The Kentucky Wildcats will take on the Bellarmine Knights on Tuesday afternoon in Lexington. Game time is set for 1:00 PM ET on SEC Network+. Kentucky is a massive 35.5-point favorite.
The Cats are now 8-4 following their biggest win of the season over the St. John’s Red Storm on Saturday. While it hasn’t been the prettiest of seasons to date, it appears that Mark Pope’s squad may be turning a corner.
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How’d it happen? Well, they may have found a (defensive) identity, and they’re finally healthy. After getting downright embarrassed by the Gonzaga Bulldogs just a few weeks ago, Kentucky has strung together three straight wins, including two over solid teams: St. John’s and the Indiana Hoosiers.
Jayden Quaintance and Jaland Lowe are back in full force. Otega Oweh has regained his form. Quaintance, in particular, looked the part of a future NBA superstar in his first game back (10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks in 17 minutes). Lowe is clearly the straw that stirs the drink. And Oweh may just live up to that preseason hype after all.
As for the Knights, they are not a good basketball team. I say this as a Bellarmine alumnus who pays close attention to the Louisville-area team. They made their Division I debut in 2020 and won their conference championship in 2021-22, but it’s all been downhill since then.
The absolutely abysmal NCAA rule that prevents teams from competing in the NCAA Tournament following their jump from a lower level to a higher level hamstrung a once very proud program. Their record is 5-6, which already ties their win total from last season.
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Kentucky needs to end this one quickly and give guys like Andrija Jelavic and Trent Noah extended minutes since those could be few and far between in SEC play.
Pregame reading
Let’s Go CATS!
