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 – FEBRUARY 17: Wenyen Gabriel /

2. Keep crashing the boards

The Kentucky basketball team has been dominant on the glass lately. Against Alabama, Kentucky outrebounded the Crimson Tide by 17. In their last game against the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Cats outrebounded the Hogs 46-29. It’s no coincidence that Kentucky scored 80-plus points in both those games.

Mizzou isn’t a bad rebounding team. In fact, the Tigers’ 405 defensive rebounds lead the SEC this season. Kentucky is No. 3 in that category with 390 of their own. Where the Cats distance themselves from the Tigers is on the offensive glass. Kentucky has 179, good enough for 3rd in the SEC, while Missouri is sitting on 128, which is 13th in the SEC.

Jarred Vanderbilt has been a man among boys on the offensive glass. Vanderbilt’s played in only 11 games this season. In 3 games, he has grabbed 10-plus rebounds. The past two games, both .wins, Vanderbilt snatched 9 rebounds. Of those 18 rebounds, 11 were on the offensive glass. Offensive rebounding leads to easy baskets and the Cats will take as many of those as they can get.

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