Kentucky vs. Monmouth: Game preview, prediction, TV schedule

The Kentucky Wildcats have struggled against lesser opponents to open the season, but found a way to win. Can the Monmouth Eagles change that?

TV Schedule: Saturday, Dec. 9, 12:00 p.m. ET, ESPNU

Arena: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

The Kentucky Wildcats bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Kansas Jayhawks in their third game of the season by winning five straight, putting their overall record at 7-1. Constantly finding a way to win even when struggling against weaker opponents, the Wildcats might be worrying their fans but it seems as if these trials will only make this team better in the long run.

Their next opponents the Monmouth Eagles, however, have been one of the biggest disappointments of the 2017-18 college basketball season. Expected to compete for the conference title yet again, the Eagles have six losses already on the season, including losing their last two games by a combined four points.

The good news for Monmouth is that the only way they could make the NCAA Tournament to begin with is by winning their conference tournament, so these losses do not matter in terms of the big picture. But, even better news, is that with their last two close losses, it seems like the Eagles are getting closer and closer to figuring out a way to win games.

Unfortunately, their winning ways are not going to come against this Kentucky team.

The Wildcats might be struggling against “weaker” opponents, but they still find a way to win. John Calipari’s teams always get better as the season goes along, and it looks like Kentucky might be finally figuring out their best rotation.

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Monmouth should be able to keep it close for a while, but Kentucky pulls away in the end.

Prediction: Kentucky 78, Monmouth 64