Another matchup between Conference Champions, the Kentucky Wildcats and Northern Kentucky Norse, will be set up in Indianapolis as a part of NCAA Tournament South region First round. The Wildcats are coming off from a Championship win over Arkansas, 82-65 while the Norse defeated University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, 59-53. Game tip-off is scheduled for Friday, 09:40 PM ET.
Place: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Date/Time: Friday, March 17th, 2017 09:40 PM ET
TV Coverage: CBS
#2 Kentucky Wildcats vs. #15 Northern Kentucky Norse
Line: Kentucky Wildcats -20 (-102)
Total: 152.5 points (-102 over; -108 under)
The Wildcats earn a No. 2 seed for the seventh time in program history
The Kentucky Wildcats own a national record for the most NCAA Tournament appearances with 56 including this year. They are 44-10 in Big Dance openers and have won 23 of its last 24 first round games. The Wildcats also own a 121-49 all-time record in NCAA Tournament with 71.1 winning percentage (fourth-best in NCAA history). UK ended the regular season on the top of SEC with 16-2 conference and 29-5 overall record (48th regular season Championship) and defeated Georgia, Alabama and Arkansas in conference tournament to become the SEC Champions for the 30th time. Currently, they are riding a 11-games winning streak which ties for the fifth-longest in the country entering the NCAA Tournament. De’Aron Fox led the team against the Razorbacks with 18 points while Edrice Adebayo and Malik Monk added 17 each. Adebayo and Derek Willis dominated the defensive end with nine rebounds each and three blocks combined. Dominique Hawkins made a great contribution from the bench with 14 points and team-high four steal in 27 minutes on the floor.
Malik Monk leads the team this season with 20.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest. Team’s leading passer is De’Aron Fox who averages 4.8 assist along with team’s second best 16.1 points. Edrice Adebayo tops the Wildcats in rebounding with 7.8 boards in average while scoring 13.3 points per game. Isaiah Briscoe contributes across the board with 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
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The Norse became seventh school in history to earn a NCAA Tournament berth in its first season eligible
Motor City Madness Champions the Northern Kentucky Norse have managed to make one of the biggest turnaround seasons opposing to last year’s. They recorded 15 more wins this season than a year before (second-best in the nation based solely on wins and third-best considering losses also). The Norse ended the regular season schedule ranked fourth in the conference with a 12-6 record (24-10 overall). NKU defeated Wright State in quarterfinal, Youngstown State in semifinal and Milwaukee in Championship game to become the Horizon Conference Champions for the first time in school history. They’re entering the Big Dance on the No. 15 seed south region bracket. LaVone Holland led the team against the Panthers with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists while Drew McDonald recorded a double-double performance with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Solid contribution came from Cole Murray with eight points and Carson Williams with seven scores.
McDonald tops the team in points and rebounds this season with 16.4 scores and 7.7 boards per match. LaVone Holland II leads the team in passing with 4.1 assists in average along with 14.3 points. Carson Williams and Cole Murray contribute with 10.5 and 10.2 points while Williams adds solid 5.8 rebounds per matchup.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Northern Kentucky Norse Game Trends & Prediction
The Kentucky Wildcats are 18-15 ATS overall, 15-9 at home and 3-7 away. They are 16-15 against the Over/Under total, 12-9 at home and 4-6 away. The Wildcats are 5-5 ATS and 2-8 against the Over/Under in last 10 overall games. They are 1-2 ATS and 1-2 against the Over/Under in conference tournament.
On the other side, the Norse is 11-16 total against the Over/Under, 6-6 at home and 5-10 away. They are 20-9 total ATS, 10-4 at home and 10-5 away. The Norse is 6-3-1 ATS and 6-4 against the Over/Under in last 10 overall games. They are also 3-0 ATS and 2-1 against Over/Under in conference tournament play.
The Wildcats score 85.9 ppg and allow 71.6 ppg this season while the Norse scores 76.2 ppg and allows 71.4 ppg.
The Wildcats will play without Sacha Killeya-Jones who is out indefinitely due to an illness. The Norse has no injured players at the moment.
State foes met only once so far when the Wildcats defeated the Norse 93-63 on November 10, 2013. The Wildcats have the advantage here but the Norse might pick a fight if they’re on their best.
My Pick: Kentucky Wildcats
Total: Under 152.5 Points
