We've got ourselves a bracket, everyone!
The most thrilling period of the year for college sports has returned, and Kentucky Wildcats enter March with a decent chance to make some noise and a run for the first time since 2019.
That begins with their initial match against the Troy Trojans In Milwaukee. The game is scheduled for 7:10 PM Eastern Time on Friday.
Securing the No. 3 spot in the Midwest region, the Cats’ strong credentials enabled them to claim a top-three seed for the second year running and the third time within four years. Here’s hoping this occasion brings about significant changes from their previous experience.
For the BBN, entering this match feels positive, particularly with Lamont Butler’s imminent return in this opening round game. The addition of Butler shifts everything for the team; besides bringing extensive dribbling skills, he also contributes significant March Madness experience gained during his time at San Diego State a couple of years ago.
Include that alongside the ongoing excellence of Amari Williams and the development of Koby Brea in his new position, and making it to the Sweet Sixteen seems quite promising.
Nonetheless, they must defeat a skilled Troy team. Having secured the Sun Belt Conference championship for an automatic berth, the Trojans are set to make their third overall tournament appearance against the Cats in Wisconsin, with this being their first such match-up since 2017.
They must also contain the Sun Belt Player of the Year, guard Tayton Conerway. On average, he scored 14.3 points per game with a field-goal percentage of 47%, hitting threes at a rate of 28%. Additionally, he contributed 4.8 assists, grabbed 4.6 rebounds, and recorded three steals each contest.
With a record of 23-10 for the year, the Trojans suffered five defeats within their conference this season. They went up against three teams from Power Five conferences and came out victorious in none of those matches, including two particularly tough losses by more than 20 points each to Oregon and Houston.
Together, this squad averages roughly 74 points per game with a field-goal percentage of around 43%, but only hits less than 30% from beyond the arc. On defense, however, they've shown significant prowess in forcing turnovers; opposing teams typically commit nearly 14 turnovers each contest, averaging approximately 9 steals per game. These stats reflect in their KenPom ratings where they placed at number 98 nationally—ranking them as the 153rd most efficient offense and the 71st best defense.
Given that just two players are scoring more than 10 points per game on average for this team, the key to victory appears to lie in containing Conway and Myles Rigsby. If they can manage these players effectively and avoid turnovers, the BBN will likely see their Cats progress to the Round of 32.
As we've discovered, these matchups should never be taken lightly. It's now up to Mark Pope and his coaching staff to prepare their squad for what could be a lengthy March campaign.
Go Cats!
How to Watch the Kentucky Wildcats Play Against Troy Trojans
Date: Friday, March 21st
Time: 7:10 PM ET
Location: The Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI
TV Info: CBS
Announcers Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, and Lauren Shehadi.
Online Stream: NCAA March Madness Live
UK Radio: UK Sports Network alongside Tom Leach and Jack Givens
Rosters: UK I Troy
Stats to Know: UK I Troy
Odds : FanDuel Sportsbook Kentucky is favored by 10.5 points with an over/under set at 152.5.
Tickets Public tickets for the initial and subsequent round matches in Milwaukee can be bought here. NCAA.com/MBBTickets .
Predictions : KenPom (82-70), BartTorvik (82-69), DRatings (84-73), and EvanMiya (79-70) indicates that Kentucky wins by a margin of at least nine points in every instance.
Let us know your NCAA Tournament predictions for Kentucky!
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