How to watch Kentucky vs. Gonzaga, what to look forward to, and forecasts

The Clemson Tigers were the first team the Kentucky Wildcats have lost to this season. They don’t have to wait long before their next big game.

Next, the Cats will play the seventh-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs in Seattle on Saturday. This is likely to be their last ranked game before SEC play.

After six years, this is the third game in a row between these two teams. The Wildcats are still looking for their first win over the Bulldogs. This will be the fourth time that these two teams have played each other, with Gonzaga leading 2-1 each time.

In his 26th season as coach at Gonzaga, Mark Few brings back 68% of the team that made it to the Sweet 16 for the ninth straight year last March. More players have stayed on the team than any other team in the top 25.

Their backcourt is led by Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman (who used to be committed to Kentucky). Both play more than 30 minutes per game, but they also have other players who can step in when needed. The 19th best team in the country in bench points per game. They score more than any other team in the top 25.

Gonzaga is one of the most well-rounded teams in the country. It is one of only six teams ranked in the top 20 by KenPom for both offensive and defensive performance. Duke was one of those teams that Kentucky beat.

Let’s look at the game.

Get the hang of shooting threes.

Mark Pope wants to make 30 to 35 3-pointers per game, which is how Kentucky’s system works. That works well when you’re making them but not so well when you’re not. The Wildcats shot better than 40% from three-point range in four of their first five games. But in their last three games, they’ve shot less than 28%.

When it comes to defense, Gonzaga does its best at protecting the 3-point line. In terms of 3-point shooting, the Bulldogs are ranked fourth. West Virginia made 11 3s out of 35 shots in their only loss this season.

One of the best 3-point defenses in the country will be up against the Cats. Can they get out of their slump?

Get better at shooting free throws

There is a reason why free throws are free, but Kentucky hasn’t been making the most of their chances.

The Wildcats have four or five shooters on the court at all times and hit well from three-point range, but they are only just above 73% on the season. Against Clemson, they had a season-low 61% (11/18). It would have been a very different ending to the game if the Wildcats had made 70–75% of their shots. That’s two more points.

Gonzaga, on the other hand, makes almost 83% of its free throws, which is the third-best percentage in the country. The player who shoots free throws the worst in the rotation makes 70% of them.

At the free-throw line, close games can be won or lost. Kentucky can’t keep letting points slip away like they have been.

Watch out for the ball.

So far this season, Kentucky has done a pretty good job of keeping the ball. They have just over ten mistakes per game, which is 53rd in the country. That number is just above Mark Pope’s goal of ten or less per game.

The Wildcats turned the ball over 12 times against Clemson. That’s not as many times as they usually do, but a lot of them were unintentional and not because of Clemson’s defense.

Not long ago, Amari Williams was the main person to blame. The big man is a good player, but he has turned the ball over 11 times in the last three games. He has also turned the ball over four or more times in four of Kentucky’s eight games this season.

Gonzaga has 9.4 mistakes per game, which is 13th best in the country. However, in their only loss to West Virginia, they had a turnover margin of -4.

Watch the other team’s players

G Ryan Nembhard, 6 feet, 1 inch, 180 pounds

10.6 PPG

10.8 APG (1st in the country, 5th best in NCAA history if it stays up)

45% 3P

A. G. Nolan Hickman 6-2, 190 lbs.

11.5% PPG and 46.2% 3P

F Graham Ike, 6 feet 9 inches tall and 250 pounds

13.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 2.4 FPG (four fouls in two games in a row).

The Kentucky Wildcats are 7-1, and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are 7-1.

Time: December 7 at 10 p.m. ET

The Climate Pledge Arena is in Seattle, WA.

TV station: ESPN2

Jon Sciambi and Jimmy Dykes are the announcers.

You can stream on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

BBC Sport’s Tom Leach and Jack Givens will be on the line on the radio.

WatchESPN and the ESPN network of stations (check your local listings) to watch again.

Lists: UK | ZAG

Facts You Should Know: UK | ZAG

Kenneth Pom: UK | ZAG

Team List: UK | ZAG

FansDuel Sportsbook hasn’t put out the odds yet, so come back later to see the actual spread. Most of the predictions have Kentucky as the loser, with chances of 30–40% to win: ESPN (40.6%), Bart Torvik (38%) and EvanMiya (34.1%); KenPom (29%).

Both KenPom and EvanMiya think Kentucky will lose by 85–80. Both Haslametrics and Bart Torvik say that the Cats will lose by a score of 84–81. That’s why I’m picking Gonzaga to win 90–84. Their strength and 3-point defense will win this game.