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NCAAW Preview: No. 13 Kentucky hosts No. 10 Arkansas in SEC opener

With each team being 1-1 in Top 25 matchups, the No. 13 Kentucky Wildcats face the No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks in an important matchup and the league opener for both.

By JimSavell
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: MAR 05 SEC Women’s Tournament - Arkansas vs Texas A&M
Chelsea Dungee leads a prolific Arkansas offense.
Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

New Year’s Eve brings us an exciting Top 25 matchup featuring the No. 13 Kentucky Wildcats and the No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks.

Both teams are playing in their third Top 25 matchup and both are 1-1 in such games.

The Wildcats beat the then-No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers on Dec. 6 but suffered a four-point loss to the then-No. 24 DePaul Blue Demons on Dec. 16. The last time they took the floor, on Dec. 19, the Wildcats easily beat the Wofford College Terriers.

The Razorbacks suffered a blowout defeat at the hands of the then-No. 12 Maryland Terrapins on Nov. 29 but earned a surprising win over the then-No. 4 Baylor Bears on Dec. 6. Arkansas last took the court Dec. 21, beating the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions to close out their non-conference schedule.

The introduction of Utah transfer Dre’una Edwards to the Kentucky offense has provided another scoring option for the team as it features three players averaging over 15 points: Rhyne Howard (15.5), Edwards (15.5) and Chasity Patterson (15.4).

The Kentucky defense, which is allowing 56.1 points per game, has a tough task against Arkansas, which has a scoring average of 91.2. The Razorbacks average 10 made 3-pointers and have six players who score over nine points per game with four of those six in double figures. Chelsea Dungee and Oregon State transfer Destiny Slocum lead the way with 18.9 points and 16.3 points, respectively.

Here’s what to expect from the matchup and how to watch:

Game Information

No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks (9-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. No. 13 Kentucky Wildcats (7-1, 0-0 SEC)

When: Thursday, Dec. 31, at 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, KY

How to watch/listen: SEC Network/Radio: UK Sports Network

What to watch: The Razorbacks are not a great rebounding team with a -2.0-margin and they surrender 12 offensive rebounds per contest. Meanwhile, the Wildcats have a +8.0 rebounding margin and average around 15 offensive rebounds. Kentucky could use their rebounding advantage as a way to offset the 3-point shooting of Arkansas.

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