Kentucky basketball: Game preview, 3 keys vs Aggies
By Drew Koch
The Kentucky basketball team travels to College Station on Saturday night to go head-to-head with Texas A&M. The Wildcats squeaked out a victory earlier this season against the Aggies at Rupp Arena 74-73.
The Kentucky basketball is in desperate need of a victory. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they’re going to have to travel to College Station to get it. The Cats take on the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday night. The Wildcats hung on for the 74-73 win after a controversial no-call during the final play of the game.
The Aggies will surely be looking for revenge on Saturday in Reed Arena. Billy Kennedy’s squad started conference play 0-4. Since the slow start, the Aggies have won 5 of their last 7 games, including an upset of nationally-ranked Auburn. Texas A&M defeated the No. 8 Tigers 81-80 on Wednesday night.
Texas A&M is a very experienced team with a lot of sizde. The Aggies start 3 juniors, a sophomore and a freshman. Duane Wilson and Tonny Trocha-Morelos provide senior-leadership off the bench.
The Aggies, much like the Wildcats, do not shoot prolifically or proficiently from downtown. On the season, Texas A&M ranks no better than 230th in attempts, makes and shooting percentage from three-point territory. In conference play, the Aggies are making just a shade over 30% from beyond the arc.
The Wildcats have their work cut out for them on Saturday night. Statistically these two teams are virtually identical. However, the ESPN Basketball Power Index gives the Kentucky basketball team only a 32% chance to emerge victorious.
The Cats did everything right in the previous meeting except convert their free throws. Kentucky was 22-of-34 (64.7%) from the charity stripe against the Aggies back in January. UK was up by 5 with under a minute left, but poor shooting from the free throw line made the game closer than it should have been.
What do the Wildcats have to do take down the Aggies on the road? Will Calipari ride with same line up that excelled together against Tennessee? Can the Kentucky basketball team out rebound the Aggies? Check out the 3 keys to victory for the Wildcats.