30 minutes ago, REALSPORT said:

The advantage they have in their bracket is that their opponents have low defensive efficiency numbers as well.  Oakland, Texas Tech and NC State all have low defensive numbers.  UK's offense should carry then early.  Marquette is like 60th in defensive efficiency.  They can definitely beat UK but they aren't an elite defensive team.  Houston is elite.  I don't see UK winning that game.   

I get that, but I am not worried about UK scoring. I am worried about UK needing to get stops. Now maybe every other team is the same as UK (until Houston), but history shows if the game plan is to outscore everyone, they could just as easily go home in the next few days. Many are acting like this will be a waltz and we have no evidence of this.

To me it is fairly simple. If the Cats play like either the game at Auburn and at Tennessee they could go all the way to the final. While in those games they did not play great defense they did play some defense and their offense was playing well.

On the flip side play like they did last Friday and the type of defense they played last Friday they will be out like the past two tournament's and be out the first weekend. 

The Kentucky offense is so good if they just play average defense they can go to the final 4. If they could play just above average defense they could win the whole thing.

Purely theoretical here...

Oddly, as the season progressed UK looked better on the road than at Rupp. It makes no sense. Last Friday was practically a home game; hence, why they played so badly. I am holding out hope the further from Lexington they are, the better. ?

2 hours ago, bugatti said:

Are you kidding? I'll give you a big reason: they are putrid on defense. UK's top two draft talents are their worst on-ball defenders and a 4 mph wind could knock their post-defenders off the block. It's been a literal expressway to the rim half the season. I am looking at the opposite from all these "UK should make a run or the Final Four" people. I believe the other (potential) opponents, beginning Thursday, genuinely believe this team can be had if you bring the physicality to UK and licking their chops for a chance to play them.

I don't understand that the same people that have been complaining about Cal/Kentucky all year (referring to people mostly off of BGP), are now the same ones saying that they should make it to at least the Elite 8 or Final Four. Thing sure changed since Friday of last week.

If they win the first round and potentially play Texas Tech, that's going to be a battle.

1 hour ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

To me it is fairly simple. If the Cats play like either the game at Auburn and at Tennessee they could go all the way to the final. While in those games they did not play great defense they did play some defense and their offense was playing well.

On the flip side play like they did last Friday and the type of defense they played last Friday they will be out like the past two tournament's and be out the first weekend. 

The Kentucky offense is so good if they just play average defense they can go to the final 4. If they could play just above average defense they could win the whole thing.

Please give me the Kentucky that played Auburn and Tennessee at Knoxville. It's all I want for my birthday and Christmas this year.

On 3/18/2024 at 10:39 AM, Randy Parker said:

The final rankings entering the tournament:

1.  Connecticut
2.  Houston
3.  Purdue
4.  Auburn
5.  Iowa State
6.  Arizona

- Again, 18 of the last 21 NCAA Champions were ranked in the Top 6 of KenPom entering the tournament.

All but Auburn still alive.

On 3/18/2024 at 10:39 AM, Randy Parker said:

The final rankings entering the tournament:

1.  Connecticut
2.  Houston
3.  Purdue
4.  Auburn
5.  Iowa State
6.  Arizona

- Again, 18 of the last 21 NCAA Champions were ranked in the Top 6 of KenPom entering the tournament.

Connecticut & Purdue still alive.

On 3/18/2024 at 12:53 PM, Randy Parker said:

2002 - Maryland (#3)
2003 - Syracuse (#20)
2004 - Connecticut (#5)
2005 - North Carolina (#2)
2006 - Florida (#6)
2007 - Florida (#2)
2008 - Kansas (#1)
2009 - North Carolina (#3)
2010 - Duke (#2)
2011 - Connecticut (#16)
2012 - Kentucky (#1)
2013 - Louisville (#2)
2014 - Connecticut (#25)
2015 - Duke (#6)
2016 - Villanova (#5)
2017 - North Carolina (#3)
2018 - Villanova (#2)
2019 - Virginia (#1)
2021 - Baylor (#2)
2022 - Kansas (#3)
2023 - Connecticut (#4)

Off topic, what a run for UCONN in the last 20 years. 

On 3/19/2024 at 11:42 AM, bugatti said:

Purely theoretical here...

Oddly, as the season progressed UK looked better on the road than at Rupp. It makes no sense. Last Friday was practically a home game; hence, why they played so badly. I am holding out hope the further from Lexington they are, the better. ?

Didn’t I hear that Kentucky doesn’t practice at Rupp?

42 minutes ago, mcpapa said:

Didn’t I hear that Kentucky doesn’t practice at Rupp?

Correct.

14 hours ago, sweet16 said:

Off topic, what a run for UCONN in the last 20 years. 

What is not shown is how feast or famine the Huskies have been. Over the last 20 years, UConn has missed the tournament 4 times and been knocked in the round of 64 just as many times. Of course, who cares when you win a title every few years?

What is also remarkable is their 35 wins mark their most in school history and their first title in '99 is the only title they've won as a #1 seed (1, 2, 3, 7, 4, and 1-TBD). Compare that to a Duke that has won their titles competing only as a #1 seed. Heck, I'm not sure Duke has made the Final Four as anything but a 1 seed since 1994.

6 hours ago, bugatti said:

What is not shown is how feast or famine the Huskies have been. Over the last 20 years, UConn has missed the tournament 4 times and been knocked in the round of 64 just as many times. Of course, who cares when you win a title every few years?

What is also remarkable is their 35 wins mark their most in school history and their first title in '99 is the only title they've won as a #1 seed (1, 2, 3, 7, 4, and 1-TBD). Compare that to a Duke that has won their titles competing only as a #1 seed. Heck, I'm not sure Duke has made the Final Four as anything but a 1 seed since 1994.

Very much feast or famine which makes it even more remarkable. 

On 3/18/2024 at 10:39 AM, Randy Parker said:

The final rankings entering the tournament:

1.  Connecticut
2.  Houston
3.  Purdue
4.  Auburn
5.  Iowa State
6.  Arizona

- Again, 18 of the last 21 NCAA Champions were ranked in the Top 6 of KenPom entering the tournament.

Going to be 19 of 22.