I really hate the week-long layoff between the second round and sweet sixteen. All it does is give every Tom, Dick and Harry a chance to over-analyze the crap out of every upcoming game, including tonight's titanic struggle between the Kentucky Wildcats and the (unstoppable and almighty) Ohio State Buckeyes.
Some have said the Bucks will win by 30.
Some have said it will be the best game of the tournament.
Some have even said Coach Cal is going to wear a sweater vest.....okay, so I made that one up.
But anyway, as I see it, there are three keys to the Cats winning the game:
Number one: Contain (not stop) Sullinger with minimal traps and double-teams. Harrellson needs to prove he belongs with the big boys by simply making sure that the "best player in the tournament" doesn't get easy looks and doesn't explode for 25 points. I would also hope Vargas can play 5 minutes and at least foul the fat man really hard.
Number two: Knock down shots, early and often. It sounds obvious (and it is), but if UK is not making threes early in the contest, it won't be a contest. Ohio State gets balanced scoring from every position on the floor, and if the Cats can't match them, it will be a long night.
Number three (most importantly): Don't lose the game in the first or final two minutes of the first half. Kentucky has made a habit of starting games slowly or finishing halves poorly this season, and it would be absolutely killer to make the same kind of mistakes (think final 20 seconds of the WVU first half) against a superb opponent.
All in all, it should be a wonderful college basketball game, and regardless of the outcome, the Cats have had a wonderful season in what really is a rebuilding year.
Cats by 5.
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