Lamar @ Kentucky preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 28, 2011 ) Lamar 64, Kentucky 86

Early-season growing pains are nothing new for Kentucky, which turns over the majority of its roster every season and watches coach John Calipari mold the new squad in the preconference slate. The 10th-ranked Wildcats will try to take a few more steps forward and earn a third consecutive win when they host Lamar on Sunday.

Kentucky's shocking loss to Evansville was followed by double-digit wins over Utah Valley and Mount St. Mary's, and the second half of Friday's 82-62 triumph showed some real growth. "It's just getting to the point where everyone's finding their role," sophomore guard Ashton Hagans told reporters. "Just (Calipari) dialing that in, everyone finding their role and we're going to be that team. But now, like I said, everyone's just trying to fit in, just trying to do what they can do to help this team out and we're getting there." The Wildcats carried a five-point lead into the half against Mt. St. Mary's before opening the second period with a 30-10 burst to pull away. The Cardinals also have wins over Mt. St. Mary's and Utah Valley under their belts in the last two games and have yet to allow an opponent score more than 68 points.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT LAMAR (4-1): The Cardinals are limiting opponents to 36 percent from the floor, including 27.8 percent from beyond the arc, while forcing an average of 21.6 turnovers. Senior guard T.J. Atwood leads the team in scoring at an average of 18 points, but all five starters scored in double figures in Thursday's 74-68 victory at Utah Valley. Forward Avery Sullivan enjoyed his best game of the season on Thursday with season highs of 17 points and 14 rebounds in his first double-double.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (4-1): Calipari was not satisfied with the team's second-half surge on Friday and continues to demand more from his players. "Here is what I told all these guys: 'What got you here, you can't play that way here. You're talking about older players, more structure, the game is way faster, guys are in way better shape. The things you got away with in high school, you're going to be uncomfortable for a while because it's stuff you've never had to do.'" Guard Tyrese Maxey led the group of freshmen with 11 points and five assists in 33 minutes.

TIP-INS

1. Wildcats F EJ Montgomery (ankle) returned from a three-game absence on Friday and collected seven points and six rebounds in 15 minutes.

2. Lamar is winless in three all-time meetings against Kentucky.

3. The Wildcats' assist-to-turnover mark of 20-to-12 on Friday was their first positive ratio of the season.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 75, Lamar 61