Pre-Game Report: Seven Things to Look For From No. 4 Kentucky Against SC State

Kentucky returns to Rupp Arena to take on the South Carolina State Bulldogs.

No. 4 Kentucky is back to full strength, taking on the South Carolina State Bulldogs inside Rupp Arena just 48 hours after a hard-fought double-overtime loss to Michigan State in Indianapolis. 

Oscar Tshiebwe, Sahvir Wheeler and Daimion Collins all remain active. 

For live coverage, follow Wildcats Today Lead Editor Hunter Shelton on Twitter. 

Get to know SC State here. 

Here are seven things to look for from the Wildcats as they attempt to bounce back from their first defeat of the season: 

More Oscar: After playing 34 minutes in his season debut on Tuesday, Oscar Tshiebwe re-established his dominance as a top player in college basketball. On 48 hours of rest, he'll face a much easier task in SC State. How will he look on a quick turnaround? 

Daimion Collins Establishing Himself: It wasn't a great season debut for Daimion Collins against Michigan State. He looked lost at times, hesitant to shoot and get into the thick of things. Look for the sophomore to get some shots falling and really get into the flow of the game, presuming Calipari allows him to play the same amount of minutes. 

Hitting The 3-Point Quota: Calipari has previously stated he's looking for his team to shoot 25 treys a game. They hit that number against MSU, but made only five of those 25 shots. Antonio Reeves and CJ Fredrick should have more space tonight than they did on Tuesday, meaning for a bigger number of jacks, and presumably a bigger number of makes. 

Offense From Jacob Toppin: While he had a much better box score against Sparty, Jacob Toppin still didn't provide that oomph that Kentucky will need from him over the course of the season. Hitting open jump shots and making the right passes is a good place to start. 

Adou Thiero: If SC State is as lackluster as presented, this should be a night where the true freshman Adou Thiero can get some minutes. He didn't look lost in the preseason or on opening night against Howard, so there should be no reason not to give the kid some tick in the second half. 

Nullifying 3-Pointers: On the other side, SC State has had a poor showing from deep in its last two games. Find Rakeim Gary, don't let him get hot and let Cason Wallace, Sahvir Wheeler and Co. shut down the perimeter. Build some confidence defensively going into the Gonzaga matchup.

Keep The Physicality: Calipari preached playing physical in the lead-up to the MSU tilt, and for the most part his team delivered. Stick with the hard-nosed play-style and take it to the weaker competition from the get-go. The Zags will present a much similar, if not harder challenge in Spokane compared to the Spartans. Win the battle on the boards, get to the free throw line and out-compete SC State. 

More on the double-OT loss to Michigan State here.

Four Takeaways from the loss can be found here.

Oscar Tshiebwe provided a big reminder to the CBB world on Tuesday night. More on the NPOY's debut here.

Watch: Calipari, Tshiebwe, Wheeler talk the MSU defeat.

Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

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