The No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats are set to return to the court on Friday night at Rupp Arena after a short break for the holidays. They will face off against the Illinois State Redbirds in what promises to be an exciting game.
Kentucky is coming off a dominant performance against Louisville just before the holiday break, where they secured a solid 95-76 victory at the KFC Yum! Center. Super senior Antonio Reeves led the way for the Wildcats with an impressive 30-point performance. Freshman Reed Sheppard also had a standout game with 11 points and 11 assists. Sheppard’s outstanding performance earned him the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week award for the second consecutive time.
Reeves, who formerly played for Illinois State, will have the opportunity to face his former team on Friday night. During his time at ISU, Reeves showcased his skills by scoring 1,195 points for the Redbirds. This adds an intriguing storyline to the upcoming matchup.
Kentucky has been on a solid winning streak, securing three consecutive victories. In addition to their win over Louisville, they also held off then-No. 9 North Carolina and topped Penn. The Wildcats’ well-rounded offense is led by five players who are averaging double figures in scoring this season. Reeves leads the pack with an average of 18.3 points per game, followed by freshman guard Rob Dillingham with 14.2 points per game. Forward Tre Mitchell averages 13.2 points per contest, while Sheppard and fellow freshman D.J. Wagner contribute 12.6 and 11.7 points per game, respectively.
Illinois State enters the matchup with an 8-4 record and has won their last two games. They secured an impressive 85-64 win over Southeast Missouri State on December 21st, followed by a 75-65 win against North Dakota State four days prior. Darius Burford leads the Redbirds in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game, while Dalton Banks is the only other player on the team averaging double figures with 10.9 points per contest.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcasted on the SEC Network. Fans can expect an intense battle between these two teams as they look to continue their winning streaks and prove their skills on the court.
