The Kentucky Wildcats are moving on to the Sweet 16 after ending No. 1 Wichita State’s undefeated season in a very well played Round of 32 game. Things won’t get any easier for coach Calipari’s team going forward, however, as they will meet a No. 4 Louisville team that has cruised to this point in the tournament.
Read on for the breakdown of both teams as they prepare for this highly-touted March Madness showdown.
[sc:MarchMadness ]No. 4 Louisville Cardinals vs. Kentucky Wildcats March Madness Betting Preview
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
When: Friday, March 28, game time TBD
Betting on the Louisville Cardinals
[sc:finalfour240 ]The Louisville Cardinals may be a four seed, but they arguably had the easier route to Indianapolis than the No. 1-ranked Wichita State Shockers, because they did not have to play a very talented Kentucky team…until now.
The Cardinals won an ugly one over No. 5 Saint Louis in the Round of 32, leaning on their defense to pull out a game in which they turned the ball over 18 teams. Louisville scored just 25 in the first half, but held the Billikens to a ridiculous 16, and never looked back.
Rick Pitino’s team will need more from Russ Smith against the Wildcats. Smith has shot 6 for 19 in the tournament thus far, with 13 turnovers, and it’s made an impact: the Cardinals averaged 81.4 points per game during the season, but have managed just 71 and 66 in their first two March Madness tilts. Smith’s out of time to find his form, as the Cardinals’ (albeit excellent) team defense will not be able to completely shut down a potent Wildcats offense.
If there’s coach who get more out his stars in the clutch, its Pitino. This is Louisville’s third-straight Sweet 16 berth, and the defending champions know that riding the highs and lows of individual games is all part of the process in the Big Dance.
Betting on the Kentucky Wildcats
College basketball’s pre-season favorites are getting hot at just the right time. The Kentucky Wildcats have had the talent to play world-class ball all season long, but the question has been if they’d be able to gel and put in complete team efforts in the Madness.
Against Wichita State they showed they are up to that challenge, digging in against one of the most balanced teams in the country right to the wire, including challenging a well-executed set play that could have won it for the Shockers in the final moments on Sunday.
The key for the Wildcats will be continuing their offensive momentum against a strong Louisville defense. Kentucky’s stars Julius Randle, James Young, and twin guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison all scored in double digits against Wichita State. If Calipari’s team can bring that balanced offense and their exceptional rebounding (the Wildcats’ 56.4 rebounding percentage is second best in college), they may simply outscore the Cardinals.
A critical match up in this game will be Russ Smith against Kentucky’s twin towers at guard, the Harrison twins. The twins were simply too big for the Shockers’ back court, as VanVleet shot 1/6. At six feet, Smith doesn’t match up well with the 6-6 twins, and if the Harrisons slow Smith down, the Louisville offense may never return to its regular season form.
Prediction
Kentucky may have an “8” next to it name, but if the teams were to be re-ranked based on their play thus far, the Wildcats’ number would be much lower. Look for them to keep Smith in his slump and cover the spread comfortably on their way to the Elite 8.
Like the Wildcats as much as we do? Bet on this game with America’s best online sportsbook, Top Bet.
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