The Kentucky Wildcats play the Georgia Bulldogs in the fourth round of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Action begins at 3:25 pm ET on Saturday, Mar. 12 and can be seen on ESP and ES3.
The Wildcats come into this game hoping to repeat their last performance, dismantling Alabama 85-59 in the 3. Alex Poythress was a key piece with 20 points, seven rebounds, and one block. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are coming off a 65-64 win against South Carolina in the 3. Yante Maten claimed his ninth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Jamal Murray has taken his game to another level over the last five games for the Wildcats. During that stretch, he has averaged 24.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 4.2 three-pointers. J.J. Frazier has been hot for the Bulldogs. In the same five-game span, he is averaging 22.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.6 three-pointers.
The Kentucky defense could make it difficult on Georgia’s shooters. It ranks eighth in the nation in forcing misses (opponents’ eFG% of 44.5%), while the Georgia offense is 282nd with a mark of 47.6%.
This is the second game of the year between these two teams, with the Wildcats winning the first matchup 85-59. Poythress had a stellar game with 20 points, seven rebounds, one block, and four three-pointers.
Notes
In its last game, Kentucky won by a margin of 26 points. Georgia is 2-2 in games decided by a margin of 18 points or more. Kentucky has a 12-1 record in blowouts.
The Kentucky Wildcats rank 13th for their offensive rating of 116.7. The Georgia Bulldogs have a defensive rating of 100.3 (ranked 43rd).
The Georgia Bulldogs average 67.9 possessions per game and 1.027 points per possession. The Kentucky Wildcats earn fewer possessions with 67.8, but they score more points with 1.167.
Kentucky averages an effective field goal percentage of 53.5%. Georgia has not won a game this season when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage (0-2).
The Kentucky Wildcats average 18.0 three point attempts per game, and the Georgia Bulldogs attempt 17.0 per game. When going for at least 20 three pointers in a game this season, both teams have winning records; Kentucky is 11-6 and Georgia is 7-4.
Kentucky ranks 52nd in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.30. Georgia is ranked lower at 267th with an A/TO of .93.
Kentucky ranks 48th in rebounds per game with 39.1 and Georgia ranks 37th with 39.5 rebounds per game.
Georgia makes an average of 4.9 steals per game. Kentucky has a winning 14-5 record when it allows at least 4 steals.
