by Alan Smith
I hope that the picture above is a subtle reminder of why this game should be important to UK, especially their upperclassmen. Out of the past ten meetings with Vanderbilt, UK has lost six of them. The second meeting last season wasn’t even close and at this point I think it saves us time if we don’t mention one of the meetings in 2008. But it is all behind us now, as well as the loss on Tuesday. Should they be focused and ready to play, the Commodores are going to have their hands full. But the most important thing that the players need to be aware of is that Vanderbilt is more prepared this time around. They are a ranked team and just pulled off an upset at Tennessee earlier this week. The key to beating this Vanderbilt team and not allowing them to pull off an upset is to shut down their “Big Three”.
Sophomore Jeff Taylor leads the way for the Commodores, averaging 14.1 points per game. He is a pretty consistent shooter and has had double -digits in points in 16 of his 19 games this year. If UK wants to win this game, he will be the most important player to take out of the game because of his size. At 6’7″, UK will need to alternate Darius Miller or Darnell Dodson on defense and try to shut him down as they did with Arkansas’ Rotnei Clarke.
Jermaine Beal has also been a reliable player for the Commodores this year, averaging 13.7 ppg, nearly the same as Taylor. He helped input 25 points in the upset over Tennessee on Wednesday. The senior has plenty of experience in playing against Kentucky and knows how the crowd will be on his feet, but it likely won’t rattle him. UK’s perimeter defense needs to be tight and not allow him to drive or penetrate to force him to take outside shots, as he is only shooting 35% from three-point land. Most likely John Wall or Eric Bledsoe will guard him and hopefully take some charges if he is able to get in the lane. If he drives and they are able to get some steals, look for UK to get the ball in transition and for some fast-break dunks and highlights.
A.J. Ogilvy is the last member of Vanderbilt’s Big Three, and the junior from “Down Under” is averaging 13.8 ppg. He has brought his best games against UK in the past: he scored 16 at Rupp Arena in a loss in 2008, 19 points in a blowout win, and 15 last year over Kentucky. He did not play in the matchup that they loss in Rupp last year and has never won in Lexington before. I’m sure that if he believes today is his day, Patrick Patterson will deny that. He had 23 points in his first game as a freshman against Vanderbilt and 16 points in the second game that season. Last season he only had 11 in a home game and did not play when the Cats were harassed on the road.
Patterson should want this win more than anybody else right now; he has struggled his last few games and for him to become a leader he will need to play to his potential today. I know that Patterson has a drive and a will to win and won’t let his detractors get in the way. To put them behind them, as well as the loss on Tuesday, he needs to dominate on both sides of the court and make a statement to his teammates and the country that he is back. Demarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton will probably rotate in the post and try to defend Ogilvy. If UK can stay focused and hungry throughout the game, as well as play dominating defense in shutting down their Big Three, they can win easily. If they come out and play lackadaisical and are distracted they will have their hands full. Hopefully that doesn’t happen and Vanderbilt realizes no matter how good they are or think they are, they will not be able to come into Rupp Arena and pull out a win, no matter how good or bad we may be.
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