Kentucky @ Louisiana State preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 7, 2017 ) Louisiana State 85, Kentucky 92

Kentucky freshman Kevin Knox is mired in the first slump of his brief career and he'll try to snap out of his funk when the No. 14 Wildcats visit LSU on Wednesday in the Tigers' SEC opener. Knox (14.5 points per game) scored a total of 15 points and was 4-for-18 from the field over his last two games, including seven points and 2-for-10 shooting in Sunday's hard-fought 66-61 victory over Georgia.

"This kid is a hard worker, he's a great kid,'' Kentucky coach John Calipari told reporters. "This is all new to him, the game got physical, it's all new to him. ... I'm calling his number a lot, still calling his number, even if he is not playing great, because I know he has to play for us to win." Knox has been picked up by freshman guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has scored 45 points over the last two games. The Tigers concluded the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 71-61 victory at Memphis on Thursday and have won three straight and six of their last seven since losing their final two games in the Maui Invitational. First-year LSU coach Will Wade didn't enjoy the win long, telling reporters after the game that the focus now is on "the juggernaut that is Kentucky. It's what we signed up for. If you don't like this, go play intramurals. We play in the SEC, and it's time to rock and roll."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT KENTUCKY (11-2, 1-0 SEC): Freshman guard Hamidou Diallo (team-high 14.9 points) has reached double figures in seven straight games and is averaging 17.9 points during that span, and recorded his first double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds versus Memphis. Freshman guard Quade Green has also picked up his game of late with 28 points over the last two games while shooting 8-for-16 from the field and 4-for-8 from 3-point range. Freshman forward PJ Washington (10.0 points, 5.2 rebounds) has struggled with consistency, fouling out with seven points and two rebounds versus Georgia after recording 16 points and seven boards in a 90-61 victory over Louisville on Friday.

ABOUT LSU (9-3, 0-0): Freshman guard Tremont Waters averages a team-best 17.1 points and SEC highs of 6.4 assists and 2.6 steals after recording 18, eight and four versus Memphis. Junior guard Brandon Sampson (9.8 points) scored 12 points in 25 minutes Thursday in his second game since missing six with an ankle injury and is 22-for-36 from the floor in six contests this season. Senior forward Aaron Epps (9.9 points, team-high 6.3 rebounds) fouled out after recording eight points, six rebounds and a career high-tying three blocks in 20 minutes against Memphis.

TIP-INS

1. Gilgeous-Alexander, who averages 11.6 points, 4.2 assists and 3.6 rebounds, is second in the SEC in steals at 2.3 per game.

2. LSU is shooting 51.5 percent from the field and was one of 23 teams nationally at 50 percent or better through Monday's games.

3. Kentucky has won five of the last six meetings, but lost 85-67 in its last trip to Baton Rouge on Jan. 5, 2016.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 68, LSU 67