As every UK game this year, this one's hard to call. You never know which UK team decides to show up.

And if the team that knows how to play shows up they could be scary.With this team it is a BIG IF.

Kentuckty by 10. Should be a good game though but after that probably Kansas.

Kentucky is a 100-1 shot at winning the tourney. Other noteables:

 

U of L: 40-1

UNC: 6-1

Florida: 4-1

G'town: 10-1

Duke: 50-1

IU: 75-1

Kansas: 5-1

O$U: 7-1

UCLA: 10-1

 

I hope MSU Eagles loaded up..

UK really needs to realize that they have a good ball club, they just don't utilize their best players at the right times. Alot of this has to do with coaching, not taking anything away from Tubby, but in 98' the ship was handed to him by Pitino, and every year since then UK basketball has seemed to decline. Pitino just resently stated that "UK's program would set back 10 years without Tubby Smith". I don't see this as a very good statement. It seems that the 10 years that Tubby has been here that UK's "program" has declined by the year. Alot of great coaching decisions by Tubby, but hardly any here lately.

Here's a thing I would be concerned about if I were a UK fan...there are many of you on here saying that 'Nova is not physical or athletic enough to beat UK, however Georgetown is a ton more physical and athletic (big down low as well) than UK...and 'Nova beat them once..and played them real tough, losing once 58-55..and 62-57...that would worry me immensly as a UK fan.

I was really worried when I first seen that we drew Villanova. But after looking at them more closely I feel pretty good about the game now. We are actually a bigger team. We have had to play against such teams as Alabama, Florida, and Arkansas who are very big. I think we can play a smaller lineup against them and that will help us out.

I think Sumpter is going to be a very tough matchup for UK. And I think Morris is a really tough matchup for Villanova.

I think UK will get this one and keep up our Round of 32 streak.

And I think Morris is a really tough matchup for Villanova.

Based on???

Here's a thing I would be concerned about if I were a UK fan...there are many of you on here saying that 'Nova is not physical or athletic enough to beat UK, however Georgetown is a ton more physical and athletic (big down low as well) than UK...and 'Nova beat them once..and played them real tough, losing once 58-55..and 62-57...that would worry me immensly as a UK fan.

You are putting words into people's mouth's. No one said that they were not physical or athletic enough to beat UK.

However, their athleticism is not overbearing. Their pshysicality is not overbearing. They are a solid team. If their M.O. was physicality they would beaten Xavier, Drexel, and Notre Dame, 3 very finesse teams. They play good defense, but it is more based on speed than physicality. Their guards are good and quick but not very big. They have decent size in the frontcourt, but they do not block many shots. They hit the offensive glass hard. If they are making perimeter jump shots they can beat anyone. However, they go into lulls at times, on offense and do not have the best assist to turnover ratio.

They are plenty good enough to beat UK.

Based on???

Jay Wright on Randolph Morris: “Randolph’s combination of skills, strength and athleticism impresses me. We have faced some center with skills and strength, but not that athletic or vise versa. That combination is very difficult to deal with. We had nobody one on one to match with him. He shot 70 percent from foul line in conference play and averaged seven rebounds per game and 14 points, so you are a player. His girth and strength wiill be difficult for us to deal with.

Morris should have a field day against Nova if they get him the ball as much as they should. Nardi has a leg injury that he is dealing with also. We shall see but I think UK wins. Nova is just not a team that scares me, but that doesnt mean they cant or wont win.

Jay Wright on Randolph Morris: “Randolph’s combination of skills, strength and athleticism impresses me. We have faced some center with skills and strength, but not that athletic or vise versa. That combination is very difficult to deal with. We had nobody one on one to match with him. He shot 70 percent from foul line in conference play and averaged seven rebounds per game and 14 points, so you are a player. His girth and strength wiill be difficult for us to deal with.

What do you expect him to say? I can look at 65 coaching interviews today and find stuff like this. They have contained Gray and Hibbert at a more than efficient level in a combined 4 meetings. Take that and Morris' problems with fouls and all around not giving a crap, and it would seem very logical that at best he gets 14 and 5. The Cats are not going to dominate down low on Nova...

Hibbert didn't have good games versus Nova, but Gray went for 14 and 10.

Morris has to go for at least 14 and 10 and UK MUST shoot the ball well to have a shot.

The advantage is UK has a got a go to guy 5 feet from the basket and Nova really doesnt.

I could see the Cats going out in the first round, that could possibly be Tubby's last loss as a Wildcat Head Coach in my mind. As for Kansas, yeh I'm hating myself right now for thinking they'd likely make the final four before the seeds were even announced....

I guess you think Tubby when will the rest of his games at UK and retire after a few undefeated seasons... he ain't going nowhere

Hibbert didn't have good games versus Nova, but Gray went for 14 and 10.

Morris has to go for at least 14 and 10 and UK MUST shoot the ball well to have a shot.

The advantage is UK has a got a go to guy 5 feet from the basket and Nova really doesnt.

If Morris only gets 14 UK is in a world of trouble.

Any idea when they announce the tip times for these games?

9:40ish Friday night...