Kentucky Wildcat Basketball – Know Your Enemy: LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds

GAME 5

LIU BROOKLYN BLACKBIRDS (0-3)
NOVEMBER 23, 2012 – 7:00 PM
RUPP ARENA – LEXINGTON, KY

TV – FS SOUTH

KENTUCKY LEADS SERIES 2-1

LAST MEETING
3/17/1947: KENTUCKY 66 Long Island 62*
*NIT Tournament

After 65 years of teeth gnashing and anticipation, the world finally gets another Kentucky Wildcats/LIU basketball game. And it is only fitting that it is in the never ending and weirdly formatted Barclays Classic Event, of which Kentucky has played just one game at the actual building for which the event was named. Welcome to the weird, wild world of college basketball holiday events where the games continue for two weeks after the actual showcase game.

LIU Brooklyn was actually a NCAA Tournament team and despite having a lot of that talent back, are 0-3. LIU Brooklyn has won the NEC the last two years and new coach Jack Perri is still looking for his first win. The Blackbirds three losses are to teams that Kentucky has defeated so this simple chart should dictate an easy UK win:

VERSUS MOREHEAD STATE
Kentucky won 81-70, LIU lost 77-74

VERSUS MARYLAND
Kentucky won 72-69, LIU lost 91-74

VERSUS LAFAYETTE
Kentucky won 101-49, LIU lost 98-94 in OT

But as we saw last night, you can never assume anything. So let’s meet the Blackbirds.