Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky: Game Preview, Prediction

By Tim Letcher
Marvin Gentry, USA TODAY SPORTS
Marvin Gentry, USA TODAY SPORTS

The top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats host the Vanderbilt Commodores on Tuesday night in SEC action.

Kentucky is now 17-0 this season after a 70-48 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday in Tuscaloosa. The Wildcats are now 4-0 in the SEC, with the last two wins coming much easier than the first two league victories. Kentucky needed overtime to win each of its first two games, but have won the subsequent two games by a total of 71 points.

Head coach John Calipari continues to find ways to get nine (or, at times, 10) players enough playing time. Two games ago, he went back to more of a true platoon system, and the team seems to have responded.

Kentucky has seven players who average at least 7.6 points per game. Sophomore guard Aaron Harrison leads the team with an 11.4 points per game average, while freshman Devin Booker scores 10.6 points per outing. All-American candidate Willie Cauley-Stein averages 9.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 steals per game for the Big Blue.

Vanderbilt was supposed to be in somewhat of a rebuilding mode this season, but Kevin Stallings and his team got off to an 11-3 start on the season. However, the Commodores have lost three straight games since then and now stand at 11-6 on the season and 1-3 in the SEC.

Sophomore center Damian Jones leads the ‘Dores in scoring (16.0 points per game) and rebounding (7.2 per game). Freshman guard Riley LaChance is the only other Vandy player averaging in double figures (13.3 per game).

Vanderbilt appears to be in trouble in this game, but the Wildcats’ have been known to play down to their opponents’ levels at times this season. If Kentucky plays as well as it can, this game is a blowout. If Vandy catches Kentucky on an off night and hits a lot of three-point baskets, they can keep it close.

Final score prediction: Kentucky 72, Vanderbilt 51

Tim Letcher is a contributing writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimLetcher , on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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