Bruce Pearl previews Kentucky game from ‘Jungleville,’ says Cats will always be gold standard of SEC

Bruce Pearl is ready for a showdown from Kentucky on Saturday, a game expected to showcase Neville Arena’s raucous home-court environment in “The Jungle.”

The game, set for 6 p.m. ET will pit the No. 13 Tigers against the No. 22 Wildcats. Auburn is 20-5 and 9-3 in the SEC, tied for second, while UK is 17-7 and 7-4 in the league, 2 games behind Alabama, which sits at 9-2.

Here are some of Pearl’s comments from his Friday media availability:

• “You can feel the energy on campus,” he said.
• “Kentucky is still the gold standard in our league,” Pearl said. “They always will be. That’ll never change.”
• “Kentucky is really good. They are one of the best offensive teams in the country. … We struggled against Florida’s length and we’re going to have to find a way to not let Kentucky’s length have the same effect Florida’s did.”
• This Kentucky team is John Calipari’s best 3-point-shooting team. “There’s about four or five guys out there who, if they can see it, they can make it.”
• Bruce Pearl on Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham: “He scores like I breathe.”
• “A lot of pressure on Kentucky to win, as a result they’ve done well on the road,” Pearl said.

H/T Justin Hokanson, Adam Cole and Richard Silva.

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.