US College Basketball

[æRLO]

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UK vs KU

lol unsa na, anagram? hahah

I think it's going to be Kentucky's game.

[colby]

John Calipari in UK:

2009-2010: Elite 8
2010-2011: Final 4
2011-2012: NCAA Finals ( hopefully no repeat like what happened to Memphis in 2008 that was heartbreaking for Cal.)

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Bill Self in Kansas:

2007-2008: NCAA CHAMPIONS
2010-2011: NCAA Elite 8
2011-2012: NCAA Finals ( guys knows what it takes to win so let's see if he lead this team to victory for his 2nd NCAA title)

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Just make it exciting please, last year's NCAA championship was a disappointment. Make it fun this year.

[inc-pankz]

@colby: kansas or kentucky?

[amamangloy]

Who: No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats (37-2, 16-0 SEC) vs. No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks (32-6, 16-2 Big 12)
When: Tipoff: 9:23 p.m.
Where: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, La.


SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Kentucky, 20-6
NCAA: Tied, 1-1
This season: Kentucky, 75-65, on Nov. 15

POSITION-BY-POSITION EDGE
PG, Taylor vs. Teague: Kansas
SG, Johnson vs. Lamb: Kentucky
SF, Releford vs. Kidd-Gilchrist: Kentucky
PF, Robinson vs. Jones: Kansas
C, Withey vs.Davis: Kentucky

KENTUCKY PLAYER BREAKDOWNS

POS.;PLAYER; PTS; REB

G; Marquis Teague; 9.4; 2.5

Ht: 6-2; Wt: 189; Fr.

He’s been up and down at times this season, but the freshman seems to have figured things out. He’s No. 2 in the country in plus-minus, surrounded by Kentucky’s other five top players.

G; Doron Lamb; 13.2; 2.9

Ht: 6-4; Wt: 210; So.

The first page of the UK scouting report says stop Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist, but the second page says in order to cut off the Wildcats, you have to stop Lamb. He leads the team in field goal and 3-point attempts.

G/F; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist; 11.8; 7.6

Ht: 6-7; Wt: 232; Fr.

He’s third on the team in field-goal percentage behind Davis and Jones, but the freshman from Jersey has shown that when the matchup is right (the first Louisville game and the NCAA game against Indiana), he can go off.

F; Terrence Jones; 12.5; 7.0

Ht: 6-9; Wt: 252; So.

Neutralized against Louisville on Saturday, which has been a rarity this month for Jones. He’s been enigmatic a lot this year (four points on three shots in December against Indiana), but in the NCAAs, he’s been lights-out.

C; Anthony Davis; 14.3; 10.0

Ht: 6-10; Wt: 220; Fr.

The AP player of the year is a freak on offense, but where he’s really felt is on defense. Davis set all sorts of shot-blocking records and forces you to change any shot in the lane before it even happens.

Bench: G Darius Miller (9.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg), G Kyle Wiltjer (5.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg), C Eloy Vargas (1.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg)

Kentucky’s bench isn’t great after the senior Miller. Wiltjer is a situational player mostly, who can hit a 3-pointer. Vargas mainly is used to spell the Wildcats’ big men for short stretches, but isn’t a threat offensively.

Coach: John Calipari (third season, Kentucky, 101-14; 20th season overall, 504-152)

Can Coach Cal finally capture that elusive national championship? This is arguably his best shot, with the cohesiveness that this young team has shown this season. For all of his recruiting prowess, Cal is a pretty good X’s and O’s coach, too.

KANSAS PLAYER BREAKDOWNS

POS.; PLAYER; PTS; REB

G; Tyshawn Taylor; 17.3; 1.9

Ht: 6-3; Wt: 185; Sr.

Hoboken’s own is the definition of boom-or-bust play. In the Jayhawks’ last two games, he’s had huge game-sealing steals, but then jeopardized the game (once by scoring, once by throwing the pass away). KU needs the boom Taylor tonight.

G; Elijah Johnson; 9.6; 3.0

Ht: 6-4; Wt: 195; Jr.

He gets overlooked a lot with all of Kansas’ other weapons, but Johnson might be the best pure scorer on the team. Johnson has made over 51 percent from 3-point range this season.

G/F; Travis Releford; 8.5; 4.3

Ht: 6-6; Wt: 210; Jr.

Doesn’t require a big chunk of the offense, but helps make the rest of the pieces work. His floor percentage (the percentage of an individual’s possessions which are scoring possessions) is second-best on the team.

F; Thomas Robinson; 17.9; 11.8

Ht: 6-10; Wt: 237; Jr.

The main man for the Jayhawks. A walking double-double machine, Robinson collects rebounds like paychecks, leading the country this season. Plus, he’s a physical force on the blocks and doesn’t mind going up against the bigger bodies.

C; Jeff Withey; 9.3 ;6.2

Ht: 7-0; Wt: 235; Jr.

One of the more amazing turnarounds this season. Withey was a bit player for his first two seasons (he played 45 minutes as a freshman, 162 last year) and has turned into a great defensive player and anchor for Kansas.

Bench: G Conner Teahan (5.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg), F Kevin Young (3.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg), F Justin Wesley (1.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg), G Naadir Tharpe (0.9 ppg, 0.3 rpg)

The depth doesn’t usually go beyond Teahan and Young. Both players have had solid NCAA Tournaments this year, providing Self’s team with a nice boost when the regulars have to exit the game.

Coach: Bill Self (ninth season, Kansas, 269-52; 19th overall, 476-157)

For a while there, it seemed like Self would be the BCNTWAT (Best Coach Never To Win A Title), but now he’ll be gunning for his second in four years. While Cal’s Wildcats are young and talented, Self’s Jayhawks are smart and experienced.

PREDICTIONS

Brendan Prunty, Star-Ledger college basketball writer: Kentucky 75, Kansas 69

The Jayhawks’ nasty habit of falling behind early in games and trying to dig out doesn’t work against Kentucky. And finally, Calipari has that elusive title.

Steve Politi, Star-Ledger columnist: Kentucky 75, Kansas 66
The Wildcats area once-in-a-generation team and they’ll cap a 38-2 season with an impressive win.

[colby]

I had UNC all the way in my bracket so I don't really care who wins in the Finals, but for the sake of picking between the two teams. I'm going with Kentucky, time for Coach Cal to get his NCAA title plus he coached two of my favorite players in the NBA. They'll be happy for their former coach.

Obviously, UK is more talented and deeper but who knows what can happen. The ball is round.

This is the first time since 2008 NCAA Finals that I am really excited. Can't wait!!

[StingerRay]

Just reading & roaming around in the Celtics Blog and I see this related to US College Basketball.



I'm not a fan of college basketball but my pick for UK vs. KU, is Kentucky.

[dirk14]

chubby pierce hehe.. calapari suwertihun sa mga gaurds of late
set play daw nila sa kentucky
http://www.viddler.com/v/7a99234b

[Motownkid]

At*ya atong issue nga "Kentucky Wildcats can beat the Washington Wizards".. Violent reaction kaayong taga NBA..Hehe

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First half gi-sugdan nag lubong ang Kansas.. Unibrow's having a block party!

Consolation sa Jayhawks: Kansas Coach Bill Self named Naismith Coach of the Year

[dirk14]

mura lampaso ni na game....
@absurd daw ingn ni van gundy.. but the wizards are that bad.

[colby]

It's looking good and exciting!