Kentucky and Mississippi Valley State: Who has the Edge?

If you look over the schedule of Mississippi Valley State University you might notice a few things, the first thing is they play one gauntlet of a schedule. Literally, out of 13 games in their non conference schedule they play ONE home game and play the likes of Kentucky, Butler, Marquette, Indiana, Georgia and BYU just to name a few.

So far the schedule has not been in favor of the Delta Devils as they have only won one game out of the nine that they have played so far but to their credit they are always on the road and even played Georgia to a two point game in Athens.

Another thing you may notice is that the Delta Devils’ coach looks very familiar, he just so happens to be Sean Woods who is an Unforgettable at the University of Kentucky and was on probably the most beloved team in Wildcat history. It was a team that brought pride and passion back in the bluegrass for basketball and set the bar for Kentucky from there on out.

Woods is forced to play such a schedule because of the cut backs the economy has caused to the school and the athletic department. Playing big schools, equals a big paycheck for the athletic department and more money for Woods to work with for recruiting and facilities.

In an interview with Lexington 18 news, Woods said that he has raised over $700,000 from the games he has played so far even if he has been outmatched and out talented in every game he has played this year, when he comes to Rupp he is sure to get a huge ovation from the crowd.

He’s going to need it.

In the backcourt, the Delta Devils are led by Terrance Joyner and D’Angelo Jackson who both average around 10 points a game and both have scored in double figures in six and five of the nine games they have played. Joyner did come off the bench last game for the Delta Devils but it looks as if he is their best producer weather he starts or not. When Joyner isn’t taking over guard duties
Kevin Burwell takes over, but usually Burwell comes off the bench.

Regardless of who they start they will have to deal with the back court of Brandon Knight, which isn’t going to be an easy match up with whoever they send at Knight, not to mention Deandre Liggins. If Jackson and Joyner scores it will have to be off pick and pop screens because the back court of Kentucky is way too athletic to be beat off the dribble by the guards, not to mention they don’t take or make a lot of threes. The edge goes to Kentucky.

It doesn’t get much better for the Devils in the front court either. Their biggest player starting is around 6’9 in Jason Holmes who gets about eight points a game and pulls down about six rebounds per game. The other two forwards, Orlando (not Tubby) Smith stands at 6’5 and Felando Jones who stands at 6’4. Honestly neither combined post as good as numbers as Terrence Jones.

Josh Harrellson will look to extend his mean streak and keep playing his tail off in the post because he will once again be the biggest man in the middle tomorrow night. The edge goes to Kentucky.

Depending who starts for the Delta Devils, the only real production off the bench comes from Burwell who averages around 7 points a game and plays guard. Mark Holmes also comes off the bench and scores about 3 points per game and stands at 6’6 and plays forward.

Ordinarily the other team’s bench is going to score more points than UK’s because of the fact UK’s bench is quite empty. This time, John Hood, Stacy Poole and Eloy Vargas should get tons of minutes and should produce; the edge should go to Kentucky

Kentucky and Mississippi State squares off tomorrow night in Rupp Arena at 8 o clock, tune in if you can, and catch my post game wrap up tomorrow night around 10 o clock.

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