Calipari publicly called for a new practice facility. Then, there were multiple times when Calipari expressed that the administration was not on the same page and that he was facing “headwinds”.

That said, Calipari is now at Arkansas, but those differences and some disdain remain. During an interview on the Kentucky Football pregame show, Barnhart seemingly took a shot at Calipari when asked about Mark Pope’s recruiting philosophy and prioritizing fit.

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“I tell people all the time, ‘Anybody can recruit, not everybody can evaluate,’” Barnhart said. “You can recruit. You can be phenomenal at bringing people to your program. But if it does not fit you, it’s really not helpful.”

Of course, Calipari is one of the best, if not the best, recruiters in college basketball history. At times, he prioritized talent and athleticism over fit.

Quite the coincidence.

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ESPN’s Jay Williams Gives Message to Kentucky Fans, “You’re Not Going to Like It…”

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7 days ago

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November 15, 2024

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ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams gives a message to Kentucky fans after the Wildcats win over Duke. "You won't like it."
ESPN

Back in April, opposing fanbases like Duke, told Kentucky fans to “cope with Pope” following the hire of Mark Pope and the corresponding initial shock. On Tuesday, those same fanbases had to watch as Mark Pope outcoached Jon Scheyer and Duke in the final minutes of the Champion’s Classic to get his first marque win in just his third game at Kentucky.

Of course, shortly after the game, Duke fans began to rationalize the loss by highlighting their team’s youth. While true, it sounded like an echo chamber of what Kentucky fans said for years under John Calipari. One notable example was former Blue Devil Jay Williams.

At halftime, while Duke was leading 46-37, Williams called this year’s Duke team the most talented since the 2001 team that he was a part of at halftime. To his credit, he complimented Kentucky on the comeback victory, specifically on their offense and maturity, but then 36 hours later he posted a message to Kentucky fans on social media.

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“Let me put you on to something,” Williams started. “Whether you like it or not, networks are going to sell Cooper Flagg. He’s going to be the number one pick in the draft. You’re going to talk about whether he won the or whether he lost the game, regardless of the outcome.”

“You’re not going to like it. There should be more kudos to Mark Pope and Kentucky,” Williams continued. “Regardless of whether you won the game or not, they’re still going to sell Cooper Flagg because he is selling the sport. Sorry.”

William’s statement is true. That said, it comes off as ‘sour grapes’ about losing. Cooper Flagg is a great talent and will likely be the first pick in the NBA Draft, but most Kentucky fans would say they would much rather have the win than the marketing.

Futhermore, Kentucky and its ‘brand’ has raised the level of multiple players and coaches, and will continue to do so. A deeper impact than Cooper Flagg will have on Duke in just one season.

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