The Valparaiso Beacons will try to shock Big Blue Nation when they travel to Rupp Arena to take on the Kentucky Wildcats.
Beacons Face Steep Challenge in Lexington
Both teams opened their seasons with wins, but they arrive in Lexington from very different starting points.
Valparaiso survived Eastern Illinois 66-62 in their opener, needing a late three-point play from JT Pettigrew to escape with the win. Isaiah Barnes led the Beacons with 15 points, while Mark Brown Jr. added six points and three assists. It wasn’t flashy, but it was enough to start Roger Powell’s third season with a victory.
Powell guided the Beacons to a 13-19 mark a year ago, highlighted by a brief postseason surge in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Valpo knocked off UIC and Northern Iowa before bowing out to Bradley in the quarterfinals. Now, with top scorers Cooper Schwieger and All Wright gone, Powell faces a rebuilding season in a league loaded with experienced teams.
Kentucky Loaded and Confident After Opening Rout
Kentucky enters year two under Mark Pope with national championship hopes. The Wildcats are coming off a 24-12 season that included two NCAA Tournament wins before falling to SEC rival Tennessee in the Sweet 16.
Pope’s roster retool through the transfer portal has already paid off. In their season-opening 77-51 win over Nicholls, Collin Chandler poured in 15 points, Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen added 10 points and six assists, and Otega Oweh chipped in 14. Freshman guard Jasper Johnson also made a strong impression with 11 points.
Kentucky’s offense looked sharp and balanced, while its defense suffocated Nicholls from start to finish. With a road rivalry showdown against Louisville looming next week, the Wildcats will be careful not to overlook Valparaiso.
Prediction
Kentucky has too much size, depth, and firepower for a rebuilding Valparaiso squad. Expect Rupp Arena to be rocking as the Wildcats use this game to fine-tune their rotation ahead of bigger challenges.
Prediction: Kentucky 98, Valparaiso 60