NCAA Picks and Tips: Kentucky Wildcats vs Auburn Tigers
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
Auburn’s perfect 9-0 home record will face its biggest test of the season when it meets No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats. The Wildcats, who have won seven straight, rank among the top 15 nationally in six major categories, including first in blocks and field goal percentage defense, plus they’re scoring 80.9 points per game.
That’s not good news for Auburn Tigers, which was embarrassed 65-35 by Vanderbilt in the SEC opener. The Tigers are hopeful they can use their strong perimeter defense to keep Kentucky from getting in the groove. Kentucky leads the series 85-17, has won 12 straight and 26 of the last 27.
- Kentucky Wildcats @ Auburn Tigers
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Where: Auburn Arena, Auburn, Alabama
TV: ESPN 3, SEC Network.
The Wildcats have opened as 18-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Kentucky Wildcats (15-1): The Wildcats are coming off a 15-point win over South Carolina in the season opener. The SEC favorites have multiple offensive threats, with six players averaging double figures: Doron Lamb (14.6), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (13.6), Anthony Davis (12.7), Terrence Jones (11.8), Marquis Teague (10.8) and Darius Miller (10.2). Davis has had nine double-doubles, including five straight; he’s the first with five straight since 2010. Jones appears to be completely recovered from his dislocated finger; he hit his first eight shots and scored 20 points against South Carolina.
Auburn Tigers (10-5): The Tigers have dropped two straight and four of their last six to offset some of the enthusiasm that came with the program’s best start in 12 years. Auburn has trouble scoring points, failing to top 56 in three of those losses. Kenny Gabriel (11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) is the team’s top all-around performer. Frankie Sullivan averages 11.5 points and provides an outside threat; he had six 3-pointers in an earlier game. Chris Denson (10.7) is averaging 12.8 over the last four games, but Rob Chubb is averaging only 5.3 points over the last three and Varez Ward has made only 3 of 20 from the field over the last three games after averaging 15.5 in the three games prior to that slump.
1. Auburn coach Tony Barbee was a player and grad assistant for John Calipari when the current Kentucky coach was at Massachusetts. Barbee later served six seasons as an assistant for Coach Cal at Memphis.
2. After making 67.5 percent of its free throws in the first 10 games, Calipari began requiring the team to run 33-second sprints for every missed free throw. Since then they’re making 75.8 percent.
3. Auburn has lost 11 straight against top-10 ranked teams.
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Kentucky 78 and Auburn 56
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