Reasons to be optimistic KY will beat Illinois

[champs-r-us]

Game Exp: 3 of their top 6 players are Freshman, the other is a Sophomore.Approximately 155 games played by top 4. Ky top 4 is almost 500 games
Cal gone/ Pope here
KY 3pt 38%. Illinois 31%
Ky FG. 48%. Illinois 45%
Ky has 80 more steals
KY has 16 fewer TO's (push)
Most all the reasons KY lost tourney games the last 5 years are the resume of Illinois this year. Yes injuries are the X factor but much to be optimistic about.

 

[LmdCat]

The single reason to be optimistic is we are still playing after more than half the field has been eliminated.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

I think the biggest reason is because Illinois isn’t consistent at all and they looked good yesterday so going off how they normally play they will look sloppy Sunday.

 

[UKAlum84]

My optimism is knowing we got multiple players who can score.

Just figure it out and let it happen.

 

[KA4Prez]

Illinois will allow Kentucky to score. Kentucky needs to play aggressive offense, shoot open shots and do it quickly. The live ball turnovers can't happen either.

The Cats will need to make this an offensive game and allow their defense, which has been better than Illinois recently, to shine.

 

[BleedBlue13]

Eventually it’s gonna be tough to ask more of these guys. 2 players out butler being mostly a ball handler now and then Carr Amari both with back issues. Perry got hurt a little in the sec tournament. That leaves Oweh Almonor Brea Chandler Garrison and Noah as the only fully healthy players. Like everyone has said Illinois runs hot and cold and I agree with what Aike said we could win by double digits or lose by double digits. We have fought through so much bad luck this year with injuries let’s hope we can gut another one out.

 

[BBNinSC]

Kentucky has the advantage in coaching. Brad Underwood sucks and Illinois fans know it.
This is a game for Brea, I can see 5 threes from him and a Kentucky victory.

 

[KA4Prez]

Illinois will have a game in the NCAA Tournament that they play terribly. It might not be against Kentucky, but they, like Kentucky, will struggle to string together 2+ good games together in a row.

 

[BleedBlue13]

I really hope Brea and Oweh have great games I don’t think we can afford for them not to.

 

[Wildcats1st]

Illinois will allow Kentucky to score. Kentucky needs to play aggressive offense, shoot open shots and do it quickly. The live ball turnovers can't happen either.

The Cats will need to make this an offensive game and allow their defense, which has been better than Illinois recently, to shine.

No if Illinois is going to let us score we need stops we need to win with defense. First priority is to cut the head off the snake.

 

[KA4Prez]

Agree with the D, but it will take 85+ points to win this game.

Kentucky has really struggled in games against teams who want to play that way.

Best result? Like the Missouri game.

However, it could be like the second Alabama game or the Auburn game, if UK goes through dry spells.

 

[Oldbluefart]

I long for the old days of UK basketball where other teams were like, "Oh crap, we got Kentucky" instead of all this worry.
Yes, these past few years were rough but looking at where we are today and what our coach had to do to get here, one has to like what they see.
Every game in college basketball is tough unless you are actually playing a dog shit team. If you are in the tournament and make it past the first round, you are one of the better teams left standing.
Why all this worry?
WE are UK damnit!

 

[cardkilla]

If you're a top seed you might get one easy game and then the rest are tough AF. Illinois appears to be underseeded but we're still better, especially if we play like we did yesterday in last 30 minutes

 

[SemperFiCat]

I didn't see most of the second half, but Illinois didn't wow me. That big guy might give us some trouble, so our bigs need to stay out of foul trouble. I think it's a push on both teams' shot makers. Hopefully we're hitting. We can play better than we did against Troy. I'd like to see us use Carr a lot more.

 

[kyrx]

Because Las Vegas, ESPN, Draft Kings, former NBA players, and CBB analysts don't know squat.
They are all just guessing.

If we play like we did vs. Troy in the first half, we lose. If we play like we did in the 2nd half, we win.

 

[kyrx]

I didn't see most of the second half, but Illinois didn't wow me. That big guy might give us some trouble, so our bigs need to stay out of foul trouble. I think it's a push on both teams' shot makers. Hopefully we're hitting. We can play better than we did against Troy. I'd like to see us use Carr a lot more.

That big guy is Big Z's bro, right?

 

[true blue1]

I think the biggest reason is because Illinois isn’t consistent at all and they looked good yesterday so going off how they normally play they will look sloppy Sunday.

With the talent Illinois has it surprised me that Duke blew them out.

 

[SemperFiCat]

That big guy is Big Z's bro, right?

One of them is, I believe.

 

[DeerTurkHunter1]

If you're a top seed you might get one easy game and then the rest are tough AF. Illinois appears to be underseeded but we're still better, especially if we play like we did yesterday in last 30 minutes

You were impressed with our play yesterday? I thought we were lucky we were playing one of the worst teams I have ever seen in the tournament. We were sloppy and missed bunnies and our defense was bad, they just missed open shots. That’s just my opinion.

 

[megablue]

I think the biggest reason is because Illinois isn’t consistent at all and they looked good yesterday so going off how they normally play they will look sloppy Sunday.

Spot on !! If they are HOT from the outside, we will be in a dogfight, but if we shoot well and they are themselves ... we win !!

 

[megablue]

My optimism is knowing we got multiple players who can score.

Just figure it out and let it happen.

You are correct, in that we have multiple weapons, but their starting five all average in double-digits and their main three off the bench all average over 6 points a game. In my view you, it will be defense and rebounding that determine the winner !!

 

[bluecoon1]

Being so young, makes you wonder what type of magic Cal could pull with them. We got this if Amari finishes under the hoop and we’re hitting 3’s at 35%, never thought a sweet sixteen would be possible a year ago.

 

[rick64]

"Just win baby" - Al Davis

 

[Wildcats1st]

Agree with the D, but it will take 85+ points to win this game.

Kentucky has really struggled in games against teams who want to play that way.

Best result? Like the Missouri game.

However, it could be like the second Alabama game or the Auburn game, if UK goes through dry spells.

I feel like we struggle to play in the 70s. A wide open game idk we should win that’s our game. We get stops and don’t give up offensive rebounds. Illinois isn’t near as good as bama or auburn

 

[BigBluePap]

Illinois doesn’t get much from their bench and essentially go about 7 deep. If we can limit unforced turnovers I like our chances!!! GBB🏀

 

[Emarc]

Being so young, makes you wonder what type of magic Cal could pull with them.

🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

 

[UKBB4Ever]

These are the good ole days. No one wanted UK in their bracket.

Il is scared shitless about facing us.

Just watch their guys in the press conference. They say one thing but their eyes tell a different story.

Yes, we have to defend them. But they have to guard us too.

 

[wildcat2243]

After watching Illinois last night, they are going to be tough to beat. I hope they have a off night when we play them.

 

[Sejonesy]

That big guy is Big Z's bro, right?

Twin