6:30 PM EST – RUPP ARENA
TV – ESPN-U
MOREHEAD STATE EAGLES
UK LEADS SERIES 8-0
RECENT MEETINGS:
12/18/2004: UK 71 MOREHEAD STATE 40
The official debut of the Calipari era comes against a team that made the NCAA Tournament last year and for a half, entertained thoughts of becoming the first ever #16 seed to upset a #1 seed. In the Tournament, the 20-16 Racers trailed the top seed Louisville Cardinals by just 2 points, 35-33 at the half. Four of the five starters return from that team and it would appear that the Wildcats face a formidable task in their first game of the season.
THE STARTERS
KENNETH FARIED – F/C – 13.9 ppg, 13.0 reb, 1.9 blocks
The Eagles boast a NBA caliber center who was one of the top rebounders in the country. Faried is just 6’8 and 225 so he will have his work cut out for him as UK has four taller bodies to throw at him. He may have the experience on Orton and Cousins, but he will be facing larger potential NBA bodies. He had a .556 FG percentage last year but is prone to committing TO’s and averaged 2 a game.
MAZE STALLWORTH – F – 12.1 ppg, 4.1 reb, 1.1 assists
As of now, the status of Stallworth is up in the air as he suffered a concussion in the Eagles first exhibition game and sat out the second game. Stallworth averages a couple of 3 pointers a game and his 3 pt shooting % of .380 is just slightly worse than his .389 FG % last year. If Stallworth can not play, Terrance Hill may be the fill in starter. Hill averaged 4.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in about 13 minutes a game last year.
DEMONTE HARPER – G – 10.6 ppg, 4.1 reb, 3.4 assists
Harper is the third returning starter that averaged more than 10 points a game last season. Harper shoots enough threes to keep the defense honest but his overall FG percentage is not that good (.375). Harper is a big guard (6.4) and had slightly more TO’s than assists per game (3.8-3.4).
BRANDON SHINGLES – G – 5.0 ppg, 4.0 assists, 2.6 reb
Shingles appears to be the best ball handler on the team with 4.0 assists to 2.7 turnovers a game. Shingles has good size (6’3) and a pretty good shooting percentage at 48.4%. Shingles is not a threat from deep as he did not attempt a three point shot all season.
STEVE PETERSON – F – 1.8 ppg, 2.1 reb
Peterson appears to be the new starter for the Eagles this year filling the spot of Leon Buchanan. Peterson boasts a 14.3% from behind the 3 point line and 28.4% overall.
OUTLOOK
Aside from Faried, there are not a lot of players on the Eagle roster that would give UK fits. Morehead is not a big team as only Faried and London England freshman Jason Beharie the only players over 6’7. While the guards are a pretty good size, they don’t seem to be that adept at ball handling and you would have to think Eric Bledsoe can be in for a very big game. If Stallworth plays, the Eagles can keep it respectable but if he is unable to play, this can get ugly early.
I know that Morehead State is a tourney team, which UK was not, and UK needs to respect them, but UK’s size, depth, and quickness should result in a 88-63 opening night victory for the Cats.
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