No. 1 Kentucky succeeding with many willing to assist

Ever since Kentucky’s 46-point demolition of Arizona State, Calipari and a few of the returners, including sophomore leader Isaiah Briscoe, has had a simple message for the team: Remember past year.

United Kingdom leaped into action when “a couple of guys” became ill this week, Calipari said.

Last year, they won 14 games, second-most in the Division I history of the program under fourth-year coach Cutts, who has things on the upswing. “It’s just not our DNA”.

This game is extra special as both programs have Top 25 teams, high-scoring offenses and some explosive new players.

UC Riverside: The Highlanders have just one win in their first five games, but they have played some good competition. Here’s why: You’re going to play a team that can score 75.

Some of the head-spinning metrics favor the Bruins. Three of his assists went to 7-foot center Thomas Welsh, who was 5 for 5 from the field in the first half for 10 points. An expected top five pick, if he declares for the 2017 NBA Draft, Ball scored only five points as he took a season-low three shots.

Kentucky’s newcomers, including leading scorer Malik Monk, are looking forward to playing against a team that has a similar offensive style, not to mention size and talent. “He’ll see something happening before it happens”. Leaf leads all Bruins in scoring, with 17.1 points per game, as well as in three-point percentage, making 53 percent of his threes. Opponents who try to keep up usually run into trouble.

“Pretty excited because we know our guard play is pretty fast and we know UCLA’s guard play is pretty fast”. During Lonzo’s final year as a Chino Hill Husky, he led the team to a 35-0 season, winning a state title championship and earning honorable mentions and awards such as, the Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, USA Today Boys Basketball Player of the Year, and Mr. Basketball USA. We’re a fast team. “They could bash us”.

While the competition may be fierce, Kentucky freshmen De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk have formed a mutual admiration society with UCLA freshman Lonzo Ball.

UCLA, by contrast, surrenders 73 points and opposing teams shoot 39 percent.

“I tell them all the time, you know, you’re gonna get stuff through your hands, so wash your hands, use that stuff”, Calipari told reporters at a Friday afternoon press event previewing Kentucky’s upcoming game against UCLA. Both the Bruins (8-0) and the Wildcats (7-0) boast flawless records coming into the game, and the two teams will be running fast and scoring furiously. No. 11 UCLA has attained its highest ranking in seven years.

It’s not necessarily important that they win, in fact it’s very unlikely that they will win their first true road game of the season at Kentucky.

When asked what motivated such highly decorated players to compete fiercely, Calipari said, “I think they have pride in who they are and what they’re about and what they’ve done”.

“I feel like I’ve been playing really well, not turning the ball over when it I get, playing great defense”. “I doubt both teams are not making shots”.

When: 9:30 a.m. PST.

Where: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.

UCLA ranks third in the nation in points per game wth 97.0 and 17th in pace – an estimated 77.6 possessions per 40 minutes. Martin was averaging a team-best 12.5 points and came in leading the team in several other categories.