Arkansas @ Kentucky preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 20, 2018 ) Kentucky 87, Arkansas 72

PJ Washington has pushed his name into contention for SEC Player of the Year in the last month and the sophomore forward looks to continue adding to the resume when fourth-ranked Kentucky hosts Arkansas on Tuesday night. Washington scored in double figures just six of the first 15 games this season, but has accomplished the feat in 12 straight since and recorded at least 20 points in five of the last six for the Wildcats.

“He’s not the same player, and the biggest thing is, he got in great condition,” Kentucky coach John Calipari told reporters. “Now he can play basketball and, are you ready for this, you can think. If you’re not in shape, your whole thought is about I’m dying out here. You’re not thinking ahead. You’re not anticipating. He’s in great, great condition. And he’s playing like the best player in the country right now.” Washington scored 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting to help rout Auburn 80-53 on Saturday as Kentucky won its third straight and 13th in the last 14 games to tie LSU and Tennessee for first place in the SEC. Arkansas has been going the opposite direction with five consecutive losses - none against teams ranked in the top 25 - to damage its NCAA Tournament hopes. “They’re playing their hearts out,” Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson told reporters. “At the end of the day, what takes place sometimes is the inexperience, and we never know, some of these guys may be hitting that wall. … And as I told them, you’ve just got to fight through it.”

TV: 9 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT ARKANSAS (14-13, 5-9 SEC): Sophomore forward Daniel Gafford, who posted his first double-double in a month Saturday with 23 points and 13 boards against Texas A&M, leads the team in scoring (16.6) and rebounding (8.9). Freshman guard Isaiah Joe (14.1 points, 1.4 steals) entered the week with an SEC-high 93 made 3-pointers, but has made just 6-of-22 from behind the arc the last two contests. Sophomore guard Mason Jones (13.9 points) is just 5-of-22 from the field in the last two games after scoring a career-high 30 against Mississippi State.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (23-4, 12-2): Freshman guard Keldon Johnson is third on the team in scoring (13.6), but hauled in a career-high 17 rebounds and dished out five assists in Saturday’s contest while scoring just eight. “My teammates were hot,” Johnson told reporters. “I didn’t really have to score. I love scoring. They’re hot, I keep giving them the ball and do something else to impact the game.” Washington leads the team in scoring (15.2) and rebounding (7.9), and freshman guard Tyler Herro is averaging 16.7 points the last three games.

TIP-INS

1. Arkansas junior G Jalen Harris tops the team in assists (5.4), but is scoring just 5.3 per game the last four.

2. Kentucky F Reid Travis (11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds) is expected to miss his second straight game with a knee injury.

3. The Razorbacks are last in the league in free-throw percentage (66.2) and the Wildcats are fourth (74.7).

PREDICTION: Kentucky 84, Arkansas 70