8th Region champ North Oldham (18-12) vs. 3rd Region champ Muhlenberg County (18-11)

Both teams are the Mustangs

Similar colors, even.... (North is teal and black; Muhlenberg sky-blue and black)

Similar records

Both teams come from a 3-team district (North finished as a runner-up; Muhlenberg won their district - but both were the #1 seeds)

Time for the "mane" event!

Live audio coverage on www.pegasussportsky.com beginning at 12:30 pm on Wednesday 3/16

More to come as I preview this matchup....

CM

I voted Muhlenberg in the poll, but I'm taking North Oldham by 7.  Something like 59-52.

I like North's chances in this one, but it should be a very interesting matchup.

I haven't seen Muhlenberg this year, so I'll point that out up front.   Would love to hear input from our 3rd Region folks on Muhlenberg.

North looks to have a serious height advantage on the inside, with 6'6" junior forward Ian Higdon (early 13 ppg and 9+ rebounds) and 6'7" junior shot-blocker center Luke Anderson (8 ppg / 8 rebounds and goodness-knows how many blocks a game....), as well as 6'5" junior forward Miles Gay coming off the bench.   All three are taller than the tallest players listed on the Muhlenberg roster (6'4" junior Chandler Moore and 6'3" junior Kadin Ray).

Higdon and Anderson were huge (literally) keys to North's dominating run through the 8th Region tournament, and surprised a lot of people when they completely dominated the big(ger) Woodford County front line in the finals.   Higdon is an extremely mobile big man, and Anderson's quick leaping ability and timing arguably made him the 8th Region's premier shot-blocker this season.

North junior guard Dallas Roberts was the 8th Region's runner-up in POY balloting, and he's a four-year varsity starter who's well on pace to set the school scoring record (held by his coach, David Levitch) sometime next year.    Averaging 17+ points per game, Roberts can run point and be a scoring leader; when the game's on the line, Roberts wants it in his hands, though he's as dangerous dishing the ball as he is scoring it.     Roberts has been a real prime-time player for North; his performance in last year's region tourney propelled the North Oldham Mustangs all the way to the region finals, and he outdueled last year's 8th Region POY, Kelly Niece, in an epic SF matchup with Simon Kenton.

This year, he hung 31 on Walton-Verona in the first game, was held scoreless by Collins in the SF in the first half - but scored 8 points in the fourth quarter when North took over the game - then led the way for North in the finals (tied with Jack Scales) with 15 points in the championship game.

Seven of North's top 8 players - and all five starters - are underclassmen, but the team is very experienced.   

This will be North Oldham's first trip to the Sweet 16 since the school opened in 2003.

Both North and Muhlenberg have been stingy since the regions started....North Oldham held the highest-scoring Region 8 team (Walton-Verona, over 75 ppg) to just 46 in round one of the 8th Region tourney, then held the Collins Titans - ranked #3 in the region - and the Woodford County Yellowjackets (ranked #13 in the state) to just 41 points and 53 points, respectively.   (Woodford had just 19 points at the half of the final game, despite averaging 65 ppg during the season).

Muhlenberg has held four consecutive opponents to below 50 points, including McLean County (twice), Owensboro Catholic and Hancock County.

Like North, Muhlenberg counts on a balanced scoring attack, led by senior guards Trey Lovell (team-high 13.3 ppg) and Cole Vincent (11.9 ppg and a team-high 5.0 rebounds).    

Lovell only shoots 43.8% from the floor and 21.1% from beyond the arc, but the senior guard has been to the line over twice as many times as anyone else on the team, hitting 75.5% of his free throws.   Lovell has taken nearly 1/3 of the Muhlenberg FTA.

Vincent has made more threes (54) than anyone on the team, at a respectable 33.0% clip.

North will have to watch out for another senior guard, Davion Summers, who has hit 42 threes this year at a remarkable 40.4% clip.

Common Opponent:

Both teams faced Simon Kenton in December....North defeated the Pioneers, 63-51, while Muhlenberg fell to SK, 61-58.

Vs. Tournament Competition:

Both teams are 0-3 against Sweet 16 tournament foes, but both were in every game.

North Oldham

     Lost, 74-65 to George Rogers Clark after leading late in the second half

     Lost, 78-73 to North Laurel after leading late in the second half

     Lost, 56-55 to Jeffersontown in a Christmas tournament (6'7" center Luke Anderson out)

Muhlenberg County

     Lost to Lyon County, 72-69 in overtime

     Lost to Murray, 59-54 on the road

     Lost to Warren Central, 62-57

The two teams have similar shooting stats:

Overall FG%     North Oldham 45.4%     Muhlenberg  45.5%

Three %     North Oldham 35.5%     Muhlenberg 32.9%

FT%     North Oldham 68.2%     Muhlenberg 67.4%

 

Live coverage of the game starts at 12:30 pm Wednesday on www.pegasussportsky.com

Just noticed that the guy who covers High School Basketball for KSR ranked the teams in the Sweet 16, and North Oldham and Muhlenberg County were 15th and 16th, respectively.  So it should be close.  As I've said before, North Oldham seems to have turned a corner of sorts, and is now playing much better than they did for most of the season, and more in line with expectations coming into the year.  Of course, that's a viewpoint biased towards the 8th Region - for all I know Muhlenberg is also playing really well right now......

22 hours ago, Mojocat said:

Just noticed that the guy who covers High School Basketball for KSR ranked the teams in the Sweet 16, and North Oldham and Muhlenberg County were 15th and 16th, respectively.  So it should be close.  As I've said before, North Oldham seems to have turned a corner of sorts, and is now playing much better than they did for most of the season, and more in line with expectations coming into the year.  Of course, that's a viewpoint biased towards the 8th Region - for all I know Muhlenberg is also playing really well right now......

Just my opinion, but I think his opinion reflects a lack of knowledge about these two teams - and quite possibly results from too  much dependence on looking at records and regular season scores, without the background perspective.   The fact these two teams are the only two teams in the tournament with double-digit losses probably doesn't win them any points in the "respect" category...

North Oldham just put together one of the most impressive region tournament runs I've ever seen, with three incredible defensive efforts and some explosive, timely, balanced offense.   North's three-game run in the Region was arguably against the toughest draw possible, trouncing (by 33 points) a Walton-Verona team that had been ranked and who owned wins over ranked teams Highlands and Dixie Heights, and then beating the two highest-rated teams in Region 8 (both in terms of RPI and in other rankings), Collins and 13th-ranked Woodford County.    A 26 point halftime lead over the 13-ranked Yellowjackets in the final was eye-opening in its offensive fury (45 points scored) and defensive efficiency (19 points allowed).    The Mustangs are finally at 100% roster strength, after missing various pieces to their lineup throughout nearly half the season - at one time, they were playing with two starters out.    And North's losses have been against the state's best (with one head-scratching exception) - and North had some great games against those teams.

Like North, Muhlenberg played much of their season without players due to injuries, illness, etc., but Muhlenberg is 100% healthy now.  Muhlenberg had to make four big "stops" to their year; delays that each basically shut the team down for about 7-10 days (the big tornado went through Muhlenberg, then COVID caused a shutdown in late December, and then two big snows shut down the schools).     But Muhlenberg, like North, fared very well in their games against tournament foes, playing competitively in losses to Warren Central, Murray, and Lyon County (all losses by less than 10 points, and one in OT).    And Muhlenberg has been there, done that - the Muhlenberg County Mustangs repeated as 3rd Region champs, so they are returning to Rupp with players who have been there, done that.   Like North, they have the look of a team hitting their stride at the right time.

Both teams played very competitive schedules..... Muhlenberg played the 7th-toughest schedule among the 16 Sweet 16 teams (.59448 opponent winning pct.) and North played the 8th-toughest (.59400).     

Not making crazy predictions here that either of these two teams will take it all or anything.....but I think ranking them 15th and 16th in the tournament is not giving either team enough credit.

Just sayin'....

First ever meeting between the two schools.

10 hours ago, ColonelMike said:

Both teams played very competitive schedules..... Muhlenberg played the 7th-toughest schedule among the 16 Sweet 16 teams (.59448 opponent winning pct.) and North played the 8th-toughest (.59400).     

Following the "Massey Ratings" SoS, North is 3rd in the field (KY #6) and Muhlenberg 9th (KY #54). North is one of only two teams in the field upside down (SoS higher than team ranking), 6th SoS/23rd ranked. Male is the other at 4th/1st. Cov Cath floats at 2nd/2nd.

Both teams hitting their free throws in the post-season....

Muhlenberg has shot 20 or more FTAs in all four of their post-season games, hitting a total of 66 of 88 FTAs for 75%.

North Oldham only shot 26 free throws in their three game 8th-Region tourney run, but North hit 24 of those 26 (92.3%).

 

Former Bethlehem / Henry County / Oldham County coach Todd Gilley will join me on the broadcast....

As soon as the 3rd Region Tournament ended, I have been out traveling for work so I missed the thread.  While I think North Oldham is the slight favorites coming in, I like that Muhlenberg is making their second straight trip to Rupp.  They have a handful of super seniors who played in the Sweet 16 last year and I think that will give them an advantage here.  They have 3 lock down defenders in Trey Lovell, Brayden Lovan and Davion Summers who should be able to be difference makers on the defensive end.  Cole Vincent is the name to watch.  If he is able to knock down shots, I'll take Muhlenberg to get the 3rd Region their first win at Rupp since Owensboro's championship in 2015.

Live pregame on air www.pegasussportsky.com now.

NFHS Network Livestream: North Oldham vs. Muhlenberg County 2022 UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16®

KHSAA Live Stats: North Oldham vs. Muhlenberg County 2022 UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16®

Winner gets Lincoln County.   The Patriots defeated Jeffersontown in a close one, 45-41

2 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

NFHS Network Livestream: North Oldham vs. Muhlenberg County 2022 UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16®

KHSAA Live Stats: North Oldham vs. Muhlenberg County 2022 UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16®

NFHS broadcast will cost you....Pegasus is free!   ?