NCAA: Missing Piece For Top Teams Entering Conference Play

Dec 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Gavin Schilling (34), forward Marvin Clark Jr. (15), guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. (11) and Eron Harris (14) during the second half against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Michigan State won 99-93 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 19, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Marc Loving (2) looks to shoot over Kentucky Wildcats forward Skal Labissiere (1) during the second half at Barclays Center. Ohio State Buckeyes won 74-67. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

Kentucky Wildcats: Will The Bigs Please Rise Up?

Big men made Kentucky great last year, but they may be its downfall this year.

Though Marcus Lee has played well at times, he and Skal Labissiere just haven’t been able to keep up at times. It started with getting outworked by Marshall Plumlee on Nov. 17 and led to allowing 21 offensive rebounds against Louisville.

Kentucky won both games, yes, but they are issues that need to be addressed. The bigs have been outworked.

The guards have been great, mainly Jamal Murray and Tyler Ulis, and that’s carried them to a nice start, but improvements must be made. They’re just 70th in the nation in rebounds per game and 39th in rebounding margin.

Luckily, the SEC is even weaker than expected with Vanderbilt still showing some problems with inexperience (plus the Luke Kennard injury), LSU is just awful (let’s not but a Band-Aid on a bullet wound) and the middle of the pack is … something.

The Wildcats could very well go through SEC play unscathed, but in order to have success in March they’ll need to have their big men rise up in January.

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