Saturday afternoon, Kentucky travels to College Station to try and improve their NCAA hopes against Texas A&M who has a record of 13-7 and is 3-4 in SEC play.
Kentucky 14-6 (5-2) has had it's struggles this season, but seemed to have exercised at least some of those demons Tuesday night when they defeated Ole Miss handing them their first SEC loss. Aside from a stretch in the second half that we won't speak of, it was the best Kentucky had looked all season long.
If the Cats hope to avenge their loss to A&M earlier this year, they will have to have the same type of effort they exerted in Oxford. They can ill afford to have guys disappear during key moments of the game as has been the norm the majority of the season. They will have to limit turnovers and second chance opportunities to have a shot at pulling off a win.
I don't even have to say it, but shutting down Elston Turner is a must. After his 40 point explosion in Rupp, people said "he'll never do that again" or "he just had a good night". Well let me tell you something, scoring 40 on the road is not "luck" or a "fluke", this kid can play. So yeah, I'd say stopping Elston Turner is Cal's #1 priority going into Saturday. Because, if he was to ever repeat his 40 point performance, you know it will be against Kentucky.
Here's a numbers comparison for you to study on....
A&M UK
PPG: 63 76
RPG: 34 40
SPG: 6 7
BPG: 3 8
TPG: 13 13
FG%: 44 48
FT%: 68 64
3P%: 37 35
LEADING SCORERS:
Elston Turner: 15.7ppg 3P% 40
Fabyon Harris: 10.5ppg 3P% 44
Ray Turner: 10.0ppg
Since Kentucky fans may not be familiar with College Station, TX, here's some highlights of the campus..
Texas A&M's campus is one of the largest in the country spanning 5,200 acres, including a 350 acre research park
Money magazine named College Station the most educated city in Texas in 2006
Texas A&M is the location of the George W. Bush Preidential Library
Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament:
Not much to tell, the furthest they ever advanced was the Sweet Sixteen
The only history of A&M worth writing about a second time this year:
Horace S. Carswell, JR., Class of 1938
Thomas W. Fowler, Class of 1943
William G. Harrell, Class of 1943
Lloyd H. Hughes, Class of 1943
George D. Keathley, Class of 1937
Turney W. Leonard, Class of 1942
Eli L. Whiteley, Class of 1941
All these great men have one thing in common, they are the recipients of the highest honor the Military has to offer, the Medal of Honor. Big Blue Corner thanks you gentlemen.
If Kentucky pulls off a win Saturday, I believe that will remove them out of all this bubble talk and will almost assure them a trip to the "Big Dance". However, they will have to take care of business and not have a let down like they did after their road win at Auburn.
We'll find out Saturday....
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