What’s up with Billy? Is he ready for prime time?

The echoes of the Wildcats’ triumphant three-point barrage against Stonehill still resonate within the walls of Rupp Arena as No. 17 Kentucky prepares to face a hungry St. Joseph’s team on Monday night in Lexington, Ky. The Wildcats, rebounding from a challenging loss to #1 ranked Kansas, showcased their deep shooting prowess in a dominating 101-67 victory. However, the focus now shifts to a pivotal matchup against an improved and determined St. Joseph’s squad, with shooting accuracy emerging as the linchpin for success.

In a surprising turn of events, it’s the unsung freshmen, Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, who have stolen the spotlight for the Wildcats early in the season. Against Stonehill, Sheppard dazzled with 25 points, sinking 7 of 8 from beyond the arc, while Dillingham added 20 points, connecting on three three-pointers. Both players also demonstrated their playmaking abilities, contributing seven assists each. Despite the presence of highly acclaimed recruits like Justin Edwards and D.J. Wagner, it is Sheppard and Dillingham who have exceeded expectations, adding a new dynamic to Kentucky’s lineup.

Sheppard and Dillingham have outperformed all expectations early in this season. While Senior wing Antonio Reeves leads Kentucky with 17.8 points per game, Dillingham averages 16.8 points per game in just 22.3 mpg. Meanwhile, Sheppard has contributed 13.3 points and 3.0 steals per game in just 23.0 mpg for the guard-heavy Wildcats. Senior forward Tre Mitchell is adding 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

It should be noted that Sheppard is Kentucky royalty. His father, Jeff Sheppard is a Kentucky legend. The elder Sheppard played at Kentucky from 1993 to 1998 and was named Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA tournament in San Antonio in 1998. He played on two national championship teams at Kentucky under Rick Pitino in 1996 and under Tubby Smith in 1998.

However, not all of Kentucky’s highly touted recruits have found immediate success. Justin Edwards and D.J. Wagner, projected as one-and-done lottery picks, have struggled to acclimate to the college game. Both players are averaging just above 9 points per game and have yet to find their rhythm, especially from behind the three-point line. Shooting percentages from behind the arc reveal their difficulties, with Edwards at a mere 14.3% and Wagner at 23.5%. As they face familiar foes in St. Joseph’s, the hope is that the challenge will serve as motivation for the talented rookies to break out of their offensive slump.

In his fifth year as head coach, Billy Lange has been steadily steering St. Joseph’s in the right direction. The Hawks, off to an impressive 3-1 start, have shown promise. Expectations are sky high among Hawk faithful. Lange enters the game with enough size and athleticism to truly compete with SEC programs like Kentucky. Redshirt freshman center Christ Essandoko is 7’0” and 285. He is averaging 4.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 1.3 bpg. St. Joseph’s features a pair of athletic power forwards. Sophomore PF Rasheer Fleming, a Camden High School teammate of D.J. Wagner, is averaging 10.5 ppg and 5.3 rpg. A gifted athlete, Fleming can run and jump with anyone in the country and has started to generate some NBA buzz. Kacper Klaczek (6’8”, 225 lbs) is another athletic PF that plays extremely hard for Lange. Thus far, Klaczek is contributing 7.0 ppg and 4.3 prg in 24.0 mpg.

St. Joseph’s possesses a well-rounded roster, with junior Erik Reynolds II leading the scoring charge at 14.3 points per game. Reynolds is complemented by Lynn Greer III, Xzayvier Brown, and the athletic Fleming, all averaging double figures in scoring. Greer has evolved in a selfless leader in this program. He has the size, strength and lateral quickness to compete with Wagner, Dillingham and Shepperd. Brown was the best high school guard in the Philadelphia/Camden region last season, not named Wagner. His transition to college basketball has been seamless. Lange has developed a high degree of trust in Brown very early in his rookie campaign. His teammates also look for Brown to make plays in crunch time. The Hawks’ success hinges on their ability to convert three-pointers, a facet they struggled with in their last game.

Unlike most Kentucky fans, Calipari and his assistant Bruiser Flint are intimately familiar with the Hawk program. While he was coaching UMass, Calipari and former Hawk Coach Phil Martelli waged some serious slugfests. Flint, a former SJU point guard (1983-1987) also led UMass for five years in the late 90’s and battled Martelli and the Hawks every year in some memorable contests.

The matchup holds significance for both teams, as a St. Joseph’s victory would signify a turning point and a re-emergence as a national force. For Kentucky, the familiarity with the Hawks’ program adds an intriguing layer to the game, with the potential for breakout performances from Delaware Valley natives Edwards and Wagner against a familiar foe.

As Kentucky and St. Joseph’s prepare to clash on the hardwood, the game takes on added importance for both teams. Kentucky’s young stars aim to continue their impressive start, while St. Joseph’s, under the leadership of Billy Lange, seeks to announce their arrival on the national stage with a signature win. The spotlight will be on the three-point line, where Kentucky’s sharpshooters and St. Joseph’s skilled backcourt will determine the outcome of this high-stakes showdown. The stage is set for a thrilling encounter that could reshape the narratives of both teams in the early stages of the college basketball season.

#ImTryin2SeeSumthin