#1 Kentucky Wildcats at South Carolina Gamecocks
Colonial Life Arena – Columbia, South Carolina
Saturday, February 4, 2012, 6:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Kentucky -12
Current Line: Kentucky -12
Opening Total: 129
Current Total: 128 1/2
Opening Money Line: Kentucky -800 / South Carolina +600
Opening Money Line: Kentucky -800 / South Carolina +600
Since a one point loss at Indiana on December 10, Kentucky has won 14 straight games, including a 69-44 thrashing of Tennessee Tuesday night. The Wildcats are 22-1 this season, and 8-0 in the SEC, a game and a half ahead of second place Florida. Kentucky is #1 in both polls. The Wildcats take on the 9-12 South Carolina Gamecocks who are 1-6 in conference, tied with Georgia for last place. The Gamecocks have lost 2 in a row, including 74-66 at Florida Thursday night. Kentucky leads the series 45-10 against South Carolina, and has won 4 straight games in the series. The two teams opened SEC play against each other this season in Lexington with Kentucky winning 79-64.
Kentucky is coached by John Calipari. The Wildcats have additional wins over Kansas, Penn St, Old Dominion, Portland, St. John’s, North Carolina, Louisville, Auburn, Ternnessee twice, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, and LSU.
South Carolina is coached by Darrin Horn. The Gamecocks have additional losses to Elon, Tennessee St, North Carolina, USC, Providence, Ohio St, Vanderbilt, Florida twice, Auburn and Ole Miss. South Carolina has wins over Western Carolina, Clemson, Wofford, and Alabama.
Kentucky is outscoring opponents 78-59 this season. The Wildcats are shooting 48.5% from the field and 36.7% from 3 point range. Kentucky is in the top 25 nationally in scoring and field goal percentage. The Wildcats make 71.4% from the free throw line. Kentucky is 14th nationally in rebounding with 39.8 boards a game, with a rebounding margin of +7.7. The Wildcats average 13.2 assists, 12.5 turnovers, 6.7 steals, and 9.3 blocks a game. Kentucky opponents are shooting 36% from the field and 30.9% from 3 point range. The Wildcats are first nationally in opponents’ field goal percentage and tenth in points allowed. Kentucky forces 13.3 turnovers a game.
Kentucky has 5 players averaging double digits in scoring. Freshman forward sensation Anthony Davis averages 13.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 4.7 blocks a game. He leads the Wildcats in scoring, rebounds, steals, and blocks. Davis is widely predicted to be the #1 pick in this year’s NBA draft. Guard Doron Lamb averages 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists a game. He is shooting 46.1% from 3 point range. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist averages 12.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks a game. Terrence Jones averages 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2 blocks a game. Darius Miller averages 10.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists a game. Marquis Teague averages 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists to lead the team, and 1 steal a game. Guards Jon Hood and Sam Malone are both out indefinitely with knee injuries.
South Carolina is being outscored 63-60 this season. The Gamecocks are shooting 41.9% from the field including 32.6% from 3 point range. USC makes 70.6% of their free throws. The Gamecocks average 32 rebounds, and have a rebounding margin of -0.1. South Carolina averages 10.1 assists, 13.2 turnovers, 7.2 steals, and 5 blocks a game. Gamecock opponents are shooting 44.1% from the field, including 38.2% from 3 point range. The Gamecocks force 14.6 turnovers a game.
South Carolina forward Malik Cooke averages 12.7 points, 5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2 steals a game. He leads the team in scoring, assists, and steals. Bruce Ellington averages 10.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists a game to lead the team. Anthony Gill averages 8.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists a game. Damontre Harris leads the team in rebounds with 5.3 a game and blocks with 2.3 a game. He also scores 7 points a game. Damien Leonard and Eric Smith also contribute to the scoring.
South Carolina is 8-8 ATS and the total is also 8-8 this season. Kentucky is 7-14-1 ATS and the total is also 7-14-1 this season. The road team is 15-7 recently in this series, and the over is 18-6. The Wildcats are 4-1 ATS as a favorite, after a straight up win, overall, and in SEC games, 5-2 as a road favorite of 7-12.5 points, 15-33-1 after a straight up win of 20 points or more, 2-7-1 as a favorite of 7-12.5 points, 3-15 after allowing less than 50 points, 1-5 against teams with losing records, and 1-8 in Saturday games. The Gamecocks are 6-2 ATS as an underdog, 7-3 against teams with winning records, and overall, 4-9 in Saturday games, 3-7 after a straight up loss, 8-21-1 at home against teams with winning road records, 7-20 after a cover, and 1-4 as a home underdog of 7-12.5 points.
Kentucky has seemingly gotten over their bad habit of letting inferior teams hang around, as they have covered 4 of their last 5 games. The Wildcats are tuning up for a deep March run. By all rights they should destroy this South Carolina team. The only concern is Kentucky could be looking ahead as they host arch-rival Florida Wednesday night.
