No. 5 Ohio State (10-1) vs. No. 6 Kentucky (8-2)
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas; Saturday, 5:15 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: No. 6 Kentucky presents a tough challenge for No. 5 Ohio State. Ohio State has won both of its games against ranked teams this season. Kentucky lost 69-66 to Utah on Wednesday.
FABULOUS FRESHMEN: Kentucky’s Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey and Keion Brooks Jr. have combined to score 45 percent of the team’s points this season and have accounted for 47 percent of all Wildcats scoring over the last five games.
SPARKING THE OFFENSE: Hagans has either made or assisted on 50 percent of all Kentucky field goals over the last three games. The sophomore guard has 15 field goals and 26 assists in those games.
ASSIST DISTRIBUTION: The Wildcats have recently created baskets via assists more often than the Buckeyes. Kentucky has 52 assists on 82 field goals (63.4 percent) across its previous three matchups while Ohio State has assists on 49 of 84 field goals (58.3 percent) during its past three games.
STINGY STATE: Ohio State has held opposing teams to 56.7 points per game this season, the eighth-lowest figure among all Division I teams.