Kentucky @ Georgia preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 15, 2019 ) Kentucky 69, Georgia 49

Georgia aced its first test of a difficult three-game stretch as the Bulldogs wrapped up non-conference play with a big upset of then-No. 11 Memphis on Saturday, and now they open SEC play at home Tuesday against No. 13 Kentucky. Fueled by freshman guard Anthony Edwards and a group of other standout first-year players, the Bulldogs held off Memphis 65-62 for the program’s second true road win against a ranked non-conference opponent in 115 seasons.

“We’re very proud of this win,” Georgia second-year coach Tom Crean told reporters after the victory, in which Edwards shot just 4-for-17 from the field but the Bulldogs got 10 points and seven assists from freshman guard Sahvir Wheeler. “And we did it against a heck of a team. That was a big, big win for us.” Georgia has won four games by four points or fewer this season and now hosts the Wildcats, who have rebounded from back-to-back losses with two wins, including Saturday’s SEC-opening 71-59 home victory over Missouri. Kentucky did lose sophomore Ashton Hagans to a left ankle sprain late in the contest, and the 6-3 guard is considered day-to-day. “You’re all going to see the impact and importance he has on this team,” Kentucky coach John Calipari told reporters postgame in discussing Hagans’ potential absence.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN

ABOUT KENTUCKY (10-3, 1-0 SEC): Hagans began the week seventh nationally in assists per game (7.3) and is the Wildcats’ second-leading scorer at 12.9 after finishing with seven points, seven assists and five rebounds Saturday. Sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley scored a career-best 23 points against Missouri, hitting four 3-pointers, and has scored 41 across his past two games after finishing with just 13 points in his previous two contests. Freshman guard Tyrese Maxey leads Kentucky in scoring at 13.8 points, going for 27 points and seven rebounds against Louisville on Dec. 28.

ABOUT GEORGIA (10-3, 0-0): Edwards has battled inconsistent outside shooting, going 8-for-25 from the field across his past two games, but still ranks third in the SEC in scoring at 18.4 points while adding 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals. Junior forward Rayshaun Hammonds scored 15 points with 12 rebounds in the upset of Memphis, his fourth double-double of the season, and the Bulldogs second-tallest player at 6-9 averages 14.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. Wheeler is averaging 26.2 minutes off the bench and has six or more assists in five of his past six games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kentucky junior F Nick Richards has registered six double-doubles this season, finishing with 21 points and 12 rebounds (plus four blocked shots) against Missouri.

2. Georgia averages 80.8 points this season and had scored 90-plus points eight times in Crean’s first 40 games as coach, after recording 90 or more eight times in the program’s previous 249 games.

3. The Wildcats are shooting 80.1 percent from the free throw line on the season after going 27-for-30 Saturday, tops in the SEC and third nationally entering the week.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 76, Georgia 72