Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals Preview
NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four
Location: New Orleans Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Tip-off: 6:09 ET
Tonight, basketball enthusiasts will bear witness to a historic matchup as the Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals will lock horns in the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever in their storied, contentious rivalry. These schools may only be separated by 69 miles, but there are absolutely no warm fraternal feelings or comradeship between them whatsoever. Members of the Wildcat and Cardinal fan bases intensely loathe each other, which is also evident in the disputatious relationship between the sideline patrollers John Calipari and Rick Pitino. So just who will prevail in this state of Kentucky hardwood battle royale? Here are some of the keys.
1. Guard play
Louisville Cardinals: Ever since Coach Pitino sat down Peyton Siva and showed him footage of Steve Nash prior to the Big East Tournament for Siva to better understand the importance of pace and not playing out of control, the junior liaison has thrived. Since winning the Big East Tournament MVP in leading Louisville to the Big East Tourney title, Siva has averaged 11.4 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 steals, shot 44 percent from the floor and handed out 6.4 assists to only 3.3 turnovers.
In order for the Cardinals to advance to the National Championship Game, it’s vital Siva continues his stellar play by expediently, yet judiciously using his Tony Stewart like acceleration to get into the paint and delegate hot plates to Chane Behanan and Gorgui Deng for layups, when Anthony Davis and Terrance Jones converge on him. Siva will also need to hit Russ Smith, Kyle Kuric and senior (younger brother of New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith) Chris Smith (team leading 40 percent on triples) for jumpers on the perimeter if Kentucky’s wings over help. If 'Tucky backs off, Siva must drop his newly revamped 12-15 foot jumper and floater. He is also great at making bedazzling aerial adjustments with his bountiful boings to finish at the rim.
New York native, Russ Smith, must also be huge. The sophomore guard has really shined in the Big Dance. Although he’s connecting on a marginal 35 percent of his shots, Smith is leading the crew in scoring, putting up 13.3 ppg and blazing the nets for 70 percent shooting from treyland, making 7-10 attempts. Smith is an audacious bucketholic and Louisville catalyst who is relied upon to make the big shots at crucial junctures. He infuses his teammates with his abounding verve. In their December matchup, Smith roasted Kentucky like beef and cheddar sandwiches for 30 points in a 69-62 loss. Smith has a fabulous floater as well. He and Siva will need to use it opposed to directly challenging Davis at the tin.
Kentucky Wildcats: The younger brother of Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, and 2011McDonald’s All-American Marquise Teague initially struggled in his transition to the collegiate level. A natural scorer his entire life, it took Teague a while to get acclimated to running the point. At times, Teague was noticeably indecisive, twisted between his intrinsic scoring nature and distribution. However, Teague has thrived as the director since start of the NCAA Tourney.
In tourney play, the frosh conductor is averaging 14.5ppg, 5.5 presents, making 48.3 percent of his shots and attempting 5.8 free throws, netting 78 percent of them. Kentucky will need Teague’s continued aggression, but also scrupulousness, not getting speed up by Louisville’s pressure leading into turnovers, or swayed into deep jumpers.
Doron Lamb is the Wildcats designated pyromaniac. For the season, Lamb shoots 47 percent from the floor and downtown. However, in the tournament the Queens, NY native has been all the way turned up like Roscoe Dash, splashing 63.6 percent of his trifectas and pacing Kentucky in scoring at 16.8ppg.
Lamb isn’t just a set up shooter. The sophomore shooting guard can also finish at the rack in transition, off of pump fake dribble drives, as well as sink mid range jumpers. Look Kentucky to run curl, down and staggered screens to free up their nitro pitcher.
2. Who run it?
Louisville Cardinals: In order for the Cardinals to have any legitimate chance at pulling off the monumental popping of the heavily favored Wildcats they must regulate the tempo. This year’s edition of the Louisville is certainly not Pitino’s most offensively inclined. They rank 155th in the country in ppg (68.8) and 225th in FG percentage (42.5). Louisville is prone to extensive offensive lulls.
Therefore, to offset the languidness that often emerges during their games, the Cardinals will need to make it a half-court oriented game. They can ill afford to get into a Kentucky Derby with the Wildcats thoroughbreds. Louisville can run, but it has to be opportunistic running. Be selective and push the pumpkin at the right times. Look for Pitino to shuffle between man to man and his now vaunted 2-3 matchup zone to try to keep Kentucky on the perimeter in front of the Cardinals rather than out in the open court. The Cardinals boast one of the staunchest defenses in the country, ranking third in FG percentage defense. Louisville is 17-4 when holding opponents to under 40percent shooting.
Offensively, there will be a plethora of pick and rolls set for Siva and Russ Smith, and top of the key break and take isolations late in the shot clock with Siva probing the defense, looking to drive and pitch or score himself in the paint.
Kentucky Wildcats: The Wildcats are really a conjugate of styles. They can flip up their offensive flow like rhyme from Chicago rapper Twista. Kentucky is equally adept at playing a frenetic game or a half court slug-fest. Calipari’s squad would prefer a fast break contest but they are very efficient in a slow down game as well.
Kentucky isn’t a pressing team, but they apply suffocating half court pressure with their trapping, cohesive, swift rotations, and shot smacking of National Defensive Player of the Year Davis. The Wildcats lead the nation in FG percentage defense. The Wildcats commit few fouls and when they force giveaways they are an absolutely devastating, bedazzling dynamic in transition. Kentucky is quick, their wings and bigs fill the lanes, they’re stupefyingly athletic and excellent finishers.
After trailing Baylor 10-5, Kentucky ran off 16 unanswered points and drilled 12 straight field goals to take a 30-15 lead with 7:12 remaining in the first half, essentially closing the Bears casket. Kentucky also used an explosive 30-10 spurt to slamdance Iowa St. after having been knotted at 42. If Kentucky gets on one of their Miami Heat like unpreventable, demoralizing offensive and defensive avalanches, this game could be over by halftime.
3. Ball security
Louisville Cardinals: With the Cardinals scarce offensive firepower, there’s no conceivable way they can outscore Kentucky. Therefore, it’s vital they are able to elicit turnovers to maintain a controlled environment and not let things get out of hand in a feverish game. The 20 turnovers Louisville forced in their December tilt with Kentucky was a key reason Louisville was able to get with their bitter rival. The Ville will need to rely on their tenacious ball bandits Siva and Russ Smith to snatch the pill to minimize Wildcat run outs, keep the game at an optimal half court pace and avoid getting drilled. In four tourney games, Louisville has tallied 25 steals, 22 of which have came in the half court. Louisville wants to speed up Kentucky but not let the game get too fast.
On the flip side, for Louisville ball security is absolutely obligatory. The Cardinals must value possessions and take care of the pumpkin. Louisville must be prudently efficient in the half court. Milk the clock with lengthy possessions, ball reversals and swing passes to get Kentucky moving laterally and the Cardinals must be very exacting. Be fast but don’t impetuously pump the gas.
Kentucky Wildcats: For all their youth and cradle full of diaper dandies, turnover issues are rarely an issue for Calipari’s Cat cubs. The highest turnover game Kentucky has had in the Tournament was 12 against Baylor. Kentucky may be young, but they’re precocious and acute. Having uncharacteristically been coerced into 20 throwaways in their December encounter with Louisville, Calipari will definitely have the Wildcats prepared for Louisville feral half court defense and full-court press.
It’s especially important Teague, Lamb and Gilchrist don’t try to dribble through Louisville press and the active hands of Siva, Teague and Kyle Kuric individually. Beat the pressure with good, crisp passes and attack the vulnerable areas when Kentucky get’s two on one and 3-2 advantages in the half and full court.
Defensively, the Wildcats will look to get out and pressure Siva, Russ and Chris Smith hard on the perimeter. They’ll want to contest every Louisville shot. Kentucky may be particularly aggressive because of the Cardinals erratic outside shooting. Particularly, look for the Wildcats to try to compress on Siva and hedge hard on pick and rolls, not allowing the electrifying evasive conductor to get angles and cut the corner on picks, getting deep into the lane causing defensive breakdowns. With Davis and Terrence Jones on the backline, Kentucky can be extra aggressive on the perimeter because the formidable duo rejects or alters most shots at the rim.
4. Interior play
Louisville Cardinals: The frontcourt of Gorgui Deng and Chane Behanan have been exceptional during the Cardinals 8-0 stretch. The Cardinals sophomore center Dieng has shown marked improvement this year. Dieng is Louisville defensive bulwark. During the NCAA Tournament, Dieng is averaging 3.3 throwouts and eight rebounds an outing, including a seven block performance against Michigan St. The Dakar, Senegal import must play Davis strong, not permitting the All-American center to yank a lot of offensive boards, beat him up court in transition or capitulate many highlight reel, spurt triggering booms. Dieng has to challenge shot but stay on the floor.
Simply put, freshman forward Behanan is a grown dang man. Behanan initially struggled to get naturalized to the speed and athleticism of the college game. However, in the second half of the season Behanan has shined. Behanan has shown his biggest maturation in the tourney, averaging 14 ppg on 64 percent shooting. In the Cardinals West Regional championship comeback victory over the Florida Gators, Behanan made a bevy of huge buckets inside late.
The frosh forward will look to use the largest measured calves in the history of Louisville’s roundball program history to establish deep post position with his low base and use his sturdy 6-6, 250 pound frame to overpower and boss-man through Kentucky’s contact and elevate over defenders. Behanan has a nice turnaround and soft touch around the rim.
Kentucky power forward Terrence Jones is a lefty, and like most southpaws, he loves going left. He actually does so virtually every time he touches the tangerine. Behanan needs to force Jones right and make him prove he can use his weaker hand.
Louisville can ill afford either Dieng or Behanan getting in foul trouble. If either does, as undermanned talent wise as the Cardinals are, it could be ruinous.
Kentucky Wildcats: For the Wildcats, it all begins and ends on the interior with defensive bastion Anthony Davis. Thus far during March Madness, Davis is averaging 14.5ppg, 11 boards and 4.5 swats per game. Those would be considered amazing numbers for the average college player. But for only the second player to garner the Associated Press National Player of the Year Award in their inaugural campaign outside of Kevin Durant, it’s just another day at the office.
AD—Access Denied is a defensive supernova. His astonishing aggregate of height, ludicrous pterodactyl like wingspan, horizontal nimbleness, and uncanny timing enable Davis to register Hawaiian punches (blocks) not only inside, but also on jump shooters. Davis' length and fleet feet can prevent Siva, Russ Smith and Kuric from finishing at the rim as well as getting deep penetration, leading to easy scores for Dieng and Behanan.
Although a significant percentage of Davis points come off lob dunks, the National Defensive Player of the Year has shown he’s capable of occasionally knocking down 15-18 foot jumpers, as well as using his quickness when facing up from the free throw line or top of the key to drive past opposing centers and finish at the rack.
The one flaw in Davis' game is he does have a penchant to get into foul trouble some games. He will need to be mindful not to pick up cheap, unnecessary fouls.
Sophomore elder statesman and one of the holdovers from last year’s Final Four Tea.m Terrance Jones, is a matchup nightmare for power forwards. The First-Team All-SEC selection is a composite power forward with small forward skills. Jones can use his 6'9", 252 pound body and strength to go through defenders on the block, often resulting in and ones. The future NBA Lottery pick can also use his explosive yeast to thunderously yoke on defenders on alley-oops or tip-dunks. Jones can also manufacture his own shot from outside and bust treyballs, connecting on 33 percent of his attempts. When totally focused and engaged, (which has been a problem at times) Jones is one of the best players in the country.
Against Behanan Jones will need to use equal weight and size to keep the Cardinal forward from getting leverage inside on post ups. Jones has a 3 inch height advantage and long arms. He needs to use that length and his vertical to make Behanan shoot over him and hopefully decrease his FG percentage. Jones is yanking 8.8 rbg. It’s important Jones balls with physicality and vitality inside and not let Behanan outwork him on him on the glass.
5. Coaching
Rick Pitino: Head Coach Rick Pitino is truly a basketball cognoscente. Yes, he’s accumulated a litany of accolades. He’s won a national championship, National, SEC, Conference USA, and Big East Coach of the Year Awards. He’s reached six Final Fours and is only the third coach ever to pilot teams to Final Fours in four different decades, along with Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski. But it’s deeper than that.
What makes Pitino such a phenomenal coach is the fact he has such a great feel for his team, knows how to manage and maximize his personnel’s ability and he’s very adept at making in game modifications. In the Florida Elite 8 game, after getting drowned by a tsunami of triples with the Gators draining 8-11 three-pointers Pitino called off his matchup zone and went man. The result: Florida doesn’t make a threeball the rest of the game, going 0-8 in the second half, leading to Louisville 18-3 rally after trailing 65-54 to pull out a gutty, unlikely win.
(And this guy didn’t get elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame? What an inexplicably, preposterous farce)
The New York bred coach Redbirds crew embody his doggedness, inestimable valiance and intensity. It will take all of those intangibles as well a brilliantly designed game plan by Pitino for his Cardinals to triumph over Kentucky in their clash of the Commonwealth. Pitino will need to find a way to keep Kentucky on the perimeter shooting duress filled j’s rather than easy lays. Pitino will have to discern when to go man, press and use his trademark matchup zone. Look for some camouflaged coverages.
John Calipari: There’s a large contingency of college hoop devotees who simply can’t stand John Calipari. They hear him talk, see his incessant bevy of celebrated McDonald’s, Parade and USA Today All-Americans he recruits every year to replace a departing class of All-American players, Calipari’s perceived smugness and controversial, NCAA sanctioned marred track record and it conjures intense anger.
However, if you look beyond the irrefutable charisma, flamboyant speech and occasional brashness you’ll see a very knowledgeable coach who’s a master at juggling players and getting outrageously talented teams to play buy into his system and play team ball. This year’s edition of the Wildcats is the most gifted crew Calipari has ever had. They have six future NBA players and three or possibly four lottery picks in this upcoming NBA Draft.
It’d be very easy to think there’d be a lot of “I gotta get mine! I’m show out!” mentalities. However, despite being the Miami Heat of college basketball with their spellbinding SportsCenter Top 10 plays, the Wildcats are the exemplification of hard work, selflessness, fierce defense, fundamentals, and connectivity. Kentucky has six players scoring in double-figures. None of whom attempt more than 10 shots a game.
Against Louisville, Calipari won’t make any major adjustments. If Louisville goes zone, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Jones will be stationed at the free throw line or top of the key with Davis on the block. Kentucky drains 38 percent of their trifectas, but they often get swindled into firing three-pointers. They’ll be patient, work the pumpkin around and attack inside. Calipari will instruct the Wildcats to play their typical brand of ball that got them to consecutive Final Four’s. With the disdain between these two universities there will be massive pressure on Kentucky to avoid getting bounced by their blood rival. Calipari will tell his team to be loose, have fun and enjoy the moment.
6. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist vs Kyle Kuric
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: After a couple subpar outings, Kidd-Gilchrist erupted in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 to average 21.5ppg on 56 percent from the floor and 7.5rbg. Kidd-Gilchrist is the reincarnation of Quenton Richardson during his days at DePaul University. At a wiry 6’7", 232 pounds, Kidd-Gilchrist has jaw dropping, stupid Dominique Wilkins like trampoline bounce and athleticism and inexhaustible relentlessness on the glass. In their December win over Louisville MKD devoured Kuric like McChicken bites for 24 points and 19 bounds. MKD will operate a lot from the free throw line down, in post ups, decisive drives and of course look for run outs.
Kyle Kuric: The Louisville senior and leading scorer (12.7ppg) Kuric is no slouch athletically. The 6’4" swingman has had more than a couple SportsCenter Top 10 highlights yams himself. Tonight, it’s essential he doesn’t get in foul trouble or dejected if Kidd-Gilchrist scores on him. Kuric must work hard not to let MKG bully ball him inside, force him to take his spasmodic jumper and also not let MKD get crowd hyping open court slams. Kuric needs to score 12+ points for Louisville to have a chance to win. His triple percentage has dropped considerably this year (45 to 32.8 percent), but Kuric can rip the cords and morph into a heat hurler if he gets into the groove.
Prediction:
It should be an entertaining, occasional up and down affair. There’s immense enmity in this game and all the pressure is on Kentucky. But in the end, despite the hard fight, determination and gallant effort, the Cardinals will put forth, barring a calamitous injury or unforeseeable meltdown by Kentucky. The Wildcats are just too talented, focused, voracious, and Louisville won’t be able to score enough points to pull off the enormous popping. The Wildcats take the Battle of the Bluegrass State in their fourth tourney clash 75-63.
Ramon Ramirez Sergio Romo Brian Wilson Eli Whiteside Mike Fontenot Brett Pill
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