Missouri @ Kentucky preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 19, 2019 ) Kentucky 66, Missouri 58

Kentucky coach John Calipari couldn't wait to reward his players after their victory over Louisville with a demanding week of practice leading into Saturday's game against Missouri in the SEC opener for both teams. The No. 14 Wildcats defeated the No. 8 Cardinals 78-70 in overtime Dec. 28 to retain Bluegrass State bragging rights but Calipari quickly moved the team's attention forward.

"I think it's always been his kind of philosophy that after a win like we had, you don't want to let the guys rest on their laurels and get too comfortable,'' Kentucky assistant Tony Barbee told the media about Calipari. "So, he wanted to maintain their attention as we head into conference play, and I think that was the biggest thing he was trying to get across. We've got to move on from that last game and now focus on what's ahead and not get carried away with reading our news clips, so to speak." The Wildcats, who begin pursuit of their 49th SEC regular-season title, have won eight of nine meetings since Missouri joined the conference in 2012 - including all four at Rupp Arena with the last three by a total of 104 points. The Tigers are riding a season-high four-game winning streak after a 91-33 victory over Chicago State on Monday. "I think we’re doing a good job of competing on both ends, trying to do the right things offensively,” Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin, whose team has defeated Temple and Illinois during its run, told reporters. “I think on the defensive side of the ball, it’s just a matter of taking pride in doing it and understanding how it is to be a successful team.”

TIME: 2 p.m. ET. TV: SEC Network

ABOUT MISSOURI (8-4): Sophomore guard Torrence Watson scored a career-high 24 points versus Chicago State, raising his season average to 4.9, and his eight 3-pointers nearly matched the total of nine he had in his first 11 games this season. Junior guards Mark Smith (11.83 points, 4.9 rebounds) and Dru Smith (11.75 points, 4.7 boards) lead the team in scoring and rebounding. Martin told the media that he expects junior forward Jeremiah Tilmon (9.2 points, 4.4 rebounds in 22.1 minutes) to play Saturday after missing Monday's contest with a foot injury and added: "He’s obviously very important. He’s a talented basketball player, brings a lot to the table. ..."

ABOUT KENTUCKY (9-3): Nick Richards had 13 points and 10 rebounds versus Louisville for his fifth double-double of the season with Barbee telling reporters about the junior forward: "He's such a beautiful kid. You want him to babysit your kids. He's that kind of kid. Everybody on campus loves him. But I've always said that in this game you've got to have an alter ego. When you step on the court you can be whatever you want out on that floor, but it can't be a nice guy. He decided not to be so nice this last game." Freshman guard Tyrese Maxey scored a career-high 27 points in the last contest - one more than he had in his first college game - and paces the team with 14.3 per contest. Sophomore guard Ashton Hagans (13.4 points) averages 7.3 assists - seventh nationally entering Friday - while sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley (11.7 points) scored 18 against Louisville.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Wildcats have made 81.4 percent of their 43 free throws with five or fewer minutes to play or in overtime with Quickley 6-for-6 and Hagans 14-for-16.

2. Missouri has held its last four opponents to 56 or fewer points - it's longest such run since 1981 - and is sixth in the country in fewest allowed at 55.7 per game.

3. Kentucky is shooting 29.3 percent from 3-point range - the lowest number in Calipari's 11 seasons.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 74, Missouri 64