While the No. 7 Kentucky Wildcats have not looked impressive to start out early in the season, they’ve been trying to get the chemistry of the young players to come along, no matter how slow it may be going. Will they put together a complete game against Tommy Amaker and Harvard?
TV schedule: Saturday, Dec. 2, 3:30 p.m. ET. ESPN
Arena: Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
John Calipari warned everyone not to hype up this Kentucky Wildcats team (6-1) because there would be trials and tribulations. It started out that way with scares to Utah Valley and Vermont and culminated with an actual loss to Kansas In the Champions Classic. Part of the reason has been the lack of an alpha dog for the team with the rotation filled with nothing but freshmen and sophomores.
Since that defeat, Kentucky has rolled off four straight wins, with the margin of victory getting where it’s supposed to be when playing inferior competition. Freshman wing Kevin Knox has officially established himself as the go-to guy, leading the team with 16.3 ppg along with 5.7 rpg.
The roles for everyone are starting to become clearer, with Quade Green taking the reigns at the point position, Hamidou Diallo as the second-leading scorer and top defender, and PJ Washington and Nick Richards are becoming factors in the post. Throw in do-it-all Shai Gilgeous-Alexander off the bench, and the makings of a potential Final Four team are starting to take shape.
They’ll face a Harvard team (3-5) that seems to be going into a team-wide sophomore slump after overachieving a year ago. On Thursday night, the Crimson were blown out by Northeastern, 77-61. Bryce Aiken had 26 points in 36 minutes, and Chris Lewis had 20. Unfortunately, Seth Towns only played 11 minutes and scored two points. That’s been the problem for Harvard, as they’ve received no help outside of the three sophomores, forcing all three to be on their A-game all the time.
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Aiken will be a handful on the perimeter, but there’s just too much for the Crimson to deal with in Rupp Arena. For Kentucky, it’s not about whether they’ll win, but rather will they beat a team in the way they’re supposed to. Or, will they allow Harvard to hang around longer than they’re supposed to.
Prediction: Kentucky 88 – Harvard 64