Former Wildcats Julius Randle, Willie Cauley-Stein to meet Tuesday

On Tuesday night, the Kentucky Wildcats will have a reunion of sorts with Lakers forward Julius Randle matching up against Willie Cauley-Stein, DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo of the Sacramento Kings.

Randle played one year alongside Cauley-Stein at Kentucky, advancing to the NCAA Finals only to lose to Connecticut, 60-54.

“That’s my guy. I’m looking forward to it,” said Randle after practice Monday. “We went at it all my year at Kentucky. He plays hard, he’s a great defensive player. It should be fun.”

Cauley-Stein, taken by the Kings with the sixth pick in June’s NBA draft, has started recent games at center with Cousins shifting to power forward.

“DeMarcus is a load. He’s a lot to handle, so skilled, physical,” said Randle.

Cousins and the Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight in 2010, falling to West Virginia, 73-66.

Now in his sixth season, Cousins made his first All-Star appearance last February.

Rondo played two seasons at Kentucky from 2004 to 2006, but didn’t advance to the Final Four.

The Lakers defeated Rondo and the Boston Celtics to win the NBA championship in 2010, but fell two years earlier to their long-time rival. Rondo signed with the Kings as a free agent in July.

Nearly 20 Wildcats are currently in the NBA, including Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans), John Wall (Washington Wizards), Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix Suns) and Utah Jazz rookie Trey Lyles, among many others.

Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.