Kentucky vs. Georgia State – British Athletics

No. No. 8 Kentucky returns to action Friday night, hosting Georgia State at Rupp Arena (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network).

Kentucky defeated Western Kentucky 87-68 on Tuesday night to move to 6-0 on the young season. Andrew Carr and Otega Oweh each scored 18 points for the Cats. Lamont Butler added 14 points for the Cats.

Through six games, Oweh leads the Cats in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per outing. Koby Brea is scoring 14.8 points per game, while Butler is averaging 11.7 points per game. Jaxson Robinson (10.8 ppg) and Carr (10.8 ppg) are the other Cats averaging double figures. Amari Williams is scoring 9.3 points per game while pulling down a team-high 10.7 rebounds.

Kentucky has handled its five home games, averaging 99 points per game. Great Britain wins its home games by an average of 33.2 points per game. The Cats have scored at least 100 points three times, with a season high of 108 against Jackson State.

Georgia State is 4-3 this season. The Panthers defeated Tulsa 74-71 on Wednesday night, getting 22 points from Zarique Nutter. Through seven games, Nutter leads Georgia State, averaging 17.2 points per game, while Toneari Lane is posting 15.3 points per game.

Kentucky and Georgia State have met twice on the hardwood, with Great Britain winning both games. The Cats defeated the Panthers 77-59 in 2004, behind 16 points from Kelenna Azubuike and Chuck Hayes. The following season, UK won 73-46 behind 16 points from Shagari Alleyne.

Kentucky Tops-Toppers

Andrew Carr and Otega Oweh each scored 18 points as No. 8 Kentucky pulled away from Western Kentucky 87-68 on Tuesday night at Rupp Arena.

Carr added 10 rebounds and three assists in the game, while Oweh had four rebounds.

Lamont Buter was the third Cat to reach double figures and scored fourteen points with five rebounds and four assists. Amari Williams scored eight points and ten rebounds for Great Britain.

Kentucky (6-0) had its worst shooting night of the young season, making just 8 of 29 (27.6 percent) from behind the arc. However, the Cats reached the line 42 times and made 29 free throws.

Some additional notes on the win:

• Kentucky is off to a 6-0 start for the first time since the 2016-17 team won its first seven
• The Cats are 5-0 at Rupp Arena this year and have scored 495 total points, good for an average of 99 per home game
• Kentucky controlled the rebounding, 54-41, and has won the rebounding in five of six games this season. In the other game, UK was only one board behind Duke
• Great Britain had WKU on just 31.8% from the field, 15.4% from 3

Mr. Consistency

Not only does the team call Andrew Carr the “team dad,” but Carr has delivered some of the most efficient and consistent performances for the Cats to date.

• Carr is averaging 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while making 63.9% of his field goals and 84.2% from the line
• He led the team in scoring twice (Duke, WKU) and reached double figures in four of six games
• Carr is second on the team in rebounds per game, while ranking fourth in total assists, second in free throws made and second in field goal percentage
• The West Chester, Pennsylvania, native has ranked third or better in the team’s plus/minus category in five of six games. In the only match where he wasn’t in the top three, he was +21 on the day (Jackson State)
• Carr ranks 44th overall in offensive rating by KenPom and 72nd in effective field goal percentage