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Selection Sunday left the teams-coaches of greatest interest to us here in the Bluegrass with some mixed feelings as the NCAA Tournament draw was revealed.
Kentucky as a three seed has a path in the Midwest Region to the Sweet 16, and that depends on the health of the Wildcats.
Louisville as an eight seed wasn’t great, especially with top South seed Auburn looming as a second-game foe, even if that all is in Rupp Arena.
St. John’s as a two seed in the West is a good place for Rick Pitino’s good team. Pitino could end up facing John Calipari and No. 10 seed Arkansas in a second game.
Those were the main highlights for college basketball fans around here.
Louisville essentially tips off the NCAA Tournament against Creighton with the first game Thursday at 11:15 a.m. CT. That game will be at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky will tipoff against Troy on Friday at 6:10 p.m. CT in Milwaukee.
Kentucky’s team had a watch party in a club area of Rupp Arena on Sunday. The most positive thing out of that was to see Lamont Butler talk about getting another chance in the NCAA Tournament.
Butler’s shoulder has been a constant problem over the last month or more, and him not getting hurt again is a major worry now that it’s lose and go home time.
Butler has some extensive NCAA Tournament history, he made a buzzer beater for San Diego State in the 2023 Final Four. Butler has played in the NCAA Tournament several times.
“I’m just excited to go out there and have the opportunity to reach a Final Four and win a national championship at Kentucky, I’m really excited,” Butler said Sunday.
Since he has NCAA experience at the highest level, what advice will Butler give to his UK teammates.
“Just enjoy the moment,” Butler said. “March Madness is something we all dream of, not to be in a panic, play free, play fun, play for each other. That’s going to be my main message. One thing that’s similar is the bond we had with each other. At San Diego State we had grown so close together. Here at Kentucky we really are brothers now. I think it’s just the win or go home, I don’t want to go home, I don’t want to lose.”
Kentucky coach Mark Pope said he thought the draw went well for the Wildcats.
“It broke down pretty much with what we expected,” Pope said in Lexington. “With this group this is our only season. We’re just desperate to make this last as long as we can.”
Having Butler healthy is a big plus for Kentucky because of his NCAA experience.
“Lamont, he’s done it, he’s been in first round games, he’s been in Final Four games,” Pope said.
Pope was asked about a possible Pitino vs. Calipari matchup in the second game. Arkansas would have to beat Kansas in the opening NCAA game to make that happen.
“If I know anything about Coach P, he wants all the smoke, all the smoke, bring it,” Pope said.
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey had a little smoke showing himself when giving his thoughts on being in an 8-9 game.
“In my opinion, we should be playing a 12 or an 11 seed,” Kelsey said. “Every metric under the sun that you look at and all the experts. NET 23 which would put us in a possible five-seed range, KenPom a 23.
“If anything to a competitor, to our guys, and to me, it puts a little fire in your belly and gives you a little added chip on your shoulder.”
Continue reading...
Kentucky as a three seed has a path in the Midwest Region to the Sweet 16, and that depends on the health of the Wildcats.
Louisville as an eight seed wasn’t great, especially with top South seed Auburn looming as a second-game foe, even if that all is in Rupp Arena.
St. John’s as a two seed in the West is a good place for Rick Pitino’s good team. Pitino could end up facing John Calipari and No. 10 seed Arkansas in a second game.
Those were the main highlights for college basketball fans around here.
Louisville essentially tips off the NCAA Tournament against Creighton with the first game Thursday at 11:15 a.m. CT. That game will be at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky will tipoff against Troy on Friday at 6:10 p.m. CT in Milwaukee.
Kentucky’s team had a watch party in a club area of Rupp Arena on Sunday. The most positive thing out of that was to see Lamont Butler talk about getting another chance in the NCAA Tournament.
Butler’s shoulder has been a constant problem over the last month or more, and him not getting hurt again is a major worry now that it’s lose and go home time.
Butler has some extensive NCAA Tournament history, he made a buzzer beater for San Diego State in the 2023 Final Four. Butler has played in the NCAA Tournament several times.
“I’m just excited to go out there and have the opportunity to reach a Final Four and win a national championship at Kentucky, I’m really excited,” Butler said Sunday.
Since he has NCAA experience at the highest level, what advice will Butler give to his UK teammates.
“Just enjoy the moment,” Butler said. “March Madness is something we all dream of, not to be in a panic, play free, play fun, play for each other. That’s going to be my main message. One thing that’s similar is the bond we had with each other. At San Diego State we had grown so close together. Here at Kentucky we really are brothers now. I think it’s just the win or go home, I don’t want to go home, I don’t want to lose.”
Kentucky coach Mark Pope said he thought the draw went well for the Wildcats.
“It broke down pretty much with what we expected,” Pope said in Lexington. “With this group this is our only season. We’re just desperate to make this last as long as we can.”
Having Butler healthy is a big plus for Kentucky because of his NCAA experience.
“Lamont, he’s done it, he’s been in first round games, he’s been in Final Four games,” Pope said.
Pope was asked about a possible Pitino vs. Calipari matchup in the second game. Arkansas would have to beat Kansas in the opening NCAA game to make that happen.
“If I know anything about Coach P, he wants all the smoke, all the smoke, bring it,” Pope said.
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey had a little smoke showing himself when giving his thoughts on being in an 8-9 game.
“In my opinion, we should be playing a 12 or an 11 seed,” Kelsey said. “Every metric under the sun that you look at and all the experts. NET 23 which would put us in a possible five-seed range, KenPom a 23.
“If anything to a competitor, to our guys, and to me, it puts a little fire in your belly and gives you a little added chip on your shoulder.”
Continue reading...
