NCAA Basketball Matchup: Arkansas vs. Kentucky
Should it come as any surprise that John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats are loaded once again this year?
9:00 PM EST
College Basketball Gambling Odds from BetOnline
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Kentucky -17.5
Over/Under: 147
Every year the team loses a ton of talent to the NBA, and every year he brings it another amazing class of freshmen. Mike Anderson is trying to take the Arkansas Razorbacks back to the top in college hoops, but he has quite a long ways to go with this team. Still, playing against Anderson’s “40 Minutes of Hell” is never an easy task.
The quick tempo and all-out pressure style of play is Mike Anderson’s bread and butter. Arkansas does have the athletes to pressure and force turnovers, but they aren’t very efficient on offense right now. Marshawn Powell was the team’s most talented player, but he went down with a season-ending knee injury in November. This has become a guard-dominated team that relies heavily on quickness and transition buckets. The team’s top five scorers are all guards. The Razorbacks are good defensively, even in the half court. This is a team that allows opponents to shoot only 39.1 percent from the floor.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Kentucky is one of the favorites to win the title this year because of their amazing athleticism all over the court. Anthony Davis has burst onto the scene and absolutely dominated the paint. Davis has 80 blocks already this year, and he is clearly one of the best shot blockers in the nation. He also averages a double-double in points and rebounds. Doron Lamb and Terrance Jones are the “veterans” on this team as sophomores. Jones has been inconsistent this year, but Lamb is the team’s best shooter. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s versatility adds a whole extra dimension to this team. Kidd-Gilchrist can bang around in the paint or stick with the guards on the perimeter, and the NBA scouts love his potential. Opponents are shooting just 35.6 percent against Kentucky’s defense this season.
It is interesting to note that Kentucky has actually failed to cover the number in their last 14 games! Arkansas should be able to hang around enough here, but Kentucky will pick up the win.
Prediction: Kentucky 81 Arkansas 68
