Idaho State might not be a ranked team or high seed in the NCAA Tournament but Kentucky coach Kyra Elzy certainly is not underestimating today’s opponent.
“Idaho State is a great team. They were 15-2 (in conference) this year. They won the Big Sky, so they know how to win. They’re extremely smart and they play well together,” Elzy said Friday. “They have four players averaging in double figures and one that is 9.9. They’re going to try to spread us out. They play small ball. Making sure that we’re aggressive defensively, but really hammering in on our one-on-one defense, which is what we have talked about all year.
“We want to make them play fast, use our athleticism, and also, offensively, we have to look to push the basketball on a make or a miss. Our X factors, we have to have at least four people in double figures to make sure that we are efficient offensively.”
Dora Goles averages 11.9 points and 1.5 steals per game. Callie Bourne is the leading rebounder at 8.3 per game to go with 10.3 points. Diana Konate averages 11.5 points and 4.0 assists per game.
The Bengals average 71.4 points per game while UK is allowing 65.8 points per game. When Idaho State reaches the 66-point mark, it is 21-1 on the year. The Wildcats are 16-4 in games where they score over 59 points.
Kentucky (17-8) faces Idaho State at 2 p.m. today on ESPN.
Rhyne Howard leads UK in scoring (20.7 points per game), rebounding (7.3 ) and assisting (3.5 assists). Chasity Patterson adds 12.1 points and 2.6 steals per game while Dre’Una Edwards averages 9.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Howard was recently named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press and a finalist for the Naismith National Player of the Year.
“She does a lot of things well on the court, but the best aspect of her game is her basketball IQ. It is extremely high, which makes her a gifted player and it allows her to make other players around her better,” Elzy said.
“The second thing I would go to is her ability to score at all three levels. She can score at the rim, she has a midrange game, she shoots the 3 well. But, the last thing that separates her from the rest is her versatility. Her ability to play the one through the five offensively, but also be able to defend the one through the five, that’s what makes her special.”
Patterson says it is obvious Idaho State is “very efficient on offense” and will test UK’s defense, one reason UK will try to push the pace.
“Just getting out in transition and running the lanes so Jazmine (Massengill) can push the ball. Really, any of us can push the ball up the floor – me, Rhyne, Jaz – so it just depends on who is running in that position,” Patterson said.
“I feel like we all can play in any of the three guard spots. That is what is unique about it is that we can all play those positions and it doesn’t matter who is where, we know what we need to do.”
