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The Kentucky Wildcats took on the Providence Friars at the Barclay’s Center in New York in a game that had two teams with similar records match-up. However, Providence has played a much easier schedule so far than Kentucky and were manhandled by the Wildcats. Kentucky won in a blowout, 79 – 65.
Next up for Kentucky is the No. 18 Baylor Bears, who have only lost to the No. 8 Syracuse Orange. Baylor is a tale of two teams. Sometimes, they will crush opponents like the Colorado Buffaloes and then almost lose to teams like the South Carolina Gamecocks. This should worry the Bears, because they only won against South Carolina by two points, and the Gamecocks were picked to finish twelfth in the SEC – Kentucky was picked to finish first.
If Kentucky is to avoid an upset against Baylor, Willie Cauley-Stein will have to continue to play well. Against Providence, he recorded 15 points, eight rebounds and nine blocks; his best game of the season so far. If Cauley-Stein can play well, Kentucky won’t have any trouble with the Bears because Aaron Harrison, James Young and Julius Randle almost always play well.
It will probably take a miracle for Baylor to defeat the Wildcats. The Bears are an extremely good team, but do not have the same talent level that Kentucky possesses. Expect a game where John Calipari’s young team runs all over Baylor and, despite a great first half showing by the Bears, prove too much for them in the end.
