Kentucky will play the first road game of coach Mark Pope’s tenure on Tuesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge at Clemson.
The No. 4 Wildcats (7-0) have faced just one ranked team this season, beating then-No. 6 Duke 77-72 in the Champions Classic on Nov. 12. Since then, they have scored four easy home wins, all by at least 19 points.
Clemson (7-1) is also off to a fast start, one season after reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight. The Tigers lost at Boise State on Nov. 17 but have since also won their last four games, including the Sunshine Slam’s Beach Division title over Penn State in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Nov. 26.
Clemson routed visiting Florida A&M 86-58 on Friday.
Kentucky is averaging 96.7 points per game, best in the nation. The Wildcats are also fourth in the nation in rebounding (45 per game) and second in assists (21.1). They are shooting 38.2 percent from 3-point range, while holding opponents to 24.9 percent.
Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh leads the Wildcats with 15.9 points per game. He is hitting 57.1 percent of his shots and ties for the team lead in steals with 11. Dayton transfer Koby Brea has shot 61 percent from 3-point distance while totaling 14.1 points per game. Four other Kentucky players are also averaging double-digit scoring, with no player topping 26 minutes per game.
Kentucky’s last game was a 105-76 win over visiting Georgia State on Friday, the fourth time reaching the 100-point mark for the team. Seven Wildcats scored in double figures, led by guard Jaxson Robinson with 19 points.
“We are trying to learn from every game,” Pope said after the victory. “Next week is our first true road game … against elite level talent. Both (Clemson and No. 7 Gonzaga are) insanely physical teams.
“We are excited about it. We will learn more about our team…. It’s awesome, this is what you love about college basketball,” Pope added.
Clemson is 18th in the nation in 3-point shooting at 39.8 percent. The Tigers return two full-time starters and a part-time starter from last season’s Elite Eight run.
Returning guard Chase Hunter leads the Tigers with 16.4 points per game. Fellow returnee and post standout Ian Schieffelin has also continued his strong play of a season ago with 12.5 points and 11.6 rebounds. Cincinnati transfer Viktor Lakhin has chipped in 11.1 points per game.
In the win over Florida A&M, Clemson shot 50 percent and outrebounded the Rattlers 41-27. Hunter led Clemson with 16 points, with three other Tigers also reaching double figures.
After the victory, Clemson coach Brad Brownell acknowledged that he hadn’t watched Kentucky this season but revealed his excitement for the game.
“To have a brand like that coming in here is terrific for our program,” Brownell said. “It’s good to have those kinds of opportunities, and we know that the way they’re playing, we’re going to have to play at an extremely high level to win.”
–Field Level Media
