Kentucky Basketball: 2019-20 keys for SEC road matchup vs. Arkansas
By Brian Rauf
1) Jump out to an early lead
This is important any time you play on the road, but it’s vitally important when you play in an atmosphere like Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas enjoys one of the best home-court advantages in the country every season, and that atmosphere will be at a fever pitch when the two teams face off on Saturday afternoon.
How do you eliminate that advantage (as much as you can, at least)? You kill the mood in the arena by getting out to an early lead.
The longer a home underdog hangs around, the more the crowd gets into the game and the more belief the players on the court have. If Kentucky is able to get out to an early lead, it helps eliminate those intangible factors.
It does another thing for Kentucky, too – it eliminates the need for as many perimeter shots. The Wildcats have struggled from the three-point line all season and being in catch-up mode often means more attempts from deep.
If Kentucky can run their offense and only focus on getting the best shot possible, no matter where it comes on the floor, it will pay dividends for them.