[samosasParticipant]

 I’m a UK fan looking to hear some people’s views on what they think will be key to victory between UK/ and Louisville.

Factors in UK’s favor: size, rebounding, strength.  Don’t rely on pressure defense to create turnovers, thus don’t tend to have guards in foul trouble.  UL’s guards are half a foot shorter than UK and if they protect the three point line, it’s going to be tough to shoot over them.

Factor’s in UL’s favor: scrappy defense can cause the game to be sped up more than the defense would like, UK has not been a good three point shooting team this season.  UK historically (this season) has failed to get out to three point shooters.

X factor: Willie Cauley.  If Willie Cauley has 5 blocks Kentucky wins the game.  Look for Harrel to try to establish dominance inside early to help take some heat off the perimeter shooters of Louisville.  If UK doesn’t have to double down on Harrell, that will make hitting outside shots much harder over Kentucky’s guards. 

If UL shoots 50% from three, they’ll be hard to beat.  If Kentucky turns the ball over < 13 times, they’ll be tough to beat. Who ya got?

 

[WolfRobParticipant]

 Lol if any team shoots over 50% from three they will be hard to beat….

 

I’m taking the Ville in this one though. I think despite the amazing showing they had last game, Kentucky’s lack of experience will shine through, and they will experience a low after such an emotional high (knocking off a 1 seed). They looked phenomenal last game, but I just don’t think they can duplicate that level of play, especially against the ulta aggressive and experienced Cardinal. Look for Harrell to neutralize the athleticism of the Kentucky bigs. 

[WolfRobParticipant]

 Lol if any team shoots over 50% from three they will be hard to beat….

 

I’m taking the Ville in this one though. I think despite the amazing showing they had last game, Kentucky’s lack of experience will shine through, and they will experience a low after such an emotional high (knocking off a 1 seed). They looked phenomenal last game, but I just don’t think they can duplicate that level of play, especially against the ulta aggressive and experienced Cardinal. Look for Harrell to neutralize the athleticism of the Kentucky bigs. 

[juves4783Participant]

i’m rooting for kentucky to even out my bracket with others that picked louisville in the final (i picked duke…).  

it’s going to be tough.  i think harrell/randle will nullify each other.  both team’s centers are in for blocking and rebounding.  harrison twins’ scoring is probably nullified by their turnovers while jones/smith are nullified by the twins’ size.  my x-factor will be james young.  think he’s due to breakout and has a good matchup against luke hancock.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

[juves4783Participant]

i’m rooting for kentucky to even out my bracket with others that picked louisville in the final (i picked duke…).  

it’s going to be tough.  i think harrell/randle will nullify each other.  both team’s centers are in for blocking and rebounding.  harrison twins’ scoring is probably nullified by their turnovers while jones/smith are nullified by the twins’ size.  my x-factor will be james young.  think he’s due to breakout and has a good matchup against luke hancock.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 Louisville

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 Louisville

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Im going with Kentucky..

Kentucky won the meeting in December despite Randle playing only 21 minutes and sitting out most of the 2nd half with some type of injury, if im not mistaking i think it was a back issue……

In the matchup in December,James Young had his best overall game of the season,playing well on both ends of the court..And the twins also played well, both scored in double figures…Kentucky’s length not only limited Harrell to 6 points & 4 rbs…But Louisville as team couldnt do anything to keep Randle and the other bigs off the boards where they got 41% of their own miss shots and scored 17 second chance points and scored 42 points in the paint….

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Im going with Kentucky..

Kentucky won the meeting in December despite Randle playing only 21 minutes and sitting out most of the 2nd half with some type of injury, if im not mistaking i think it was a back issue……

In the matchup in December,James Young had his best overall game of the season,playing well on both ends of the court..And the twins also played well, both scored in double figures…Kentucky’s length not only limited Harrell to 6 points & 4 rbs…But Louisville as team couldnt do anything to keep Randle and the other bigs off the boards where they got 41% of their own miss shots and scored 17 second chance points and scored 42 points in the paint….

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I had Louisville over Kentucky in my brackets.

BUT Kentucky just beat a Wichita State team that played out of its mind. 

We haven’t even seen PEAK KENTUCKY yet.  If those guys show up then they should at least get to the Final Four.

Kentucky has size inside.  Louisville has small guards. 

I am thinking Kentucky has an advantage here.  Yeah, the Cardinals won the title last year, but Dieng and Peyton Siva are in the NBA and Chane Behanen transferred.  Those were three of their key guys in the title game, other than Luke Hancock going off.

I really like Kentucky’s chances if they can contain Hancock.

This past weekend we saw SEC Power Forward Beast Mode with Julius Randle and Jarnell Stokes.  If those two guys keep it up we might see a Kentucky-Tennessee regional final game.

With Kentucky putting on a show during an epic Round of 32 game, and having arguably the most talented player left in the tournament in Julius Randle, they have to be one of the title favorites now. 

In other words, Kentucky is finally who we thought they would be.

[WolfRobParticipant]

You said Witchita was playing out of their minds? You obviously haven’t seen them play before… I thought Kentucky was playing out of their minds, and after such an emotional high, the young team is due for a slip up.

[WolfRobParticipant]

You said Witchita was playing out of their minds? You obviously haven’t seen them play before… I thought Kentucky was playing out of their minds, and after such an emotional high, the young team is due for a slip up.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I had Louisville over Kentucky in my brackets.

BUT Kentucky just beat a Wichita State team that played out of its mind. 

We haven’t even seen PEAK KENTUCKY yet.  If those guys show up then they should at least get to the Final Four.

Kentucky has size inside.  Louisville has small guards. 

I am thinking Kentucky has an advantage here.  Yeah, the Cardinals won the title last year, but Dieng and Peyton Siva are in the NBA and Chane Behanen transferred.  Those were three of their key guys in the title game, other than Luke Hancock going off.

I really like Kentucky’s chances if they can contain Hancock.

This past weekend we saw SEC Power Forward Beast Mode with Julius Randle and Jarnell Stokes.  If those two guys keep it up we might see a Kentucky-Tennessee regional final game.

With Kentucky putting on a show during an epic Round of 32 game, and having arguably the most talented player left in the tournament in Julius Randle, they have to be one of the title favorites now. 

In other words, Kentucky is finally who we thought they would be.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I am not sure who wins. When I looked at the bracket when they first came out, I felt that the NCAA basically setup Witchita State for failure and for there to be a UK/Louisville rematch. The UK/ Witchita game could have obviously went either way, but despite the inexperience and lack of coaching UK has a serious size and athleticism advantage on a lot of teams. There are shots that are hard to get off offensively because of that height and then on the other end even when you play good defense the guys on UKs team can still get the shot off for the same reason. I think UK should be the favorite. I haven’t seen the line, but maybe by 2.5 pts. They have a good amount of momentum and Louisville could have really used an extra big body.

With that said, I am taking Louisville with the upset. Pitino is the better coach and he gets more time to prepare. I also think that Witchita State was able to show some things that the Cats are vulnerable against, but they did not have the players to exploit it. Young has a great matchup, but sometimes he likes to play hero ball and he could fall into that trap.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I am not sure who wins. When I looked at the bracket when they first came out, I felt that the NCAA basically setup Witchita State for failure and for there to be a UK/Louisville rematch. The UK/ Witchita game could have obviously went either way, but despite the inexperience and lack of coaching UK has a serious size and athleticism advantage on a lot of teams. There are shots that are hard to get off offensively because of that height and then on the other end even when you play good defense the guys on UKs team can still get the shot off for the same reason. I think UK should be the favorite. I haven’t seen the line, but maybe by 2.5 pts. They have a good amount of momentum and Louisville could have really used an extra big body.

With that said, I am taking Louisville with the upset. Pitino is the better coach and he gets more time to prepare. I also think that Witchita State was able to show some things that the Cats are vulnerable against, but they did not have the players to exploit it. Young has a great matchup, but sometimes he likes to play hero ball and he could fall into that trap.

[WITNESS2014Participant]

Going with Louisville. I think Russ Smith is going to have a monster game this time around.

[WITNESS2014Participant]

Going with Louisville. I think Russ Smith is going to have a monster game this time around.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Give him a taste of what he would see in the L. Not sure he is  a L caliber player, but this game should tell us so. Russ should be taken advantage of in this game. Not sure who wins but I will  go with Kentucky. Randle has a big game and flirts with a triple double.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Give him a taste of what he would see in the L. Not sure he is  a L caliber player, but this game should tell us so. Russ should be taken advantage of in this game. Not sure who wins but I will  go with Kentucky. Randle has a big game and flirts with a triple double.

[theballerwayParticipant]

Louisville. The experience , the revenge factor, the championship(repeat) hunger.

I think Russ Smith will be the diffence, especially ater all the turnovers last game. Ideally you would have one of the Harrison twins post him up but thats definately a strength of either so I dont really see an advantage. I think Smith will put the one of them in foul trouble. I also dont think that both if either will shoot nearly as well as they did in the last game (law of averages). I cant call the inside battle, I expect both Harrell to go at it as if Draft status depending on it, more so for Harrell this is a (perhaps last)chance at a statement

[theballerwayParticipant]

Louisville. The experience , the revenge factor, the championship(repeat) hunger.

I think Russ Smith will be the diffence, especially ater all the turnovers last game. Ideally you would have one of the Harrison twins post him up but thats definately a strength of either so I dont really see an advantage. I think Smith will put the one of them in foul trouble. I also dont think that both if either will shoot nearly as well as they did in the last game (law of averages). I cant call the inside battle, I expect both Harrell to go at it as if Draft status depending on it, more so for Harrell this is a (perhaps last)chance at a statement

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 He gets in foul trouble 1st. They must control his penetration or they will lose.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 He gets in foul trouble 1st. They must control his penetration or they will lose.

[Edgecat20Participant]

 Interesting fact. Since Cal has arrived in Lexington he is 5-1 vs Pitino and the Cards

2010 Johnny Wall & co. win

2011 Josh Harrellson had 23/14 in a UK win. Brandon Knight also had 25.

2012 – MKG has 24 and 19 boards in a UK win. 

2012 FINAL 4 – UK wins again on the way to the National championship, behind Anthony Davis 18/14 and 5 blks.

2013 – Cards win only by 3. Louisville ended up being the national champs, and UK did not even get in the tournament. 

2014 – UK wins. 4 players in double figures. Led by James Young with 18 and 10 boards. 

I’ll take the Cats on Friday night. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Edgecat20Participant]

 Interesting fact. Since Cal has arrived in Lexington he is 5-1 vs Pitino and the Cards

2010 Johnny Wall & co. win

2011 Josh Harrellson had 23/14 in a UK win. Brandon Knight also had 25.

2012 – MKG has 24 and 19 boards in a UK win. 

2012 FINAL 4 – UK wins again on the way to the National championship, behind Anthony Davis 18/14 and 5 blks.

2013 – Cards win only by 3. Louisville ended up being the national champs, and UK did not even get in the tournament. 

2014 – UK wins. 4 players in double figures. Led by James Young with 18 and 10 boards. 

I’ll take the Cats on Friday night. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Author]

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