Kentucky vs. Nicholls game thread and pregame reading

SB Nation

Mark Pope is entering Year 2, and expectations are sky-high. The Cats are taking on the Nicholls Colonels on Tuesday night in Rupp Arena. Game time is set for 7:00 PM

ET on the SEC Network.

Kentucky enters the new season as the preseason No. 9-ranked team. However, it should be known that Pope and company will be without their starting point guard, Jaland Lowe, and starting center, Jayden Quaintance.

This team will look a lot different than last year’s. Pope decided to go transfer heavy again, along with his returners, but while Pope’s inaugural squad was an offensive juggernaut, this season’s team brings a lot more defense and toughness.

Pope brought in a top-defensive center in Jayden Quaintance. He snatched up Nate Oats’ stopper in Mo Dioubate. He took National Champion Florida’s soon-to-be starter in Denzel Aberdeen. And he brought in Jaland Lowe and Kam Williams, who could do a little on both ends.

While this is the first game of the season, it isn’t the first team we’re seeing UK this fall. The Cats faced two Power Five opponents in exhibition games, though the results were mixed.

In exhibition game number 1, this team looked like the overwhelming best team in the country. They laid it on the No. 1-ranked Purdue Boilermakers as they dominated from start to finish. However, in exhibition game 2, Kentucky was dominated from start to finish. They couldn’t defend or score against a less-than-stellar Georgetown Hoyas team.

I know that we have to take exhibition games with a grain of salt, but it’s a concerning trend that seems to follow Pope and Kentucky. What’s worse is that the injuries have been the bigger concern with Quaintance, Lowe, and Aberdeen all missing time thus far.

Ultimately, the outcome of this game shouldn’t be in question, no matter who is out there, but something to keep in the back of the mind. After struggling through football season this fall, the Big Blue Nation is probably ready to see the basketball Cats back out on the court, and I am one of them.