#22 Kentucky Wildcats at Arkansas Razorbacks
Feb 23rd, 2011 at 8 PM EST
Opening Line: Kentucky -7
Current Line: Kentucky -7
Opening Total: 140
Current Total: 140
Opening Moneyline: Kentucky -300 / Arkansas +250
Current Moneyline: Kentucky -300 / Arkansas +250
While the Wildcats have been good this year, they haven’t been so good on the road, and despite the fact that they are 1-5 away from Rupp Arena in SEC play, they still find themselves 7 point favorites in tonight’s game against the Razorbacks. Kentucky Coach John Calipari is well aware of the struggles on the road, but he doesn’t want the players to focus on it. “If your team is struggling with free throw shooting and you keep talking about free-throw shooting, you make it worse,” Calipari said. “We’ve played fairly well on the road and given ourselves a chance to win every single game.”
Those sentiments may sound nice and comforting, but they are not reality. The Wildcats aren’t going to be playing at Rupp Arena in March and will have to find a way to win on the road. Arkansas has beaten one ranked opponent (Vanderbilt) this season and could easily upset the Wildcats if Clarke and Powell can get hot.
Some betting trends:
Kentucky is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games and 1-5 SU in those games. Kentucky is 4-1 SU in their last 5 road games against Arkansas.
Arkansas is 2-4 SU in their last 6 games and they are 12-2 SU in their last 14 games at home. Arkansas is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against Kentucky and 0-4 SU in their last 5 against Kentucky. The total has gone OVER In 5 of Arkansas’ last 6 games against the Wildcats and Arkansas is 1-4 SU in their last 5 home games against the Kentucky Wildcats.
Kentucky ranks at the top of many statistical categories. They are 21st in the nation in scoring at 77.7 points per game, 31st in rebounding with 38.4 a game, and 45th in field goal percentage at 46.4%. They receive significant contributions from four of their five starters and they have a 6 man rotation. Terrence Jones, a 6’8″ freshman forward, leads Kentucky in scoring with 17.9 points per game. In addition to that Jones leads Kentucky in rebounding with 9.1 boards per game and he blocks nearly 2 shots a game as well. Second leading scorer Brandon Knight is also a freshman. The 6’3″ guard scores 17.4 points per game, in addition he gets 4 assists per game and shoots 41% from three (64 of 156). He has scored in double figures in every Kentucky game except a loss to U Conn when he managed only 6 points on 3 of 15 shooting from the floor.
Over his last 4 games he has averaged 17 points per game and Kentucky has won 3 of those 4 games.
Arkansas is led by 6’0″ junior guard Rotnei Clarke. Clarke scores 13.8 points per game while shooting a blistering 44% from distance (73 of 166). He’s hit 4 threes or more 10 times, and Arkansas is 8-2 in those 10 games. Over the last three games, Clarke is averaging 20 a game, and has done so without attempting a lot of field goals. He shot 11 free throws against Alabama, and if he plays his game he might be able to get Terrence Jones in foul trouble. 6’9″ senior big man Delvon Johnson makes a difference for Arkansas, as well. He averages 9.7 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with 7.4 boards per game. He’s had 4 double doubles and Arkansas is a perfect 4-0 in those four games. His best game came against Troy on December 4th, when he went for 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Kentucky should win this game easily, but Arkansas is very good when hitting their threes. Also, the fact that Arkansas is at home gives them a legitimate shot at winning this game.
