NEW ORLEANS — In the wake of Louisville’s 69-61 loss to Kentucky Saturday night in an NCAA Tournament national semifinal, Cardinals coach Rick Pitino gave words to what almost every college basketball fan has thought this season.
To beat the Wildcats, he said, “You have to bring your A-plus game and they have to have a B game.’’
VIDEO: COACH, PLAYER REACTIONS
Does Kansas, a team that was not even picked to win the Big 12 title, never mind the national title, have an A-plus game? And what are the odds of mighty Kentucky, now just one win away from fulfilling its mandate to win it all, playing a B game with everything on the line?
We’ll find out tonight if Kansas, a six-point underdog, can join the likes of North Carolina State and Villanova by pulling off one of the great upsets in tournament history.
BACKCOURT
Kentucky’s Marquis Teague and Kansas’ Tyshawn Taylor of Hoboken will go mano-to-mano in a matchup you see at Rucker Park in the summer. Kentucky two-guard Doron Lamb is a better shooter than Elijah Johnson, but Johnson had 10 rebounds against the Buckeyes. Lamb will have play defense and rebound. Travis Releford could be a wild card for Kansas.
EDGE: KANSAS
FRONTCOURT
Anthony Davis left no doubt he was the worthy recipient of Player of the Year honors with his 18-point, 14-rebound, five-blocks performance against Louisville. The Jayhawks will try to go at him with 7-footer Jeff Withey and 6-foot-10, 237-pound power forward Thomas Robinson, who was a man among boys in the Jayhawks’ 64-62 win over Ohio State. Terrence Jones, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Darius Miller give the Wildcats a three-headed monster to throw at Robinson on defense.
EDGE: KENTUCKY
BENCH
Kentucky’s Kyle Wiltjer took umbrage with us writing the ’Cats had a one-man bench of Darius Miller. Wiltjer made the most of his eight minutes in the Final Four, scoring five points and making a key steal. But Miller was tremendous off the bench, especially after the Cards rallied in the second half. His senior leadership can’t be overstated on a team that starts three freshmen and two sophomores. Kansas forward Kevin Young is not much of an offensive threat, but he has a live body. Conner Teahan is one of those poised dead-eye shooters who could make a living playing H-O-R-S-E.
EDGE: KENTUCKY
COACHING
John Calipari might be the best ever at getting young stars to come together for the benefit of the team. When the Cards tied Saturday night’s game at 49-49, the ’Cats didn’t crack. Though he has been close, Calipari has never won the big one. Bill Self has done one of his finest coaching jobs this season at Kansas. Don’t be fooled by his genteel manner — his teams are tough. Self owns a 75-68 OT win over Calipari’s Memphis team in the 2008 national championship game.
EDGE: KANSAS
PREDICTION
This season has had one overriding theme: Will it be a coronation of Kentucky? The short answer? Yes. The Jayhawks used enough energy Saturday night in their win over Ohio State to light the Superdome. Even if they bring their A-plus game, it won’t be nearly enough.
PREDICTION: KENTUCKY, 88-74