Kentucky hopes to open SEC play Thursday night with a win over Arkansas. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kyra Elzy doesn’t have time to worry yet about having Kentucky’s game with Mississippi State moved up three weeks to Sunday to offset Tennessee not being able to play UK because of COVID protocols. Instead, the Kentucky coach has plenty worry about with Thursday night’s game against No. 10 Arkansas, a team averaging 91 points and 10 3-pointers per game.
“Every game in the SEC is a challenge. We play in the best conference in the country, so night-in and night-out it is going to be a grind. SEC games are like gold. We try to protect home, and go on the road and steal some,”Elzy said.
“You just have to focus, one game at a time, and right now our focus is on Arkansas, and that is the most important game on our schedule right now because it is the next one.”
The No. 10 Razorbacks score 91.2 points led by Chelsea Dungee at 18.9 points per game — she has 18 made 3’s. Destiny Slocum averages 16.3 points per game with 35 assists and 19 3’s. Amber Ramirez has a team-high 26 3-pointers and adds 11.9 points per game.
“She’s a talented player, she plays the four spot, and she’s versatile,” Elzy said about Dungee. “She can drive to the rim, she can shoot a midrange jumper, she can pull up and hit 3’s, so you have to be able to guard her on all levels, and then she just has that swag about her — the confidence and her ability to take over games is dangerous.
“But she is also surrounded by Destiny Slocum who is one of the best point guards in this league. She knows how to create, she can get other people scoring opportunities on the floor, so they’re dangerous because they can all score. They’re offense, they run, they pass, cut, create for others, so it’s going to be a game of runs, we just have to settle in and get defensive stops.”
I asked Elzy if it would help the team’s confidence to open SEC play with a win over a top 10 team or if the No. 13 Cats even needed any extra confidence.
“Everybody needs confidence, right? What we talked to our players about is to focus in. Obviously, the end result is we want to win, however there are steps that we must take to get there. It starts with practice and preparation, and then being able to execute in the game,” Elzy said.
“Arkansas is a very talented team. They are a high powered offensive team — as far as scoring. They shoot 3’s and layups, and we’re going to have our work cut out for us. We talked about our defensive energy, transition defense, getting the ball stops, fanning out at the 3-point line, try not to give open 3’s, controlling the tempo.”
However, Elzy knows her team is not going to totally shut down Arkansas’ offense and has to be able to score — something the Cats have done since they average 79 points per game.
“We’re going to have to push the tempo offensively, take great shots, we’re going to try to pound the ball inside to Dre’una Edwards and Olivia Owens, and obviously this offense revolves around Rhyne Howard, and players are going to have to make plays, and that’s what SEC basketball is all about,” the UK coach said.
