Big Blue Preview: Kentucky vs. Georgia State
No. 8 Kentucky returns to action on Friday night, hosting Georgia State inside Rupp Arena (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
Kentucky beat Western Kentucky 87-68 on Tuesday night, moving to 6-0 on the young season. Andrew Carr and Otega Oweh each scored 18 points for the Cats. Lamont Butler added 14 points for the Cats.
Through six games, Oweh leads the Cats in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per outing. Koby Brea is scoring 14.8 points per game, while Butler is averaging 11.7 points per contest. Jaxson Robinson (10.8 ppg) and Carr (10.8 ppg) are the other Cats averaging in double figures. Amari Williams scores 9.3 points per game, while pulling down a team-high 10.7 rebounds.
Kentucky has handled its five home games, averaging 99 points per game. UK is winning its home games by an average of 33.2 points per contest. The Cats have scored at least 100 points three times, with a season-high of 108 coming against Jackson State.
Georgia State is 4-3 this season. The Panthers beat Tulsa 74-71 on Wednesday night, getting 22 points from Zarique Nutter. Through seven games, Nutter leads Georgia State, averaging 17.2 points per game, while Toneari Lane is posting 15.3 points per contest.
Kentucky and Georgia State have met on the hardwood twice, with UK winning both contests. The Cats beat the Panthers 77-59 in 2004 behind 16 points from Kelenna Azubuike and Chuck Hayes. The following season, UK won 73-46 behind 16 points from Shagari Alleyne.
Kentucky Tops Toppers
Andrew Carr and Otega Oweh each scored 18 points as No. 8 Kentucky pulled away from Western Kentucky 87-68 on Tuesday night at Rupp Arena.
Carr added 10 rebounds and three assists in the game, while Oweh had four rebounds.
Lamont Buter was the third Cat in double figures, pouring in 14 points to go with five rebounds and four assists. Amari Williams had eight points and 10 rebounds for UK.
Kentucky (6-0) had its worst shooting night of the young season, making only 8 of 29 (27.6 percent) from behind the arc. However, the Cats got to the line 42 times and made 29 free throws.
Some additional notes from the win:
• Kentucky has a 6-0 start for the first time since the 2016-17 team won its first seven
• The Cats are 5-0 inside Rupp Arena on the year and have scored a total of 495 points, good for an average of 99 per home contest
• Kentucky controlled the rebounding, 54-41, and has won the rebounding in five of six games this season. In the other game, UK trailed Duke by only one board
• UK held WKU to just 31.8% from the field, 15.4% from 3
Mr. Consistency
Not only does the team refer to Andrew Carr as the “team dad,” but Carr has provided some of the most efficient and consistent performances thus far for the Cats.
• Carr is averaging 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while connecting on 63.9% of his field goals and 84.2% from the line
• He has led the team in scoring twice (Duke, WKU) and reached double figures in four of six outings
• Carr is second on the team in rebounds per game, while ranking fourth in total assists, second in free throws made and second in field-goal percentage
• The West Chester, Pennsylvania, native has ranked third or better in the team’s plus/minus category in five of the six games, in the one game he did not rank in the top three, he was +21 on the day (Jackson State)
• Carr ranks 44th overall in offensive rating per KenPom and 72nd in effective field-goal percentage
