Kentucky’s pursuit for perfection continues this coming Thursday as the Wildcats take on the Hampton Pirates in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. With their victory over Arkansas in the SEC title game Sunday, the Wildcats matched Wichita State’s record (34 games) for the longest winning streak entering an NCAA tournament and Kentucky would want nothing more than to carry that momentum against Hampton in the Round of 64.
Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this Midwest Region showdown and while you’re at it, you can check out our first-round previews of VCU vs. Ohio State and Cincinnati vs. Purdue.
[sc:MarchMadness ]March Madness No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats vs. No. 16 Hampton Pirates Preview
Where: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville
When: Thursday, March 19, 9:40 PM ET
Line: Kentucky Wildcats (-34.5) vs. Hampton Pirates (+34.5); total: 134.5 – view all March Madness lines
Betting on the Kentucky Wildcats
Can anyone stop Kentucky?
The Wildcats will enter the national tournament with their perfect record intact after brushing aside Arkansas in the SEC Championship Game on Sunday. The Wildcats stormed past the Razorbacks, 78-63, to grab their 28th SEC tournament title.
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Kentucky (34-0) is only the fourth team to go into the national tournament undefeated since Indiana finished off the last perfect season with a title back in 1976. It’s interesting to note that the last three teams that went into the tournament unbeaten failed to take home the national title with Larry Bird’s Indiana State coming the closest with a finals defeat back in 1979.
Based on Kentucky’s performances this season, though, it’s hard seeing the Wildcats following the fates of these three teams. The Wildcats have been excellent on both ends of the floor, boasting of a top 5 offense and defense as rated by the KenPom College Basketball Ratings.
The Wildcats’ depth is their main weapon with nine players averaging at least 5.5 points per game this season. Aaron Harrison and Devin Booker lead the Wildcats’ balanced offensive attack, averaging 11.3 PPG and 10.5 PPG respectively. Kentucky is 29th in the NCAA in scoring, averaging 74.9 points per game.
If Kentucky’s offense is good, its defense is even much better. The Wildcats are allowing just 54.0 points per game this season, third-best in the entire nation. Karl Anthony-Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein have been solid rim protectors for the Wildcats this campaign, averaging 2.6 blocks and 1.8 blocks per game respectively.
They will look to extend their winning streak to 35 games when they take on No. 16 Hampton in the Round of 64. They will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing a Pirates side that is 218th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 67.9 points per game this season.
The Wildcats are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
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Betting on the Hampton Pirates
Hampton’s national tournament hopes are still very much alive after a 74-64 victory over the Manhattan Jaspers in the First Four on Tuesday night. It was the fifth consecutive win for the Pirates who sealed a dream showdown with No. 1 overall seed Kentucky in the first round.
Reginald Johnson starred for the Pirates in this game, putting up 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in an impressive all-around performance. Johnson has been a vital cog to the Pirates’ success this season, averaging 11.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
Quinton Chievous chipped in 15 points as well for the Pirates who moved to .500 for the season with a 17-17 record. The victory was somewhat tempered, though, with Chievous’ right ankle injury late in the game. Chievous, who grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, has been a solid contributor for the Pirates this campaign, averaging 10.1 points and 6.3 boards per contest.
Chievous’ injury will further strain a Hampton offense that is already missing the services of Dwight Meikle. Meikle, who leads the team in scoring (13.0 PPG) and rebounding (7.5 RPG) this season, sat out Tuesday’s game against Manhattan with an ankle injury as well.
With Meikle and Chievous possibly out for Hampton’s crunch clash with Kentucky, the onus is on Deron Powers and Brian Darden to carry the scoring cudgels for the squad. Powers and Darden are averaging 10.5 PPG and 9.7 PPG respectively for the Pirates this season. They combined for 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field against the Jaspers.
The Pirates are averaging 67.2 points per game this season, 183rd in the entire nation. They are 5-0 SU in their last five games.
Writer’s Prediction
Kentucky (-34.5) humiliates Hampton, 94-54.
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