'Ultimate challenge' next for Hogs at UK

The Associated Press CAST OF ‘CATS: Kentucky forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) looks for an opening to shoot against Mississippi State Wednesday night. The top-ranked Wildcats risk a 28-0 record (15-0 in the Southeastern
Conference) against No. 18 Arkansas at 3 p.m. today in Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. The game airs nationally on CBS (Resort Channel 11).
The Associated Press CAST OF ‘CATS: Kentucky forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) looks for an opening to shoot against Mississippi State Wednesday night. The top-ranked Wildcats risk a 28-0 record (15-0 in the Southeastern Conference) against No. 18 Arkansas at 3 p.m. today in Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. The game airs nationally on CBS (Resort Channel 11).

FAYETTEVILLE -- Comparing the Arkansas Razorbacks to the Kentucky Wildcats, Kentucky is taller, deeper, more talented, higher pedigreed, undefeated and ranked No. 1 nationally and, of course, in the Southeastern Conference.

Oh, and John Calipari's Wildcats are on their home court, too.

Little wonder that Arkansas coach Mike Anderson calls Kentucky "the ultimate challenge" for his Razorbacks.

Arkansas, 23-5 overall and second in the SEC at 12-3, meets the undefeated Wildcats (28-0, 15-0) at 3 p.m. today at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on CBS (Resort Channel 11).

If a team can exceed its perfect record, then Kentucky does,

The Wildcats have seven McDonald's High School All-American -- eight if you count junior Alex Poythress, lost for the season via early injury -- to Arkansas' one, al-SEC sophomore Bobby Portis.

Off their national runner-up team from last season as starters the Wildcats return twin brother guards Aaron and Andrew Harrison and 7-foot shot-blocking center Willie Cauley-Stein plus 7-0 sophomore reserve Dakari Johnson.

To that cast, Calipari recruited his customary phalanx of freshmen coveted coast to coast. Newcomers include 6-10 and 6-11 starters Trey Lyles and Karl-Anthony Towns; 6-6 three-point shooting guard Devin Booker, off the bench but Kentucky's second-leading scorer to Aaron Harrison; 5-9 whirling dervish guard Tyler Ulis and yet another big man, 6-9 Marcus Lee.

Kentucky's sizable front line enables the Wildcats to lead the SEC in rebounding and blocked shots. It keys an inside-scoring attack augmented by Booker (48 of 106), the Harrison twins and Ulis all being major three-point threats.

Everyone the Wildcats returned improved, Anderson said, and everyone they added contributes in a big way.

"You can go on and on about their roster," Anderson said.

Anderson proved it going on and on from the Harrisons and Cauley-Stein returning and Johnson "doing the dirty work" to what all the freshmen bring variously from three-point, shooting to shot-blocking and a defense playing superbly in stretches with length stretching to make the basket hard to reach.

"They're much, much better than they were last year," Anderson said.

Remember that all Kentucky did last year was finish national runner-up.

But remember, too, that though winding up in the NIT, last year's Razorbacks swept Kentucky home and home.

Portis; junior jumping back guard Michael Qualls, whose follow dunk beat the buzzer and the Wildcats last year in Fayetteville; and seniors Ky Madden and Alandise Harris won't be intimidated while freshman point guard Anton Beard often has exhibited the most toughness and poise.

And walk-on sophomore guard Manuale Watkins, who hit the shot that beat Ole Miss, leads Arkansas in steals.

Only 6-11 Portis was McDonald's All-American but this game won't be played under golden arches.

"They've got how many (McDonald's All-Americans)?" Anderson asked rhetorically. "Seven, eight? We've got one, but we've got some Burger King guys. We're going to go with the Burger King guys as well."

Anderson figures his Hogs must play both halves about like they played the sensational 49-26 first-half against Texas A&M but obviously can't win in Lexington like the Hogs squandering their peak 25-point first-half lead to two before prevailing, 81-76.

"People are going to say we can't match up with them," Anderson said.

So the key will be to scramble defensively and force turnovers and run and, with numbers, create mismatches that they can't do alone.

"There are a lot of things we have got to do well to get a win," Anderson said. "No. 1, we have got to defend. We have got to make shots. We can't afford to turn the ball over. We have got to rebound the basketball. We have got to be in position not to let them annihilate us on the glass."

And they have to know that even if they muster a brilliant half like they did against A&M, they can't rely on a home crowd willing them through like the second half in Walton against the Aggies.

"Adversity is going to take place and I'm anxious to see how we respond to that adversity," Anderson said. "It took place last year in Fayetteville and it took place at their place, and our guys did a good job of really just calming each other down and continuing to make plays. Our defense was good, and that's going to have to carry us this time."

Arkansas (23-5, 12-3 SEC)

Pts. Reb.

F-Alandise Harris 6-6 sr. 7.5 3.1

F-Bobby Portis 6-11 so. 17.6 8.5

G-Anton Beard 6-0 fr. 6.4 1.9

G-Ky Madden 6-5 sr. 9.9 3.4

G-Michael Qualls 6-6 jr. 15.1 5.2

Kentucky (28-0, 15-0 SEC)

F-Trey Lyles 6-10 fr. 7.9 5.1

F-Karl-Anthony Towns 6-11 fr. 9.3 6.6

F-Willie Cauley-Stein 7-0 jr. 9.1 6.4

G-Aaron Harrison 6-6 so. 11.2 2.3

G-Andrew Harrison 6-6 so. 8.4 2.1

Sports on 02/28/2015

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