The Kentucky Wildcats will be kicking off their college basketball campaign against the SLC’s Nicholls State Colonels. The Wildcats will be the ones holding homecourt in this game, as Kentucky aims to have yet another deep run in the college basketball national tournament and even win the national title.
Kentucky has shooting guard Otega Oweh to turn to after a great preseason for him, being named the Preseason SEC Player of the Year. He is also the Wildcats’ leading scorer coming into the season, so expect Mark Pope to give him plenty of minutes.
Nicholls State is still relatively unknown, with Kentucky, a blue blood school in basketball, being considered as the heavy favorite in this matchup. However, could the Colonels pull off the upset against one of the most historic college basketball powerhouses?
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Nicholls State Colonels Injury Report
Kentucky Wildcats
- Jaland Lowe – Questionable (shoulder)
- Denzel Aberdeen – Questionable (leg)
- Jayden Quaintance – Out (ACL tear)
Nicholls State Colonels
No reported injury for the Nicholls State Colonels
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Nicholls State Colonels Projected Starting 5s
Kentucky Wildcats Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Jaland Lowe (Questionable, Gametime Decision)
- SG: Otega Oweh
- SF: Denzel Aberdeen (Questionable, Gametime Decision)
- PF: Mouhamed Dioubate
- C: Brandon Garrison
Nicholls State Colonels Projected Starting 5
- PG: Trae English
- SG: Zaiden Cross
- SF: Jaylen Searles
- PF: Sincere Malone
- C: Grant Sanders
The injured Jayden Quaintance was listed as the starting center, but as he is still recovering from a major injury like an ACL tear, which takes months to heal, his backup center, Brandon Garrison, is the potential starter.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Nicholls State Colonels Prediction
Kentucky is the overwhelming favorite to win this season opener, and FanDuel believes it would not even be close, as the Wildcats are the -29.5 (-115) favorites with a total of 150.5 (Over -115 / Under -105). Many are already expecting the Wildcats to dominate, with Oweh scoring big against the Colonels, especially with the Wildcats having the homecourt advantage.
With a superstar shooting guard in the making with Oweh, as well as a solid lineup, even with Lowe and Aberdeen possibly missing the opener, it should be safe to go with Kentucky as the winners of this contest, and expect them to win with a very wide margin in front of their home crowd at Lexington.
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