Big Blue clashes with Carolina Blue on Saturday, as ninth-ranked Kentucky travels to Chapel Hill to take on the struggling Tar Heels in an exciting early-season matchup. The game will pit two of the top freshmen in the country-UNC's Harrison Barnes and UK's Brandon Knight-against each other for the first time, along with two Hall of Fame coaches in Roy Williams and John Calipari. While Kentucky has surpassed expectations with some impressive victories over the start of their NCAA basketball schedule, North Carolina has failed to live up to its billing as a team ready to rebound from one of the worst seasons in school history.

Carolina's signing of Barnes was thought to be the final piece in a rebuilding project that has been in effect since 2009, but the freshman has struggled in his transition to the college game. Barnes is averaging just under 12 points and 6 rebounds over his first six games, and has shot only 35 percent from the field. While Barnes has proven that he can get to the rim and score the ball almost at will, he has lacked the assertiveness necessary to take over games down the stretch. Besides Barnes, the Tar Heels have been relying on junior center Tyler Zeller to supply the offence. The injury-prone big man has managed to stay healthy so far this season, and is averaging career bests of 15.5 points and 8 rebounds per game.

For the Wildcats, this season has been a coming out party for a group of talented freshmen playing major minutes for Calipari. Freshman point guard Brandon Knight was the marquee signing for Kentucky a year ago, but has been upstaged by forward Terrence Jones, who is putting up some of the most complete stat-lines in the country. The six-foot-nine Oregon native is averaging a double-double with 21 points and 10 boards per game to go along with nearly three blocked shots. Jones should be able to wreck havoc against a UNC frontline that is tall and long but lacks strength in the paint.

Like nearly all Calipari-coached teams of the past, the Wildcats thrive in transition. Utilizing the athleticism and speed of players like Knight, Jones, and freshman Doron Lamb, Kentucky has been able to put up big scores against their opponents. On Saturday, they'll face a team that is equally athletic, but plays the game at a much more deliberate pace. North Carolina is tenth in the nation in rebounding, but has not shown a penchant for igniting the fast break. With players still figuring out their roles, the Tar Heels are bound to improve as the season wears on, and will likely be a top team in the NCAA college basketball standings by March. For now, though, Head Coach Roy Williams is feeling the effects of growing pains.

Both Kentucky and UNC boast a talented corps of freshmen and have the ability to put points on the board. However, the Wildcats have played with more passion and chemistry so far, while the Tar Heels have often looked lost and leaderless. Kentucky has what it takes to score a huge road win in Chapel Hill this weekend.