Marquis Estill is all but automatic down low, opening up shots for Kentucky's shooters outside.

No. 21 Michigan St. at No. 12 Kentucky

GAME TIME:	Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (CBS)
LAST MEETING:	MSU 46, Kentucky 45 (Dec. 16, 2000)
SERIES:	Kentucky leads, 11-8

After an early loss to Virginia in Maui -- when the Wildcats didn't shoot the ball well -- Tubby Smith has his team playing very well. Kentucky has shot well over 50 percent from the field on the season, and has shot close to 60 percent in convincing wins over Gonzaga, High Point, North Carolina and Tulane.

The reason Kentucky is shooting the ball so much better is due to its handling and passing of the ball. Kentucky has been getting a great balance of inside and outside interaction, and that has led to more open shots with shooters ready to fire as the ball arrives.

Keith Bogans and Gerald Fitch look like completely different players this season. Fitch has embraced his role as the point guard, and is protecting the ball, getting it to entry positions, while still looking to score. Bogans has played to his strengths, and instead of looking to prove he can shoot it, he is attacking the basket off the dribble and in transition. As a result, his new approach has opened up his shot as a counter.

Another major factor for Kentucky has been the play of Marquis Estill and Jules Camara. Estill has great hands and works well in Kentucky's high-low sets to get great position down low. He either scores or gets fouled when the ball is in his hands on the low block. When he stays out of foul trouble, himself, Estill is very difficult to contain, and is shooting over 70 percent from the floor.

Kentucky runs a lot of set plays and runs them efficiently. The Wildcats can press after a made free throw or field goal, but are more likely to play smash-mouth half-court defense. If Tubby Smith has one trademark, it is this: His team will guard you.

Tom Izzo has another outstanding rebounding team, but the Spartans have not yet shown the ability to score the ball easily in transition or in their half-court sets. That is a temporary problem. Michigan State has had a variety of injuries, which has kept several players out of commission for practice and games. The Spartans run multitude of sets, with timing and reads very important within the offense. Without floor time, and time playing together, those sets are less likely to be run at full efficiency.

Chris Hill is the catalyst of this team, but has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. Hill is playing the point guard position, and must run a team, yet still look to be a primary scoring option. While that sounds easy, it is not. Essentially, Hill must think as a point guard, but when he gives the ball up, he must look to score like a shooting guard would. That can wear a kid out.

Hill gets help on the perimeter from Alan Anderson, who should see time as a primary handler now that he is healthy. When Kelvin Torbert and Maurice Ager are back at full strength, Izzo will have a deeper, more athletic group of wings. This will also allow MSU to play a more uptempo style. Torbert can still be an outstanding player, but must keep his game simple. If Torbert concentrates on running his lane and attacking the basket in transition, going hard to the offensive glass, and being a defensive stopper, he can be a great college player.

Key Matchup: Chris Hill vs. Gerald Fitch
Hill MSU	Neither player is a true point guard, but has to play the position in the best interest of his team. Hill is the better shooter and is long and active as a defender. If Hill can show more toughness defensively and be a more vocal leader, MSU can hang another Big Ten banner in the Breslin Center. Fitch has done a remarkable job at the point for Kentucky, filling in for Cliff Hawkins, and has taken good care of the ball. Fitch is an outstanding guard rebounder, but that skill has been diminished by his point guard duties. Fitch has shot the ball extremely well and has shown great patience.	Fitch Kentucky

Key Stat
Rebounding
The glass is still, and always will be, a priority for Michigan State. The Spartans get a lot of high-percentage looks from cleaning up their own misses. Kentucky is not a great rebounding team, but has capable rebounders at every position. The team that controls the glass will win the game.

What to Watch For
Defensive Spartans
Michigan State has not been pressuring the ball the way Tom Izzo would like. Ball pressure is very important in Michigan State's defense, and if the Spartans can get good pressure on the ball, especially on the big men looking to feed the post, the Spartans can make it more difficult for passers to see open people. Watch Michigan State's helpside defense, and how the Spartans protect the elbow and the block of the lane. The Spartans make it difficult for teams to penetrate off the dribble, but need good ball pressure to keep Kentucky from penetrating off the pass.