Kentucky Basketball: 2019-20 keys for SEC road matchup vs. Arkansas
By Brian Rauf
2) Own the advantage inside
Another reason why Kentucky doesn’t want to have to rely on their perimeter game is because of the advantage they figure to have against the Razorbacks inside.
Everyone in Arkansas’ rotation is 6-8 or shorter, and their big men play a very minor role in their attack. As a result, they struggle defending the paint and are horrible on the glass, ranking 341st nationally in offensive rebounding percentage and 203rd on defense.
On the flip side, Kentucky is one of the biggest teams in the country. EJ Montgomery and Nate Sestina have had their moments but Nick Richards has developed into one of John Calipari’s most important players. He’s an elite rim protector (38th nationally in block percentage) and is great at finishing around the basket, ranking eighth in the country in effective field goal percentage.
Yes, Kentucky does need to worry about Arkansas’ three-point shooters and their perimeter attack, but the Wildcats won’t win unless they dominate in the area they should. Look for them to win the battle on the glass in a big way and for them to utilize Richards and Montgomery more than they usually do.