K-State will keep it close vs. Kentucky
BOSTON — Don’t make a Wildcats joke. Don’t be that guy, or girl. Kansas State (+5 ½) over
Kentucky: Last week, we watched the South region implode and produce the firstever Sweet 16 in which none of the top-four seeds are present. So, what makes suddenly popular No. 5 Kentucky — which the majority of brackets had falling to Arizona in the second round — different?
John Calipari’s latest batch of inexperienced kids remains one of the least intimidating Kentucky teams he’s ever taken to the NCAA Tournament — a group that led No. 12 Davidson by two with less than three min- utes left in the first round and which No. 13 Buffalo played to a near-stalemate for 32 minutes.
Kent u c ky has won nine of its past 10 games, but the team may have crossed over from confident to cocky.
After Calipari voiced his annual displeasure with Kentucky’s draw, the coach acted as if the team could just walk across the Red Sea now.
“I betcha that committee is mad right now,” he said. “Never saw this coming. They may want to re-bracket.”
Meanwhile, Kansas State is expected to return All-Big 12 first-team big man Dean Wade to action after he missed the past three games.
Kentucky leading scorer Kevin Knox’s response?
“I hope he plays so they don’t have an excuse.”
Even if Wade isn’t at full strength, his return will provide a Willis Reed-style boost and give Kentucky a challenge it didn’t realize still existed. Nevada (-1) over Loyola-Chicago: Unfortunately, one of the tournament’s best stories has
to end here. Nevada advanced by ripping apart Cincinnati’s second-ranked defense, and Sister Jean can’t help slow the Wolf Pack’s dynamic attack. Texas A& M (+2½) over
Michiga n: The Aggies are healthy, and look like the Final Four contender that opened the season 11-1. Their length will give trouble to a Wolverines offense yet to regain its rhythm from the Big Ten Tournament. Gonzaga (-5½) over Florida State: Without some awful officiating against Xavier’s J.P. Macura, the Seminoles are sitting at home right now. This season: 22-23-1 2011-17 record: 199-155-8