Jan 8, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Dakari Johnson (44) shoots the ball against Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Roquez Johnson (25) and forward Gavin Ware (20) in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Mississippi State 85-63. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
The Kentucky Wildcats are facing the up-start Arkansas Razorbacks down in Fayetteville at the infamous Bud Walton arena. As with every game down there, it will be “40 minutes of hell” ala Nolan Richardson. Mike Anderson works those kids relentlessly and they respond in kind.
• The Wildcats are in their 111th season of basketball and are the national leaders in total wins with 2,123.
• Kentucky is 25-9 all-time against Arkansas, but the series is tied 6-6 when the game is played in Fayetteville.
The Razorbacks claimed the only meeting between the two teams in 2013.
• Sophomore Willie Cauley-Stein is currently leading the league in conference games with an .800 field goal
percentage. He’s charted 12-of-15 shots thus far and is the only UK player to have reached double-figure
scoring in both contests.
• In two SEC games, sophomore Alex Poythress is averaging 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per
game. He’s logging 20.5 minutes per game.
• The Wildcats have registered 40 or more rebounds in 13 games this season including each of the last six
games. UK’s rebounding margin for the season stands at +12.7, a mark which leads the league.
• Freshman James Young has passed out a team-high nine assists vs. SEC opponents, but 10 different
players have at least one the last two games.
• Kentucky has made at least 12 free throws in every game this season. UK has made (330) more free
throws than its opponents have attempted (286).
• According to KenPom.com the Wildcats rank 351st in the country in total experience which is considered
the least experienced squad in the nation. The average experience of 0.30 years is one of the youngest
collection of players in the history of KenPom’s rankings dating back to 2007. The Citadel owns the record of
0.27 years during the 2008 season.
Scouting the Razorbacks
Arkansas enters the game with UK owning an 11-4 overall record, but the Razorbacks have dropped both of their opening SEC games. Arkansas had its 23-home game winning streak snapped in a heartbreaking overtime loss to No.10/11 Florida on Saturday. Arkansas has four players averaging double-figure scoring with sophomore guard Michael Qualls leading the way at 12.7 per outing. Freshman Bobby Portis is posting 12.5 points
and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game, while senior Coty Clarke is contributing 8.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and a team-high 19 steals. Tuesday’s matchup marks the first of two regular season meetings between the teams.
Arkansas will make the return trip to Lexington on Feb. 27.
Credit: Columbiamissourian.com
Head Coach Mike Anderson
Mike Anderson is in his third season at the helm of Arkansas. He has logged a 2-2 record all-time in head-to-head matchups with the Wildcats.
Series vs. Arkansas
Kentucky owns a 25-9 record in the all-time series, but the series is tied 6-6 when played in Fayetteville. UK has won 11 of the last 13 meetings between the two teams, but both losses came in Arkansas. Last Game vs. Arkansas Coty Clarke had 14 points and 12 rebounds as Arkansas defeated Kentucky by a 73-60 score on March 2, 2013. Clarke also had six assists for the Razorbacks. Marshawn Powell had 15 points and BJ Young added 13 for Arkansas, which snapped a two-game losing streak with the win. Arkansas native Archie Goodwin led the Wildcats with 14 points, while Willie Cauley-Stein had 13.
Press Conference Video
Dakari Johnson and Derek Willis
John Calipari