NCAAB Game Preview - Kentucky at South Carolina
Wed Jan 15, 2020 6:30 PM EST

IaSt
55
Baylor
68
F
Aub
64
Bama
83
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Seton
78
Butl
70
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UVA
50
FSU
54
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KY
78
SouthCar
81
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WichSt
53
Temp
65
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Crei
80
GTown
83
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Colg
67
Lafy
71
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StFPA
100
FaDi
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CenCT
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SacHr
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BC
50
Syr
76
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Samf
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ETSU
88
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Tuls
65
ECU
49
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Mia-FL
63
NCSU
80
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GMas
67
GrgWas
73
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Ford
56
Duques
58
F(OT)
Bry
67
(N/A)
71
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Vermt
72
Bingha
53
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Woff
59
Chat
72
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LIU
69
StFNY
66
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UMass
61
StBon
74
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Ind
50
Rut
59
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Albany
76
UNH
73
F(OT)
VMI
62
Mercer
73
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UMassL
98
Maine
104
F(OT)
Navy
88
Leh
83
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Evans
42
IndSt
65
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Stony
65
Hartfo
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Tenn
63
UGA
80
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WCU
79
Furm
83
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StPet
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Fairf
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UNCG
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Citad
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Buck
60
Amer
61
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InWor
56
McNee
72
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URI
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StJos
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Tex
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OkSt
64
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Xav
65
Marq
85
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UND
66
SDSt
87
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SDak
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NDSU
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SFA
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CenAR
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Brad
91
MOSt
78
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TXAMC
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SeLA
62
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Valpa
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NrthIA
88
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NWSt
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Nich
72
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SHSU
80
Lamar
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NOrl
106
HCU
98
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ND
78
GaTec
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Vand
55
Ark
75
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StJon
58
Prov
63
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SMU
62
Hou
71
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UTSA
77
UTEP
80
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NM
72
ColSt
105
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Bois
78
AF
85
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PSU
69
Minn
75
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UCIrv
74
CS-Ful
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Stan
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UCLA
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SJSU
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UNLV
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Army
HolyC
PPD
No. 10 Kentucky shooting straight ahead of trip to South Carolina
Tue Jan 14, 2020 4:24 AM

Don't look now, but since losing back-to-back games to Utah and Ohio State at Las Vegas in mid-December, Kentucky has gotten its act together.

The 10th-ranked Wildcats will take a four-game winning streak into a Wednesday night game against South Carolina in Columbia, S.C.

Kentucky (12-3, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) started its early-season comeback with a 78-70 overtime victory over then-No. 3 Louisville and followed that with conference wins over Missouri, Georgia and Alabama.

Meanwhile, the Gamecocks (8-7, 0-2) have lost their past three outings. They are coming off a 56-55 setback at Tennessee on Saturday, losing a chance to go for the win when an offensive foul went against guard AJ Lawson in the closing seconds at Knoxville.

But the difference in the game came down to the foul line, where the Gamecocks were only 13 of 22 to Tennessee's 22 of 28. It was at least the fourth time this season that poor free-throw shooting has proved costly for the Gamecocks.

"You don't lose because of your free-throw shooting," South Carolina coach Frank Martin said, "but when you keep missing nine, 10, 11 free throws a game, you're not going to win. You're definitely not winning high-level games."

The Gamecocks are shooting 61.4 percent from the charity stripe for the season, which ranked 345th in the nation entering Monday.

"I'm still trying to figure my team out and I'm finding some guys that are going to fight," Martin said. "Those are the guys I'm going to keep playing. We've got to get to a place where we're more consistent in shot-making."

Shooting from long range has been a big factor in Kentucky's surge. After hitting just 27.8 percent from 3-point range their first 11 games, the Wildcats have connected on 44.8 percent of their attempts the past four despite going only 4 of 16 against Missouri.

The Wildcats were 9 of 15 on 3-point attempts against the Crimson Tide. Guard Immanuel Quickley was 5 of 6, forward Nate Sestina 2 of 3 and guard Ashton Hagans 1 of 2. Guard Tyrese Maxey was only 1 of 3 but was 5 of 6 against Louisville in the game that started the resurgence.

"Everybody's game plan is going to be to try to make us take threes," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. "But you have Immanuel, you have Nate, you have Tyrese and even Ashton, so I mean, we can make them.

"But we're one of those teams, we get to the foul line, we get you in foul trouble. We'll take threes, but it's not how we play."

For the season, Kentucky has attempted 334 free throws and made 259, which is more makes than its opponents have attempted (232).

Quickley (19 points vs. Alabama, 15 vs. Georgia) and Maxey (30 points and nine assists combined in the two wins) swept Southeastern Conference honors for the week as the Player of the Week (Quickley) and Freshman of the Week (Maxey).

But it was Hagans who was just a rebound and assist short of a triple-double with 15 points, nine boards and nine assists against Alabama.

"I think Ashton's the best point guard in the country," Calipari said.

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Kentucky  
South Carolina  

Hot Players (Last 10 team games)

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