KENTUCKY VS VANDERBILT +4 2/11/12
No. 1 Kentucky puts its 16-game winning streak on the line at Vanderbilt, which has lost only one SEC home game this year. Vanderbilt, which limited LSU to only 14.3 percent on 3-pointers Tuesday, will need a similarly strong defensive effort against Kentucky, which averages 78.2 points, shoots 48.8 percent from the floor and 37.9 percent on 3-pointers. Kentucky has won the last four games by at least 20 points. Vanderbilt has split four games against a top-ranked team over the last five years. Vanderbilt has beaten Kentucky in five of their last six meetings in Nashville.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com
ABOUT KENTUCKY (24-1, 10-0 SEC): The Wildcats are off to their best SEC start since 2005. Doron Lamb, who has been inconsistent on offense much of the season, has had back-to-back games of 18 points. Freshman Anthony Davis continues to produce more on offense - he is averaging 18 points over the last four games and has shot 80.6 percent from the field. Davis has blocked at least two shots in every game and leads the nation with 4.8 per game. Point guard Marquis Teague continues to improve as a ball distributor - he had a career-high 10 assists against Florida. Terrence Jones terrorized Vanderbilt for 40 points and 18 rebounds in two games last year.
ABOUT VANDERBILT (17-7, 6-3): John Jenkins continues to be one of the steadiest scorers in the country. He has been in double figures for 57 straight games and has hit a 3-pointer in 45 straight. Jenkins scored 32 against the Wildcats in Nashville a year ago. Big-bodied Festus Ezeli, coming off a career-high 21 points against LSU, will be asked to help neutralize Kentucky’s strong inside game. Ezeli had 36 points and 20 rebounds in two games against the Wildcats last year. Jeffery Taylor is averaging 20.4 over his last five games, including 25 against Tennessee.
TIP-INS:
1. Kentucky officials are trying to stop the spread of a poster that shows Davis with his arms outstretched over 10 basketballs. The posters were selling for as much as $125 on eBay.
2. Vanderbilt got only four points from its bench against LSU.
3. Taylor is one free throw attempt shy of tying Clyde Lee for third on the school’s career list.
GET ALL THE WINNERS NBA & NCAA
CLICK HERE!