Kentucky basketball: Game preview, 3 keys vs Missouri

By Drew Koch | Feb 23, 2018

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 26: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts in the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 26, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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LEXINGTON, KY – JANUARY 30: Kevin Knox /

1. Three-point shooting

Three-point shooting will make or break this game for the Kentucky basketball team. Missouri is the best three-point shooting team in the SEC. The Tigers are No. 1 in the conference from downtown at 38.7%. Kentucky is tops in the SEC in three-point defense, holding opponents to 26.9%.

Kassius Robertson leads the Tigers in attempts (7.3) and percentage (42.4%). He leads the team in points per game with 16.5. Robertson was 2-of-6 from downtown in the earlier game against the Cats and scored 16 points. Mizzou’s second-leading scorer, Jordan Barnett, also scored 16 points in the win over the Wildcats. Porter is knocking down 40.6% from deep and the Cats have to stay glued to Missouri’s two senior guards.

On the flip-side, as was alluded to earlier, cannot go 2-of-20 from three-point land. If the Cats can get 6-8 three-pointers to fall, they’ll be in fine shape. Kentucky will look to Knox, Green and hopefully Wenyen Gabriel to knock down open shots from deep.

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