Arkansas-Kentucky Matchups

Tipoff Matchups — BY JOE WEST

Arkansas Razorbacks
(18-7, 7-4)
Coach John Pelphrey

Point guards 3.0
Starter
0 - Gary Ervin
6-0, Sr.
9.5 ppg, 3.3 apg
Bench
14 - Stefan Welsh
6-2, So.
With Gary Ervin, you take the good with the bad. When his shot’s on and he’s getting the calls, Ervin can really light up the scoreboard. He and Stefan Welsh lit it up in Wednesday’s home rout of LSU, combining for 27 points.

Shooting guards 3.5
Starter
21 - Patrick Beverley
6-1, So.
11.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg
Bench
12 - Marcus Britt
6-2, Fr.
Patrick Beverley’s steal and old-fashioned 3-point play helped ignite an early run that put some distance between the Hogs and LSU on Wednesday. UA’s shortest starter continues to be its biggest rebounder with pure grit and hustle.

Small forwards 4.0
Starter
13 - Sonny Weeds
6-6, Sr.
14.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg
Bench
33 - Vincent Hunter
6-10, Sr.
High-flying Sonny Weems has become the Hogs’ main man, with his ability to score inside and out. The Hogs didn’t need Weems’ point production on Wednesday, but likely will today. Vincent Hunter nailed 3 of 4 3-pointers against LSU.

Power forwards 3.0
Starter
3 - Charles Thomas
6-8, Sr.
9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg
Bench
15 - Michael Washington
6-10, So.
Senior Charles Thomas hit all four of his shots Wednesday against LSU, and is perhaps on his way to reestablishing himself as a mid-range force. Thomas and Michael Washington form an effective duo when not fighting foul trouble.

Centers 3.0
Starter
51 - Steven Hill
7-0, Sr.
5.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Bench
5 - Darian Townes
6-10, Sr.
The UA big men were efficient on Wednesday, as Steven Hill and Darian Townes were a combined 9 of 10 from the floor for 18 points. Both men are taller than Kentucky’s Patterson, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be able to contain him.

Arkansas overall: 3.5

Kentucky Wildcats
(14-10, 8-3)
Coach Billy Gillispie

Point guards 4.0
Starter
3 - Ramel Bradley
6-2, Sr.
15.8 ppg, 3.3 apg
Bench
5 - Derrick Jasper
6-6, So.
Senior Ramel Bradley has been a top scorer for the Wildcats, but had an off night in Tuesday’s home win over Georgia. The 6-2 guard did have a Beverley-esque night on the boards, pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds.

Shooting guards 4.0
Starter
32 - Joe Crawford
6-5, Sr.
16.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Bench
23 - Jodie Meeks
6-4, So.
When things aren’t going well, it seems like Kentucky can always rely on Joe Crawford. The cagey senior was on his game against Georgia, scoring a team-high 23 points. Arkansas had better watch Crawford from 3-point land.

Small forwards 2.0
Starter
34 - Ramon Harris
6-6, So.
3.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Bench
15 - AJ Stewart
6-8, Fr.
The Wildcats’ young three-spot players draw the unenviable task of guarding Arkansas’ dynamic swingman Sonny Weems today. Alaska native Ramon Harris might have enough athleticism to guard Weems, but not score with him.

Power forwards 2.5
Starter
42 - Mark Coury
6-8, So.
2.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Bench
21 - Perry Stevenson
6-9, So.
Though Mark Coury is the starter, Perry Stevenson will come off the bench and see more time. Coury played just 11 minutes on Tuesday vs. UGA, while Stevenson stayed in 28 minutes to block 4 shots and grab 7 boards.

Centers 4.5
Starter
54 - Patrick Patterson
6-8, Fr.
16.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg
Bench
43 - Jared Carter
7-2, Jr.
Freshman star Patrick Patterson was the team’s most consistent player during the early season struggles. He leads UK in minutes played (35.5) and shooting percentage (.584). Giant junior Jared Carter is getting some court time.

Kentucky overall: 4.0

Prediction: Kentucky 76, Arkansas 71.

Filed under: Arkansas Basketball by Terry Wood. Posted on: February 22, 2008 at 11:46 am