UK (7-1) v. EKU (7-2)

Tipoff: Wednesday, 7 p.m., Rupp Arena TV: ESPN2 Radio: UK Radio Network

Here’s three points of emphasis as UK hosts Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday.

How the Cats bounce back

As UK returns to Lexington for a two-game home stretch this week, look for the Cats to have a solid outing Wednesday night against EKU. Nearly everyone on UK’s roster struggled to get in a groove against UCLA, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see a boost in energy against the Colonels.

Calipari has been in a similar situation before, which will likely indicate that UK will play a much better all-around game than on Thursday against UCLA. In the 2011-12 season, No. 1-ranked UK lost to IU in its first true road game, but bounced back to beat Chattanooga at home by 25 in the next game.

The Cats shot just 37.9 percent against UCLA, about 10 percent lower than their season average. UK was outrebounded and allowed the Bruins to shoot 52.8 percent from the field and only led for 30 seconds. Expect UK to improve in all the above areas on Wednesday.

EKU scores well

The Colonels are the fifth-best scoring team in the nation, averaging 90.4 points per game. EKU also shoots 52.4 percent from the floor, 73.2 percent from the foul line and 44.3 percent from three-point range. This team can hurt you basically anywhere on the floor.

Carrying the Colonels to such an impressive shooting average are Jarelle Reischel and JaVontae Hawkins. Reischel is a crafty 6-foot-7 three-man who can light it up from deep and gets to the free-throw line efficiently. Hawkins can do a little bit of everything, and his 6-foot-5 frame makes it easy to score over smaller guards.

Skal Labissiere’s response

In UK’s last two games, Labissiere has had an average of four points and 1.5 rebounds. That kind of production from the big man won’t get the job done for the Cats heading forward.

“(Skal’s) not figured how to play lower than the other guy,” Calipari said after the Illinois State game. “He’s not figured out that I got to move my feet and quit grabbing people.”

Expect the freshman forward to respond well on Wednesday.