Kentucky gets ready for it’s final home game of the season as they welcome the Vanderbilt Commodores to Rupp Arena. This will likely be the last game in Rupp for most of this team and hopefully BBN shows up to send these guys off.
When: Wednesday. March 6th, at 9pm ET
Where: Rupp Arena
Channel: SECN
Vanderbilt So Far
Since losing to Kentucky on February 6th the Commodores are 2-5. The wins look good on paper as the first was a win at the buzzer against Texas A&M and beating Arkansas in Fayetteville. There have been flashes in the last couple of weeks that the Commodores have found a little bit of form. Of course they are still one of the worst teams in the SEC. Vanderbilt sits at 222 in the NET (yikes) and 208 in Kenpom.
How Does Kentucky Matchup
Kentucky blitzed the Commodores in Nashville after a competitive 7 or 8 minutes. Vandy showed no ability to guard Kentucky. Kentucky was able to have uncontested lobs and sliced and diced the Commodores as they put up 109 points. Vandy has no rim protection to speak of, struggles to rebound, struggles to stop penetration, struggles to contest shooters, don’t really force turnovers, and generally struggles with effort and scheme. Kentucky should be able to put up points easily.
Offensively, Vandy is a poor shooting team and mostly relies on penetration from Ezra Manjon to create for others and/or draw fouls. Kentucky has struggled with this style of play (including Saturday against Arkansas) and if they allow the game to get bogged down this could be closer than any of us want.
Player To Watch
Ven-Allen Lubin is the one to watch here. By now everyone is aware of what Ezra Manjon brings to the table but Lubin probably has the highest ceiling on this Vandy roster. He’s a former top 100 recruit who has good size and has scored in double figures in 6 of the 7 games since Kentucky won in Nashville.
He’s not particularly efficient from 3 (he only shoots 32%) but has a decent stroke and has shown flashes from deep. We’ve seen guys have their breakout on the big stage in Rupp against Kentucky. This is one guy Kentucky could struggle to guard.
Who Wins
Kentucky should win this game going away. Vanderbilt has played Kentucky really close in Rupp under Stackhouse but this is probably his worst team (and almost certainly his last). The Commodores will try to muck things up and take advantage of the emotional night after Senior Day ceremony but I just don’t see how they have enough to win this game.
Finally, I’d like to acknowledge what Antonio Reeves has done in his two years as he prepares for his final game in Rupp. A kid who was rated as the 40th best transfer when he committed from Illinois State to being a virtual lock for 20 points every night in the toughest conference in CBB. I don’t know how this season will end but some of the biggest moments of the last two years don’t happen without Antonio Reeves. He’s put in a ton of work and has become an All-American. I am so proud of him and I hope BBN sends him out right tonight.
Kentucky wins 91-72.
Go Cats.
