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6 Kentucky 21-11 vs 11 Providence 21-11

TV: CBS - Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel & Evan Washburn
Time: 7:10pm
Friday, Greensboro, NC
East Regional

Line: Kentucky -4/145

I think the line is overrating Kentucky. But they should be favored.

This game can go either way. I think that the Friars have a real shot at this one. I’d ignore their recent slump. This was against teams that have played them before, but the NCAA tournament is different. The opponent is typically someone with whom they are unfamiliar.

When a team hasn’t seen Providence before, they’re not prepared for the Friars’ intensity. They come after you from the opening whistle and they hit you hard. They speed up the game and make you run. That’s going to be hard on the Kentucky center who is 260 lb. Providence’s defense is going to be key to this game. Kentucky has 2 bigs who are tough inside. They get most of the points and score at a high rate. But if the Friars can swarm around them, disrupt, and turn them over, Kentucky could be in trouble. Croswell and Hopkins are big and mobile. I think they get the better if the Kentucky bigs.

The other key is whether or not PC can draw fouls. They usually do. And when they get to the line, they make their free throws. At the same time, getting individual Kentucky players in foul trouble will put them on the bench and will put pressure on Kentucky’s subs to produce.

I’m looking forward to this game. It should be a tough contest, but in the end, I think that PC will pull out a close one.

The glass is going to be the key..... look at these stats:
Off Reb: PC 35.2% #16 Ky 38.7% #2
Def Reb-allowing off reb: PC 26.6% #93 Ky 25.5% #59

who can keep the other team off the glass? I think whatever the answer to that question is going to win the game.

This is gambler's fallacy, but there's been no upset so far today. Higher seeds beware...

Providence is a little undermanned but I like their effort. Let’s make it a perfect day PC

Tshibwe has Providence centers spooked.

Buzzer beater by Bynum before the break was beautiful

stever20 wrote:The glass is going to be the key..... look at these stats:
Off Reb: PC 35.2% #16 Ky 38.7% #2
Def Reb-allowing off reb: PC 26.6% #93 Ky 25.5% #59

who can keep the other team off the glass? I think whatever the answer to that question is going to win the game.

Right now, Kentucky is winning this battle and thus the game. Can Providence clean this up?

Providence couldn’t make shots. Even missed free throws. They just didn’t have it tonight.