SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2010
EAST REGION – ELITE 8 SYRACUSE, NY
No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats (35-2,14-2 SEC) v No. 2 West Virginia Mountaineers (30-6, 13-5 Big East)
The No.1 Kentucky Wildcats will tip off against the No. 2 West Virginia Mountaineers in the Elite 8 round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament on Saturday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York.
Head coach John Calipari has his No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats within one win of their first Final Four appearance since winning the national championship in 1998. The ‘Cats ended Cornell’s improbable run through the NCAA Tournament as they cruised to a 62-45 victory in the East Regional semifinals on Thursday. DeMarcus Cousins led the team with 16 points, Patrick Patterson added nine points and 12 rebounds, while Kentucky scoring leader John Wall recorded eight points, eight assists and seven boards in the win.
In the meantime, the Mountaineers looked a bit out of rhythm running their half-court offense without starting point guard Darryl Bryant, and played one of the ugliest first halves of the tournament before overcoming a rash of turnovers to knock off Washington 69-56 in the East Regional semifinals on Thursday night. The victory pushes WVU’s win streak to nine games while holding six consecutive teams below 60 points. Kevin Jones had 18 points and leading scorer Da’Sean Butler added 14 in the win. After losing Bryant on Tuesday to a broken foot the team got another scare when Butler came up holding his hand after a hard fall in Thursday’s contest. He was seen leaving Friday’s practice with his right hand and wrist wrapped in ice, but team sources report he will start on Saturday against West Virginia.
Kentucky has won seven national titles and a record 2,023 games, whereas West Virginia is still searching for its first title along with a little national respect.
Besides bringing their brand of physical play to the hardwood, the Mountaineers will need to shore up their offense, as they shot an anemic 40 percent against the Huskies. Not only will they need production from their top player (Butler), but an all out effort from the entire bench if they are going to have any chance at beating top-seed Kentucky, which is barreling through the tourney like a freight train.
The Wildcats used the low post against Cornell, and it was effective. But the Mountaineers’ Butler and Jones have played well in the tournament and will present the Kentucky with its most difficult match ups on defense inside. The ‘Cats will also look to push it up the court behind Wall, who is one of the best players in the country, and from their distribute the ball through very small spaces to teammates both in the paint and around the perimeter.
The odds makers have the Wildcats as -4 -point favorites.
I expect this to be hard fought game with the Wildcats opening down the stretch to win this one by six on their way to a their first Final Four appearance in 12 years.
West Virginia Mountaineers Basketball Betting Trends:
- West Virginia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of West Virginia’s last 5 games
Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Betting Trends:
- Kentucky is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Kentucky is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kentucky’s last 6 games
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