Kentucky got its groove back with back-to-back wins over Louisville and Missouri, but they will face a stiff road test against high-flying freshman Anthony Edwards and Georgia.
There is no clear powerhouse team that is dominating the world of college basketball, but Kentucky certainly has the talent to be the nation’s best team. The Wildcats have some of the country’s best wins this season, including a neutral-court victory over then top-ranked Michigan State in New York and a home win against Louisville.
Those two wins, over two potential Final Four contenders, showcase how dangerous Kentucky can be when everything is clicking. The Wildcats have a well-balanced offensive attack, featuring four different players that average at least 12.7 points per game, including a potential headliner in impact freshman Tyrese Maxey.
The country was introduced to Maxey in the Champions Classic when he scored 26 points off the bench and was the difference in the win over the Spartans. Maxey faded into the background a bit for the next month but re-emerged with a vengeance against Louisville, leading all scorers with 27 points in an overtime win against Kentucky’s in-state rivals.
The Wildcats hit the road tonight for a stiff test against the Georgia Bulldogs, who are off to a quick 10-3 start of their own. No one really associates Georgia with top-flight basketball, but the Bulldogs are coming off a three-point road win at Memphis and feature one of the country’s top freshmen, guard Anthony Edwards.
The Bulldogs’ offense flows through the 6-foot-5 Edwards, who leads Georgia in scoring at 18.4 points per game. Edwards is not a prolific shooter, knocking down just 31.8 percent of his 3-point attempts, but he can attack the basket at will and chips in on the glass as well, securing 4.9 rebounds a night.
Containing the electrifying Edwards is priority A, B, and C for Kentucky, which can throw a variety of bodies at the problem. This game will likely be defined by what Edwards does since he, like Maxey, has the potential to wreck a game at any point.
This is also the first SEC action of the season for Georgia, so they would love to get off to a good start in league play by topping Kentucky. The Wildcats have a conference victory under their belt with a win over Missouri last week.
How to watch Kentucky at Georgia
- Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7
- Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Athens, GA
- Venue: Stegeman Coliseum
- TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: WatchESPN
- Odds: The Action Network
- Prediction: Kentucky