Lace-up your dancin’ shoes Big Blue Nation because the Kentucky basketball team is primed to kick off March Madness in Indianapolis against St. Peter’s tonight at 7:10 PM in thier quest for NCAA Championship No. 9.
With their loss to Tennesee in the SEC Tournament it was pretty much a foregone conclusion they would be a two-seed and it was clear it would be the East more than likely.
For the Peacocks (19-11), it was an agonizingly long wait. Winners of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament St. Peter’s knew they were in but as name-after-name was revealed it was agonizing according to coach Shaheen Holloway in the New York Post until the Peacock’s popped up as No. 15 seed.
“It was a sigh of relief. We knew we were in because we won the tournament. But it’s like, ‘When?’ It was a great moment for them.”
Kentucky basketball kicks off March Madness against St. Peter’s
Shaheen is a graduate of Seaton Hall and has been at the helm of the Peacocks for four seasons with a 61-53 record. He was named the MAAC Coach of the Year in 2019.
On the Kentucky side traditionally they are battle-tested under General John Calipari but in reality, it’s hard to believe not one player has won an NCAA Tournament game on the current roster. Two players have danced before Kellan Grady and Davion Mintz, but they were at other schools and neither won a game in three combined tries.
Grady’s only appearance was in one game in 2018 with Davidson that of all things was against Kentucky in the first round where he scored 16 points. Mintz has seen action in two career NCAA Tournament games when he played at Creighton. The Bluejays fell to Rhode Island in the opening game in 2017 and the opening game to Kansas State in 2018. In those two combined he has netted 12 points.
But the focus this week has been loose, free, and crisp in both attitude and action. Watch as TyTy Washington was mic’d up during practice – it is quite entertaining.
https://twitter.com/KentuckyMBB/status/1504242357742489605
It’s been a roller coaster year for both squads, but more so for the Peacocks who were picked to finish second in the MAAC. It was a rocky start going 3-6, and then had to pause for a 26-day COVID-19 precaution. They returned with a defensive mentality and reeled off a win in six of the next seven games, then lost four of seven before finishing on a seven-game winning streak.
Over in Lexington, the mood was a bit different. Business as usual despite an uninspiring and frustrating loss to Tennessee in the SEC semi-finals. The Wildcats were in but have struggled down the stretch whereas St. Peter’s shocked everyone in the MAAC Tournament completing a seven-game winning streak.
Calipari spoke about the loss in the SEC Tournament and the ramifications.
"“So, getting beat in the SEC Tournament was like a godsend because we scrimmaged an hour and 15 minutes. We scrimmaged 45 minutes yesterday. We needed to get back to free and loose and open and playing off of one another and the roles of what we needed to do and the only way you can do that is a scrimmage. And, it was competitive and they went at each other.”"
Kentucky went 10-1 over much of the early SEC schedule, then went 5-3 since February 15. Loses include Duke, Notre Dame, LSU, Auburn, Arkansas, and Tennessee twice.
Kentucky basketball vs St. Peter’s Odds and Betting
WynnBet’s College Basketball Odds has Kentucky as a 17.5 point favorite. The over/under has been set at 132.5 points and the Moneyline has Kentucky at -4000 and Vandy 1400. Kentucky is set to score 75 points while St. Peter’s 57.
Kentucky is making its 59th NCAA tournament appearance and has played in 181 tournament games winning 129 of them.
It is the fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament for SPU after previously appearing in 1990-91, 1994-95, and 2010-11 all of which resulted in losses.
Kentucky vs St. Peter’s Prediction Today
Kentucky and St. Peter’s have never met on the hardwood before.
KenPom likes Kentucky to win 74-59.
St Peter’s starting lineup only has two players barely averaging double-figure points. The starters are
G Daryl Banks III (11.0 ppg, 2.6 ppg, 1.5 APG)
G Matthew Lee (7.0 ppg, 2.9 APG, 1.8 RPG)
F Hassan Drame (5.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.9 spg)
F KC Ndefo (10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.7 bpg)
F Clarence Rupert (4.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.7 APG)
Key reserve
G Doug Edert (9.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.8 apg)
Kentucky on the other hand is loaded with double-digit scorers.
The Wildcats are ranked No. 5 overall in the latest AP Poll. They are led by junior Oscar Tshiebwe who leads the nation in double-doubles and rebounding for Kentucky.
G TyTy Washington (12.8 ppg, 3.5 reb, 119 assists, 40 steals)
G Sahvier Wheeler (10.0 ppg, has 201 assists)
F Kellan Grady (11.5 ppg has made 87 3-pointers)
F Keion Brooks (10.9 ppg, 4.4 RPG)
C Oscar Tshiebwe (17.1 ppg, 15.0 RPG
Key reserve
G Davion Mintz (10.8 ppg and has made 43 3 -pointers)
My prediction is Kentucky 75, St. Peter’s 60
What Channel is the Kentucky Basketball Game On
Today’s game will be on CBS with tipoff set for approximately 7:10 pm EST.
Play-by-Play – Ian Eagle
Color – Jim Spanarkel
Sideline – Jaimie Erdahl
Kentucky versus St. Peter’s Live Stream
Today’s Kentucky game can be streamed live on the CBS Sports Network.
Kentucky over the airwaves:
For the radio enthusiasts, our stellar team of Tom Leach (play-by-play), Mike Pratt, and Dick Gabriel (sideline) will have the call on the UK Sports Network. They can be heard at 840 AM around Louisville and in the Lexington area at both 630 AM and 98.1 FM. If you are outside these areas check your local statins or you can always listen online at www.UKAthletics.com
Kentucky’s Next Game Dance Card
The winner advances to the second round to face the winner of the Murray State/San Francisco game. The Wildcats have never played Murray State and San Fransico just once getting the win