Ohio anticipated its upcoming game against No. 13 Kentucky since its season began. After winning three straight games, Ohio is traveling to Lexington, Kentucky, for its Friday night matchup against one of the top teams in the nation.
Ohio coach Jeff Boals isn’t selling the Wildcats short. When meeting with the media Thursday morning, Boals said the Bobcats need to play a near-perfect game to stand a chance.
It’s a long shot. ESPN predicts Kentucky has an 88.6% chance of snapping Ohio’s win streak. But Ohio’s focused on Friday’s game, not on win probability.
“Kentucky’s Kentucky, and I think for us it's the biggest game on our schedule because it's the next game,” Boals said. “But I think for us, it's going to be a growth process and going in there and trying to execute.”
Here’s what you need to know about Kentucky ahead of Friday’s game:
Game information
Opponent: Kentucky
Venue: Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center
Game time: 7 p.m.
Watch: SEC Network
Listen: Ohio IMG Sports Network
Meet the opponent
Probable starters
02 Sahvir Wheeler (5-foot-9, 180 pounds)
03 TyTy Washington Jr. (6-foot-3, 197 pounds)
12 Keion Brooks Jr. (6-foot-7, 210 pounds)
31 Kellan Grady (6-foot-5, 205 pounds)
34 Oscar Tshiebwe (6-foot-9, 255 pounds)
Individual statistical leaders
Points: Tshiebwe (18.3 points per game)
Rebounds: Tshiebwe (18.7 rebounds per game)
Assists: Wheeler (10 assists per game)
Field goal percentage: Daimion Collins (70%)
3-point percentage: Grady (56.3%)
Free throw percentage: Wheeler (100%)
Team statistical profile
Points per game: 83.7
Rebounds per game: 42.7
Assists per game: 18
Turnovers per game: 11.7
Field goal percentage: 48.8%
3-point percentage: 45.1%
Free throw percentage: 81.5%
The series
Kentucky leads the all-time series 14-1. The two programs haven’t faced each other since Dec. 30, 2005, when then-No. 18 Kentucky defeated Ohio 71-63 in Cincinnati.
It’s been 57 years since the Bobcats last beat the Wildcats. Their lone win came March 13, 1964, during the NCAA University Division Tournament, where the Bobcats defeated the Wildcats 85-69 in the Mideast Regional semifinals.
Player to watch
Tshiebwe — the junior is off to a roaring start in his first full year with Kentucky since transferring from West Virginia in the middle of last season. Tshiebwe leads the Southeastern Conference in rebounds per game and ranks fourth in the conference for points per game. In Kentucky’s game against Mount St. Mary’s, Tshiebwe recorded 24 points and 16 rebounds and shot 78.6% from the field.
