LEXINGTON - How good is Kentucky?
When compared to Ohio State, some of Eastern Kentucky's players think the Wildcats rank among the top teams in the nation at this point in the season.
"They can compete with anybody in the country," Eastern center Darnell Dialls said following the Colonels' 78-65 loss to the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon at Rupp Arena.
"It's Kentucky and everybody knows that. The sky is the limit for them. They have a great team every year," he said.
Dialls should know of Kentucky's potential, at least when it comes to comparing Kentucky to the sixth-ranked Buckeyes.
Eastern suffered a 74-45 loss to Ohio State on Nov. 17 in Columbus, Ohio.
Dialls scored 11 points in the loss to the Buckeyes, but didn't compete against heralded Ohio State freshman Greg Oden in the middle. He did see a lot of Kentucky center Randolph Morris, who finished with 25 points to lead all scorers.
"He's a big fellow and he's pretty good, too," said Dialls, a graduate of Lafayette High School in Lexington. "It was tough to guard him."
Eastern forward Julian Mascoll said Morris' ability to hit a jump shot makes him effective.
"He's got a soft touch and it's hard to get around him," he said. "He has such a wide body and he's very smart."
Eastern guard Adam Leonard said Ohio State was more dependent on its perimeter play than the Cats were on Saturday.
Leonard scored 20 points against Kentucky and had just eight in the loss to the Buckeyes.
"It was more of a guard-game," he said.
Ohio State "has more deep shooters"
Eastern coach Jeff Neubauer agreed with Leonard's assessment of the Buckeyes.
"I think Ohio State has more deep shooters," he said. "Ohio State puts four NBA-range 3-point shooters on the court at once. Kentucky doesn't have as many (deep shooters) out there, but it's obvious with Ramel Bradley out there - he's a deep shooter."
Leonard said the biggest difference between the two teams is the fact that Kentucky has an experienced big man in the post in Morris. Leonard said Morris gave his teammates plenty of problems to deal with in the middle.
"Morris is an unbelievable beast down low," he said. "If we could have stopped him, it could have been a single-digit game. It would have been different."
Dialls said Morris' frame makes him a force inside the paint.
"He's got the size and the ability to score," he said. "He can put the ball in the hole. That's all that matters."
Leonard believes Cats "can go far"
Leonard said Kentucky also played well on the perimeter and could matchup well against the Buckeyes.
"They're guards are good and very quick," he said. "They can go far, especially with their big man down low. They are real good, and with their guard play, they definitely have potential (to be a great team)."
Neubauer said he would like to see a matchup between Oden and Morris in the post.
"That would be a good comparison," he said. "We just didn't see Oden when we were at Ohio State."
Dialls said he would cheer for Kentucky if that were to happen in the postseason.
"I'm from Lexington, so I have to keep up with them," he said. "I'm always glad for a Kentucky team anytime."
