Big Blue Preview: Kentucky vs. North Carolina Central
Kentucky lost to Gonzaga on Friday night to slip to 5-4 on the season. It’s not the start that UK players and fans hoped to see, but the Cats have their minds set to get things turned around.
On Monday, guard Denzel Aberdeen said that the Cats need to make some changes to get things going in a better direction.
“We’re definitely going to make a change as far as our energy and effort coming into these games,” Aberdeen said. “They haven’t been where they are supposed to be but we’re definitely going to make a jump.”
Aberdeen and the Cats know that they have plenty of room for growth.
“We know we’re not playing to the capability that we’re supposed to be playing at right now,” he said. “So, each and every day, we’re going to try to come in practice and just give maximum effort every time.”
Aberdeen balked at the notion that this group is not competitive.
“I think our competitiveness is still there,” he said. “We’ve just got to find a way to execute in the game.”
What are the points of emphasis for the Cats in practice right now?
“We’ve just got a lot of things that we need to work on as far as offensively and defensively,” Aberdeen said. “But other than that, I think we’re still together. We’re still coming together. We’re still going to push forward.”
Specifically, head coach Mark Pope and his staff are trying to find ways to get better shots and to play better defense.
“Coming down and making shots, offensively, share the ball together and defensively, we’ve got to get stops,” Aberdeen said. “So, I think just those two, scoring and defense, is what it comes down to.”
Part of the offensive improvement could come with Jaland Lowe now back on the floor. Aberdeen knows that Lowe can really make this offense efficient.
“It will be very good for us,” Aberdeen said of having Lowe back. “He’s a very good, elite guard, unselfish, comes in, brings a lot of energy. Very glad he’s back.”
A renewed energy could help push this talented Kentucky team over the top. They will be testing that theory for the first time on Tuesday against North Carolina Central (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
Tuesday’s Opponent: NC Central
Kentucky welcomes North Carolina Central to Rupp Arena on Tuesday.
• This will mark the first ever meeting between the two programs in basketball
• NC Central is just 3-8 to start the season. The Eagles have played a tough nonconference schedule, visiting NC State, Virginia, North Carolina, Dayton and now Kentucky
• Gage Lattimore leads the Eagles in scoring at 19.5 points per game and 35 3-pointers
Last Time Out
Kentucky fell, 94-59, to Gonzaga on Friday night in Nashville.
• Entering the game shooting 76.8 percent at the foul line, Kentucky had another solid night at the charity stripe, making 20 of 26 for 76.9 percent
• Kentucky claimed 12 offensive rebounds and won second-chance points, 15-10
• Otega Oweh led UK with 16 points (tied season high), five rebounds (tied season high) and a season-high five assists
• He also had two steals, his fourth straight game with multiple thefts
• He made 9 of 10 free throws, most foul shots made by a Wildcat this season
• Collin Chandler had 11 points, the eighth time in nine games in double figures
Otegatron Finding His Footing
Otega Oweh missed most of fall camp as he recovered from a turf toe injury. It’s taken a few weeks to find his footing, but Oweh is beginning to look more and more like the breakout player the Cats had a season ago.
• Oweh has scored in double figures in all nine games and has topped double figures in 42 of 45 games played in the Blue and White overall
• He has scored a season-high 16 points in three straight games
• Against Gonzaga, Oweh had two steals — it marked his fourth straight game with multiple thefts
• Oweh led UK with five assists and five rebounds against Gonzaga
• He made 9 of 10 free throws against Gonzaga, all season highs and the most of any UK player this season. Oweh was 149-192 at the charity stripe a season ago
• Oweh has dished out multiple assists in each of UK’s last eight games — the longest such streak of his career
