Kentucky's Last Dress Rehearsal: 7-Foot-2 UCF Brings Size and Threes to Rupp Tonight

One more tune-up, then it counts. No. 23 Kentucky closes its three-game exhibition slate tonight against UCF at Rupp Arena, tip at 6 p.m. ET. A week from now the Cats open the regular season against Manhattan (Nov. 3), so this is the last chance to work out the kinks in front of a crowd.

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
TV: SEC Network, the cable channel this time (Little Rock and Texas Tech were streamed on SECN+ only). Streaming: ESPN app with a TV login. Radio: UK Sports Network. Venue: Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, Lexington. The game doesn't count toward either team's record.

HOW KENTUCKY GOT HERE
UK is 2-0 in exhibitions. The Cats beat Little Rock 69-49 behind 16 points from Milan Momcilovic, then took down No. 19 Texas Tech 76-65 with five players in double figures: Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno 15 each, freshman Mason Williams 14, Alex Wilkins 13 and Ousmane N’Diaye 10 (UK Athletics). The start against Texas Tech was rough, with turnovers and cold shooting, before the defense flipped the game.

WHO UCF IS
Johnny Dawkins, the former Duke star, is in his 11th season in Orlando. The Knights went 21-12 last year and lost to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but the Big 12 coaches picked them 13th this season (On3). Their two exhibitions: a close loss at LSU and a six-point win over Division II Rollins. Guard Dior Johnson scored 18 against LSU and 19 against Rollins. He's a former five-star recruit who averaged 24 points a game at Tarleton State last season. The frontcourt has real size: 7-foot-2 John Bol (from Ole Miss) and 6-9 Isaiah Malone. Kentucky fans also know guard Riley Kugel from his Florida and Mississippi State days.

KEYS FOR KENTUCKY
1. Win the glass. Rebounding was a problem against Texas Tech (Sports Illustrated), and UCF has the size to make it one again.
2. Close out on shooters. UCF launched 32 threes at LSU. Rotations have to be sharp, or this stays closer than it should.
3. Clean starts. Kentucky can't spot anyone an early lead the way it did against Texas Tech, and guard play is the biggest question Pope is still sorting out (Kentucky Wildcats Wire).

INJURY WATCH
Kam Williams (foot), Trent Noah (hamstring) and Jerone Morton (knee) are expected to miss the rest of the exhibition schedule. UK's last update (Oct. 22) had Williams and Noah week to week, with Williams starting his return to practice, and Morton 'still a little bit away' (UK spokesman via On3 and A Sea of Blue).

Our Take: Texas Tech was the test, and Kentucky passed it. Tonight is about habits: rebound against real size, guard the arc for 40 minutes, and walk into Manhattan week with a rotation Pope trusts.

Sources: UK Athletics · On3 · Sports Illustrated · BlueBook · Kentucky Wildcats Wire · On3 injury update