NCAA Prediction: No 1 Kentucky Wildcats at South Carolina Gamecocks
Saturday, February 04, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
Top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats has dominated South Carolina Gamecocks on the basketball court over the years, winning 45 of 55 meetings, but the Gamecocks did celebrate an upset over the top-ranked Wildcats on Jan. 26, 2010.
Kentucky will try to avoid a repeat when it travels to Columbia, S.C., for a Southeastern Conference matchup. The Gamecocks have won two of the past three meetings at home, but they've been overwhelmed at times this season and have lost six of their past seven, including a 79-64 loss at Kentucky on Jan. 7.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, are riding a 14-game winning streak after blowing out Tennessee 69-44 on Tuesday.
- Kentucky Wildcats @ South Carolina Gamecocks
When: 6:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 4, 2012
Where: The Colonial Center Arena, Columbia, South Carolina
TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com
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Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Wildcats listed as 11½-point favorites versus the Gamecocks.
Kentucky Wildcats (22-1): The youthful Wildcats have grown up quickly – though they never lacked size – and are off to their best start in SEC play since starting 10-0 in 2005. Freshmen Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist have been a dominant duo in the paint, with Davis averaging 13.5 points and 10.2 rebounds and Kidd-Gilchrist adding 12.8 points and 7.7 boards. Davis' 11 double-doubles rank fourth all-time among Kentucky freshmen.
South Carolina Gamecocks (9-12): The Gamecocks made a late run at No. 11 Florida before falling 74-66 on Thursday. They'll get another shot at a big upset – and it would be a monumental one. South Carolina has struggled to score, and it likely will need to score in bunches to beat a Kentucky team that averages 77.8 points. Easier said than done, because the Wildcats give up only 57.9 points per game, which ranks 10th in the nation. The Gamecocks are starting to get more out of sophomore forward Damontre Harris, who had 12 points, nine rebounds and six blocks against Florida and will have to have a strong night against Kentucky's tough post duo.
1. Kentucky has held its past three opponents to 50 points or less, the first time the Wildcats have done so since the 1950-51 team held four straight opponents to 50 or less.
2. The game will mark South Carolina’s fourth this season against a team ranked in the top two at the time. They lost to then-No. 1 North Carolina, then-No. 2 Ohio State and then-No. 2 Kentucky.
3. Kentucky coach John Calipari is 67-1 in his career when holding opponents to 67 points or fewer. South Carolina averages 63 points per game.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Wildcats 72, Gamecocks 58.
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anthony davis - damontre harris - john calipari - kentucky wildcats - michael kidd-gilchrist - south carolina gamecocks - the colonial center arena