The Kentucky Wildcats, seeded 3rd in the Midwest Region, are set to face off against the 14th-seeded Troy Trojans in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Wildcats are looking to avoid another first-round upset, after last year’s stunning loss to Oakland.
Kentucky boasts a potent offense, averaging 85.3 points per game, which ranks among the best in the country. The Wildcats have made 317 three-pointers this season, already the third most in program history, and have hit 10 or more threes in 18 games. Lamont Butler, a San Diego State transfer, will return to action after missing the SEC Tournament, and will be a key player for the Wildcats.
However, the Wildcats will be without point guard Jaxson Robinson, who suffered a season-ending wrist injury in February. Otega Oweh leads Kentucky with 16.2 points per game, while Butler and Koby Brea each average 11.5.
Troy, on the other hand, is riding a six-game winning streak after capturing the Sun Belt Conference title with a 94-81 comeback victory over Arkansas State. The Trojans are making their third NCAA Tournament appearance and are eager to make history with a first-round upset.
“We know the challenge is very, very great,” said Troy head coach Scott Cross. “Anytime you’re a 14 seed, whoever you play is going to be super tough. Not an easy task, but every year it seems like one 14 team upsets a three-seed. Why not Troy?”
Tayton Conerway, the Sun Belt Player of the Year, leads Troy with 14.3 points per game, while Myles Rigsby adds 12.0. The Trojans are a physical team, outrebounding opponents by 5.6 boards per game, with Thomas Dowd leading the way at 6.8 rebounds per contest.
To pull off the upset, Troy will need to slow down Kentucky’s high-powered offense. “We’ve got to take good shots, make sure we’re matched up and then make it difficult for them,” said Cross. “They’re going to take 30 threes a game. We’ve got to make those 30 as difficult as possible.”
The key matchup factors will be Kentucky’s ability to control the pace and dictate the tempo, as well as Troy’s physicality and rebounding ability. If the Trojans can win the battle on the boards and limit open looks from deep, they could put pressure on the Wildcats.
For those analyzing college basketball betting strategies, this matchup presents an intriguing battle between an offensive juggernaut and a gritty underdog looking to shock the bracket.
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