Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

GAME NOTES: The second-ranked Kentucky Wildcats inch closer and closer to their 44th SEC Championship, as they play host to the South Carolina Gamecocks this evening at Rupp Arena.

John Calipari's Wildcats have put themselves in the driver's seat in the conference with a thrilling 58-56 win at Vanderbilt this past weekend. The win over the Commodores was the seventh straight for UK, pushing the team to an impressive 11-1 in league play. Kentucky holds a two-game lead in the conference standings over Vanderbilt (9-3) with four games to play.

South Carolina is much farther down the conference ladder. The team has had its moments this year, but has struggled of late, losing three straight games, including a 63-55 setback at home to Tennessee on Saturday. The loss to the Vols leaves the Gamecocks at a mere 5-7 in league play. To make matters worse, USC has really had its problems on the road this season, winning just one time in nine true road games.

The Gamecocks' shining moment this season came on January 26th, as South Carolina handed Kentucky its only league loss to date, with a 68-62 decision in Columbia. USC has won the last three meetings overall, but UK still maintains a huge advantage in the all-time series at 41-10, including a 21-2 edge in games played in Lexington.

A 17-3 run late for Tennessee proved to be the difference, sending the Gamecocks to their third straight loss this past weekend. South Carolina struggled to find its shot, connecting on just 31.7 percent from the floor and a miserable .192 from behind the arc (5-of-26). Brandis Raley-Ross led the way with 16 points. Devan Downey added 15 points, but was just 4-of-18 from the floor overall. Lakeem Jackson chipped in with 10 points, but USC allowed the Volunteers to shoot .488 from the field and were outrebounded by Tennessee, 40-30. The Gamecocks are not a high-percentage team in terms of shooting the basketball. The team is delivering on a rather pedestrian 41.7 percent from the floor, leading to a bland 72.8 ppg. Downey is shooting just .401 from the field, but still leads the SEC in scoring at 22.7 ppg. The team lost Dominique Archie (14.4 ppg) to a knee injury in December and Mike Holmes (11.0 ppg) to disciplinary action in January, leaving more of a scoring burden on Downey and Raley-Ross (11.4 ppg).

The Wildcats are as dangerous as any team in the country because of their ability to win games at either end of the floor. If a shootout is called for, UK is more than capable of accommodating, averaging a hefty 80.4 ppg on .480 shooting. If a defensive battle breaks out, Kentucky is certainly up to the challenge, limiting foes to just 65.3 ppg and well under 40 percent shooting (.378). The team is led by a pair of freshmen who might be the best players at their respective positions in the country. John Wall is the straw that stirs the drink in Lexington, pacing the team in scoring (16.8 ppg) and the SEC in assists (6.3 apg). DeMarcus Cousins has been a force in the paint, averaging a double-double with 16.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game (second in the SEC). Junior Patrick Patterson (14.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg) is another top-notch asset in the frontcourt, while freshman Eric Bledsoe (10.7 ppg) gives the team yet another young threat from the perimeter. It was a stifling defensive effort in Nashville this past weekend, as Kentucky held Vanderbilt to an ugly .321 shooting, including just .100 from behind the arc (2-of-20), in addition to forcing the Commodores into 15 costly turnovers. Cousins led the way with 19 points. Wall and Patterson chipped in 13 points apiece, while Patterson completed a double-double with 13 rebounds. Wall hit a pair of free throws with 20 seconds left in the game and made a big defensive play to send his team to victory.

South Carolina possesses its longest win streak ever in the series with Kentucky, but that will end this evening. The Wildcats are out for a bit of revenge and will get it in front of the home crown in Lexington.