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GAME NOTES: The second-ranked Kentucky Wildcats invade Starkville this evening for an SEC clash with the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Kentucky has posted five consecutive wins since suffering its only loss of the season to South Carolina. The Wildcats are 24-1 overall and own a stellar 9-1 SEC record. They are 4-1 in true road affairs and are coming off a 73-62 win over Tennessee.

As for Mississippi State, it has recorded back-to-back wins to move to 18-7 overall and 6-4 in league action. On Saturday, the team needed overtime to knock off Auburn by an 85-75 final. That win enabled the Bulldogs to push their record in home games to 11-1, so don't expect them to be intimidated this evening.

Kentucky owns a commanding 84-20 series advantage over Mississippi State.

It can certainly be argued with great validity that the two best players in all of college basketball are freshmen on Kentucky's team. John Wall, the club's point guard, is netting 17.0 ppg to go along with 6.4 apg and 45 steals. DeMarcus Cousins, a physically dominant power forward, is posting 15.9 ppg and 10.2 rpg as a rookie. Patrick Patterson is often overlooked, but the big-time forward is generating 14.7 ppg to go along with 7.3 rpg. The fourth and final double-digit scorer for the Wildcats is Eric Bledsoe with 10.9 ppg. The Wildcats are averaging 81.3 ppg, and they are limiting opponents to 65.3 ppg on 37.9 percent shooting from the field. Wall scored 24 points to lead his squad over Tennessee last time out, and Bledsoe scored 16 points. Cousins was held to five points, but he did rip down 12 boards. Kentucky earned a 39-32 rebounding advantage and an 18-10 edge in points from the foul line.

Dee Bost was sensational for Mississippi State in the victory over Auburn last time out, as he poured in a career-high 32 points to go along with nine rebounds. Romero Osby added 11 points, while Jarvis Varnado and Phil Turner had 10 points apiece. Varnado also grabbed 12 rebounds, and he blocked five shots in that contest. The Bulldogs only turned the ball over eight times in 45 minutes of action, and a 16-8 edge in points from the foul line clearly helped the cause. Strong defense was also key, as MSU limited the Tigers to 36.7 percent shooting. Ravern Johnson continues to lead the Bulldogs with 13.7 ppg through 25 outings, while Varnado checks in with 13.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 125 blocks. Bost is posting 12.0 ppg to complement his 130 assists, and Barry Stewart is generating 11.4 ppg. MSU is netting 73.3 ppg while allowing 62.6 ppg to opponents on 37 percent field goal efficiency.

There is no question that Mississippi State is talented enough to beat Kentucky, and the Starkville crowd will supply plenty of energy. Still, expect the Wildcats to ride Cousins to victory.