By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DETROIT - It looked like a marquee matchup, to be sure, and a potential world-record crowd in excess of 75,000 and national TV broadcast will supply the hype.

But Kentucky and Michigan State will tote enough baggage with them today into Ford Field that fans shouldn't expect the game to match the glam.

The Wildcats (4-0) are coming off their worst shooting game in 20 seasons and have had no reliable bench play. The Spartans (3-3), ranked third in preseason, are No. 21 and probably will exit the polls if they suffer a third consecutive defeat today.

Add in the fact the teams will play on the 50-yard line of a football field, adding unusual distances to the shooting backdrop, and it's unlikely anyone will submit this one for ESPN Classic when it's over.

"Maybe (the backdrop) will distract them," UK coach Tubby Smith said of his players, "so we can shoot better."

Such is the nature of early-season basketball: Smith applies wry humor to his team's travails, discussion of which dominated the midweek press conference, and yet the Wildcats are on the cusp of a No. 1 ranking.

The ESPN/USA Today coaches poll ranks UK No. 2, and top-ranked Florida lost Wednesday to Maryland. (UK is ranked eighth by the Associated Press.)

MSU coach Tom Izzo is calling this a critical game for his team, suggesting the pressure is on it instead of the Wildcats.

"If I'm 3-3, I'm saying the same thing," Smith said. "But every game is critical."

UK seeks improvement in shooting after hitting just 27 percent in its last outing against UCLA. Smith said his team lapsed into taking contested shots and trying one-on-one moves but also worried because its lack of size encouraged the Bruins to stop denying passes into the post.

"(They) let you catch it and stand behind you," he said. "That allows them to stay out on Gerald (Fitch) and our shooters more."

UK also seeks more help from its bench, which contributed one basket, an assist and three turnovers against UCLA. Every Wildcat starter is averaging at least 28.5 minutes. Fitch said the team's effort to outrun the Bruins ended up leaving it out of gas.

Of his gun-shy reserves, Smith said, "I guess I have to have the nerve to play 'em longer."

In this run of tough games, UK is at least playing teams far from their peak. Two of UCLA's big men, T.J. Cummings and Trevor Ariza, were out last week. MSU shooting guard Maurice Ager, slowed by a foot injury, is 3-of-20 shooting over the past three games, and the Spartans have averaged 17 turnovers.

Of course, it's dangerous to let down one's guard. A no-name MSU reserve, Tim Bograkos, hadn't attempted a 3-pointer in his career before nailing the one in the final minute last season that beat UK in Rupp Arena.

"This will be a big experience for us with that (record) crowd, but it's not going to mean much if we don't win," UK senior Cliff Hawkins said.

As UK's coach, Smith is 1-3 against MSU.

E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com