Kentucky Basketball is set to tip it off against the Wichita State Shockers in the round of 32. The smack talk has begun.
Wichita State foward, Darral Willis Jr. had some choice words to say about Bam Adebayo and Kentucky Basketball.
KSTV’s TJ Beisner let the cat out of the bag and tweeted the video of the interview with Willis.
Wichita State forward Darral Willis Jr. said Kentucky is "nothing special" and the Shockers aren't afraid of anyone "on this planet." pic.twitter.com/oYkE9eqEXU
— Jonathan Dunn (@Jonathan__Dunn) March 18, 2017
Bam’s Reaction?
The history behind the Matchup
Kentucky and Wichita state have some recent history. In 2014, the Wildcats and top-seeded Shockers squared off in the round of 32. In the matchup, the Cats defeated the top seed 78-76 in an instant classic.
Min the matchup, the Harrison twins combined for 39 points as the eighth-seeded Kentucky Wildcats advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.
Wildcats vs. Shockers, 2017 Edition
Kentucky is coming off of a lackluster performance in it’s victory over Norther Kentucky. The Norse at one time was down by 18 points as the Cats eased up and let them back into the game. Northern poured it in from all over the court to cut the lead to single digits with just minutes left in the game.
A lot of variables were in play on a late night tip. The game didn’t end until after the midnight hour. Streaky shooting along with poor bench performance led the Norse to push Kentucky against the ropes.
The Wichita State matchup comes as the selection committee rewarded a 30 win team in the Shockers a lowball 10 seed. Many seemed to think that the seed should be a slap in the face to the Missouri Valley Champs. The Wildcats will have yet another desperate team trying to make a run in the tournament.
Keys to Victory
First, Kentucky will need Malik Monk to finally find his shot. The star Freshman has got to step up how game to keep the distance from these teams. Monk needs to re establish himself as the premier player in the game and take over offensively. Alongside a hot De’Aaron Fox, the backcourt duo has got to run the show.
Additionally, Bam needs to keep doing Bam things. All smack talk aside, Adebayo needs to dominate the paint just as he has throughout the Cats’ current winning streak.
Next: Kentucky's Final Four Formula
Also, John Calipari needs some production off of the bench. A contribution of at least 20 points off of the bench would be ideal from here on out. Someone needs to be the guy Cal can count on in times of need. They will need a bench inn Sunday afternoon.