The Only Way 30-0 Kentucky Could Blow It Saturday
- Peter Busch
- Mar 6, 2015
- 2 min read
The NCAA regular season is coming to an end and the number 1 ranked Kentucky Wildcats are scratching to start March Madness. However the undefeated, 30-0, team has one more battle to fight on Saturday against the Florida Gators. So how likely are the Gators to pull off an upset?
Offensive Outlook
First off, both teams have great PPG or points per game averages.The Wildcats average only 10 more points per game than the inferior Gators. Knowing college matchups, a 10 point average advantage is not likely posing a make it or break it situation.This works in the favor of Florida actually, not the Wildcats, because offense is likely not going to be the deciding factor for the win. So, the needle will go in the direction of the team that executes better on game day.
Defensive Power
Oh yeah, by the way, because both teams have killer defenses despite the fact that Kentucky is ranked number one in the country for field goal percentage allowed. So, as of right now the arms race goes to Kentucky because they may be able to shut down the Gators that much easier.
If The Gators Have one of Those Off Days...
If history repeats itself, the Gators are going to need to come out early and keep pushing the ball down the court to take the win. Looking at past seasons, the Gators have proven to be streaky, seemingly on fire or having trouble finding the broad side of the backboard. If the Gators come out with lackluster results, it may be over before it starts. So, the secret here is the Gators are going to bring out their March Madness ‘A’ game and not rely on the luck of the brim. However, I would argue that Florida may have the heart to push the luck in their direction.
Who Brings the Most Heart Matters in College Sports
Over the years it’s common knowledge that Kentucky players go to the NBA like hotcakes. Some of these guys are focused on their signing bonuses and not the last regular season game of the year. In an article last year on the UK Athletics Blog it quotes 22 players from their program have entered the NBA. Tied for second place was North Carolina and Duke. Now, it’s fair to say that an undefeated record speaks for itself, but it’s a point to be made anyway.
It’s a Different Story for The Gators
The Gators were 15-15 in the regular season and not even in the top 20. It’s a stark contrast to the number one spot that Kentucky maintains.That’s not the record of a team that can win by “just making the free throws”. Despite all of the talent that exists on the Florida team, it’s going to take something that Kentucky has taken for granted - heart.
The odds are in favor of Kentucky winning for sure but it’s not a done deal at all. I’d wager that there’s a chance Kentucky loses site of the spirit of March Madness and could be one of the bigger upsets leading into the best tournament of the year. If that happens, Kentucky is going to lose it’s beloved momentum going into the tournament at the worst timing ever.