Kentucky-Ouachita: Wildcats Look to Oil Machine Before Season

The University of Kentucky will be looking for another blowout win in Rupp Arena on Friday against Ouachita Baptist.

Kentucky is coming off a 111-53 victory over Missouri-St. Louis on Monday and is looking for a similar game to get ready for the upcoming season.

Even though it was just one exhibition game, UK is looking more like the old UK. They beat a Division II college the way an elite team should.

This game should be more of the same.

Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks have proved that they are healthy and better then ever. They are very hungry—hungry for a championship.

The new faces on campus are feeling the same.

There is room for improvement, and Billy Gillispie will be quick to point out the mistakes.

"Not good enough," the UK coach said to the Herald-Leader .

Gillispie was talking about how a UK defender let a Missouri-St. Louis player slash to the basket and lay it in.

What Gillispie wants is the defense not to give away an easy basket to a smaller player on the opposite team. He wants the defense to play with greed. He doesn't want to give away any free points. Period.

That is unrealistic, but it's a good way of thinking.

Most likely starting lineup:

• Forward: Patrick Patterson
• Forward: Perry Stevenson
• Small Forward: Ramon Harris
• Shooting Guard: Jodie Meeks
• Point Guard: Michael Porter

My starting lineup:

• Forward: Josh Harrellson
• Forward: Patrick Patterson
• Small Forward: Darius Miller
• Shooting Guard: Jodie Meeks
• Point Guard: DeAndre Liggins

Gillispie will probably go more to the same lineup that he used on Monday. He will sub in Liggins for Porter. Liggins has proved that he can run the lead guard spot. He just needs a little more playing time.

Josh Harrellson is ahead of schedule and should be starting before long. He will take a lot of weight off of Patterson. Teams will not be able to double team Patterson and leave Harrellson open because he can hit the trey, unlike many big men.

Darius Miller can be like Patterson was last year—a game changer. He can shoot the ball with the sweetest touch and play hard-nosed defense, which is what Gillispie loves.

Kentucky will lock down on defense and force more turnovers. The offensive side will be much of the same.

The Cats will run and gun the offense and mop the floor with Ouachita Baptist to the tune of 99-47.