by Paul Jordan
GAME 18
JANUARY 16, 2010 -4PM
BEARD-EAVES MEMORIAL COLISEUM – AUBURN, AL
AUBURN TIGERS (9-8) (0-2)
TV – SEC NETWORK
KENTUCKY LEADS SERIES 83-17
RECENT MEETINGS:
1/21/2009: KENTUCKY 73 AUBURN 64
2/6/2008: KENTUCKY 66 AUBURN 63
1/10/2007: KENTUCKY 84 AUBURN 57
1/24/2006: KENTUCKY 71 AUBURN 62
2/23/2005: KENTUCKY 81 AUBURN 73
Even through the last few tumultuous years of college basketball, the one constant has been UK beating the Auburn Tigers. Kentucky has won the last 10 meetings and 24 of the last 25 matchups. UK is 26-13 in Auburn although the last five games at Auburn have been single digit UK wins. Last years Tigers edition was the surprise team in the SEC but this year’s edition is bordering on average at best. Let’s take a look at the Tigers.
STARTERS
G- DEWAYNE REED, SR, 6’1 175
15.9 ppg, 2.9 rebs, 4.7 assists
Reed is the “table setter” for the Tigers offense and is averaging 4.7 assists a game. He is a pretty steady scorer, hitting double digits all but 3 games this season. He has the ability to create his own shots or to set up his team mates. He is not a great 3-point shooter (33.3%) but has five games with 3 or more treys. He does have to ability to explode on any given night with 10 games of 15+ points. Creates a lot of turnovers on defense.
G – FRANKIE SULLIVAN, SO, 6’1 195
13.6 ppg, 3.9 rebs, 2.6 assists
Sullivan has really come into his own as a sophomore and has emerged as the Tigers main 3-point threat. He is shooting right at 39% from beyond the arc and he is a pretty consistent scorer and rebounder. Sullivan is also averaging 2.1 steals a game and has games with 5 and 6 steals respectively. He has improved his FG % dramatically this season, going from 40.5% to 45.1%. Sullivan is averaging over 3 fouls a game.
G – TAY WALLER, SR, 6’2 193
12.8 ppg, 2.6 rebs, 1.1 assists
Waller is the other 3-point threat for the Tigers. He has 27 treys despite missing 6 games and is knocking them down at nearly a 40% clip and launches nearly 7 attempts a game. He is an average rebounder and ball handler but if not guarded, could do some scoring damage.
F – LUCAS HARGROVE – SR, 6’6 218
13.3 ppg, 7.3 rebs, 2.6 assists
Although a biat undersized, Hargrove has been a very consistent rebounder and has good skills on the offensive board. He does have the length to get in passing lanes and get a good amount of steals. He also handles the ball well, averaging almost 3 assists a game, which is pretty uncommon for a PF. His shooting % is a bit lower than you would like at 50.3% but he has good range and if unguarded can load up on the 3-point attempts, but is not terribly accurate (23.4%).
F- JOHNNIE LETT – SR, 6’8 210
2.3 ppg, 3.3 rebs, 0.4 assists
Lett starts occasionally but averages just 13.6 minutes a game and is an average defender and rebounder but below average scorer. He’s not that great of a shot at 41.7% and is atrocious from the FT line at 35.3%.
Andre Malone is a freshman guard that averages about 13.8 minutes a game and is averaging 4.1 points and and 2.4 rebounds, not bad numbers for the amount of times he plays. He also has really good size at 6’5 but is a pretty inconsistent shooter at 34.2% from the floor and 23.8 from 3-point. Earnest Ross is a bookend 6’5 freshman guard averaging 3.9 points a game with about the same overall stats as Malone.
Brendon Knox is a 6’10 senior center that comes off the bench and is an occasional starter. He is a scrapper and provides good size and is making the most of his 20 minutes a game, averaging 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds. Is excellent near the basket, hitting 73.8% of his shots, but is hesitant to shoot at times. Kenny Gabriel is another freshman off the bench, and is averaging just 3.1 points a game in just 8 minutes a game.
OUTLOOK
Auburn is just coming of a 81-55 thrashing at the hand of the Tennessee Vols and they also suffered a 107-89 beatdown at the hands of one Sam Houston State. Auburn really does not have the talent or the speed to keep up with Kentucky and is not a good 3-point shooting team at 31.9%. They turn over the ball more than they have assists and were just ripped to shreds by Devan Downey for 33 points. You know Wall and Bledsoe have to salivating looking forward to this game. This game will be a good judge is UK is able to apply their killer instinct as Auburn should not pose too much of a threat. Kentucky 88 Auburn 69
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