The Wildcats are 54 spots higher in the NET rankings, owing to their lethal offense. They shoot 40.2 percent from deep while holding opponents to 31.3 percent. Six Wildcats average in double figures. Kentucky will push the pace and the Gamecocks will struggle to keep up. Over its last four games, South Carolina has been blown out at Alabama and lost at home to Georgia while notching wins over Missouri and Arkansas (combined 1-9 in SEC play).

We highly doubt we’ll see the sort of suicidal resolve from the Gamecocks as we did on the weekend from Georgia, This is arguably one of John Calipari’s most-potent UK sides, a combustible mix of highly-skilled frosh along with a couple of seasoned, fifth-year seniors who provide leadership and ballast, together forming what has become an irresistible combination now scoring at a nation’s-best 91.6 ppg, hitting better than 50% from the floor (ranks seventh at 50.3%) and above 40% beyond the arc (ranks sixth at 40.2%). Coach Cal’s over streak now at eight straight and 14-1 the last fifteen games. Play UK-SC "Over"

Kentucky received a belated Christmas gift over the weekend when the NCAA cleared Zvonimir Ivisic of Croatia, who had been ineligible. The 7-foot-2 Ivisic jumped right into action with a tantalizing, if abbreviated, performance Saturday. (The nine-point victory margin over Georgia is misleading; the Wildcats led by 28 before mop-up minutes.) Ivisic figures to play more against the Gamecocks. Added to an already gifted group, he catapults Kentucky to possibly the NCAA favorite's role. South Carolina is an impressive 15-3 straight-up, but its offense pales to the explosiveness of Kentucky's.