What sort of gameplan will Indiana have to keep Patrick Patterson in check?
– The Hoosiers have gone up against some very good big men in their first nine games, but the Wildcats’ Patterson might prove to be the biggest challenge of them all. While he’s not as big as Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody or as good of a shotblocker as Saint Joseph’s Ahmad Nivins, he figures to give IU fits this afternoon. Patterson establishes position deep on the block and uses a jump hook or turnaround jumper to finish around the basket. He also moves well without the ball and fills a lane on the break and finishes with authority there as well. He’s shooting 72.5 percent from the floor (66-of-91) this season, so it’s obvious that the Wildcat sophomore doesn’t take too many ill-advised shots. Indiana doesn’t have any big men that can match-up with Patterson one-on-one, so expect to see IU collapse on him when he touches the ball and try to make UK do its damage from the perimeter. Can Indiana stay in the game early on? – The Hoosiers have already played three ranked teams this season,
