#4 Kentucky Wildcats at #2 Gonzaga Bulldogs – tv, injuries, and more
Ed Stein
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PNWS presents what you need to know for Sunday’s Top 10 matchup between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Kentucky Wildcats.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs have the chance to avenge Wednesday’s loss to Texas. Sunday afternoon, they face the fourth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats at the Spokane Arena.
Who: #4 Kentucky Wildcats (3-1) at #2 Gonzaga Bulldogs (2-1).
Where: Spokane Arena – Spokane, Washington.
When: Sunday, November 20, 2022 – 4:30 PM PST.
TV: ESPN2. Announcers: Jon Sciambi and Jimmy Dykes.
Line: Gonzaga -3. Over/Under: 155 (Odds Shark).
Injuries: Gonzaga – Out: Kaden Perry (back). Questionable: G Nolan Hickman (ankle), G Joe Few (arm). Kentucky – None.
Interesting Trends:
The Gonzaga Bulldogs have won 18 of 21. But they are also 1-6 against the spread. It’s been a long time since Gonzaga lost in Spokane (January 18, 2018). That’s a streak of 68 straight. Additionally, the total has gone over in 5 of the Zags’ most recent 7.
In their last 19 games, Kentucky is 14-5. The total has gone over in 4 of 5, however, the Wildcats aren’t as explosive on the road going under in 8 of their last 11 games as the visitor.
Outlook
This is a meeting of two very good teams who are both coming off tough losses. No matter who wins this game, both teams will drop when the new rankings come out on Monday.
UK might be the unofficial home of the “one and done,” but this year, they are led by a pair of senior guards, CJ Fredrick and Antonio Reeves. Both average 14.0 points per game.
Cason Wallace is Kentucky’s impact freshman, averaging 12.3 points and 5.3 assists per game. He’s from Richardson, Texas, the same hometown as Zags star Drew Timme (different high schools).
Speaking of Timme, he came back for his senior season and is putting up points better than he ever has, to the tune of 20.7 points per game. His rebounding is the best it’s been as well, at an average of 8.0 boards.
Gonzaga’s number two offensive producer is Julian Strawther. The 6’7” wing from Las Vegas is showing much more offensive consistency than he did last year.
In their first three games, the Gonzaga Bulldogs committed 52 turnovers. That’s very uncharacteristic of a Mark Few-coached team. Against a talented team like Kentucky, they’ll need to do a much better job of keeping the ball.
This game might come down to how well Gonzaga defends the perimeter. In their first four games, UK averaged 42.8% from behind the arc.
Enjoy the game.