Personnel Predictions – CatsIllustrated: Kentucky Wildcats Football & Basketball Recruiting

Kentucky-Duke could be the biggest “name” matchup of the entire college basketball season, and we get it tonight in the Champions Classic.

The Cats Illustrated staff reveals what to expect.

What are the main reasons for Kentucky fans to be optimistic about the game?

Travis Graf: Kentucky has a very efficient offense where, realistically, most of the perimeter players haven’t quite gotten their money’s worth yet. The ball movements are crisp and the chemistry in the team is already good. Duke, as is common with teams with a lot of young pieces, struggled to defend the perimeter early in the season. It will be even more difficult than usual to maintain Kentucky’s offensive system and its transition points.

David Sisk: Kentucky fans should be optimistic for several reasons. Your team has averaged 101.5 points in its first two games. The offense was nice to see, but the price of poker is obviously going through the roof on Tuesday night. The Wildcats ran, shot threes, and ball and player movement were excellent. Marquee games early in the season tend to be run-and-gun affairs, as offenses generally outscore defenses at this early point in the season. The scouting reports are also not that detailed. Another reason for optimism is that Kentucky is an older team. The average college grade of the top nine Cat players is 4.3. Duke, on the other hand, has three (very talented) freshmen and one sophomore in the top eight. Duke may indeed be the most talented team in the country, but the “if you want to get them, get them now” scenario could come into play.

Justin Rowland: Kentucky is a very experienced team that is firing on all cylinders offensively early in the season. Granted, they haven’t seen anywhere near the talent they’ll see tonight, but they’ve looked really good so far. The way they shared the ball and used the offense to get good looks was impressive. They are a team that should be able to compete against almost anyone.

What are the main reasons Kentucky fans are concerned?

Count: This is a game where Kentucky could really use some more real rim protection and interior rebounding threats. I don’t think this is a good match for Andrew Carr on paper, so I’m excited to see what the lineups look like tomorrow. Duke is young, but they are talented, and that’s why they have three projected lottery picks. Cooper Flagg will be the talk of the night, but I think Kon Knueppel will have a big game.

Sisk: Although Kentucky was impressive in its first two games, it came against overwhelmed opponents. A brand new squad with no returning players means we can’t really know what to expect against the top teams. The same goes for Duke. They also had near total turnover with the exception of Tyrsese Proctor and Caleb Foster. There is also the question of talent. Duke is loaded. Everyone knows Cooper Flagg, and several more players could go in the first round of the draft next summer. Kentucky will face top teams like Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee in league play, but none will be better than Duke all year long.

Rowland: The question is what happens when Kentucky faces a team with athleticism, length and strength. Duke will present that challenge and we simply don’t know how Kentucky will respond. So far we’ve seen Lamont Butler be a big asset due to his defensive abilities, but how will he perform offensively against the Blue Devils? A team like Duke will reveal things about Kentucky’s roster that we have

What is your prediction for the game and who is a key Kentucky player?

Count: Duke 88, Kentucky 84. Mark Pope would completely capture the hearts of the Big Blue Nation with a win a week into the season, but in the end I think the athleticism and length are the deciding factors for the Blue Devils in this matchup in elimination Kentucky is optimistic for the upcoming season.

Sisk: For all the talk of high-octane offenses, Kentucky’s advantage may lie inside. Patrick Ngongba’s injury could be serious. Khaman Maluach is a stud, but the Cats are deeper inside, and if Amari Williams can continue to play like he has been, he could cause some problems for the rookie. We really don’t know what to expect this early in the season, but UK obviously needs to shoot the ball well and do their best to frustrate the Blue Devil newcomers when they have the ball. Duke 91 Kentucky 86

Rowland: Kentucky 81, Duke 79. Koby Brea will get some looks and we’re seeing the confidence, so I expect him to have a good game. The Wildcats’ experience shines through in a big way and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts tonight.