Gameday, presented by Justice Dental: Kentucky vs. Kansas State in the Round of 32
Follow along with the KSR crew throughout the postseason as we bring you behind-the-scenes coverage of the Kentucky basketball team in the most ridiculous manner possible. Welcome to our Justice Dental March Game Day Central!
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Kentucky is back in the round of 32, facing a foe that caused the Big Blue faithful March heartache in the not so distant past. The Wildcats from Lexington will face the purple Wildcats of Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Greensboro. Tip-off is at 2:40 pm EST on CBS.
Kentucky is 9-1 all-time against Kansas State. This is the the third time John Calipari has faced this foe in the NCAA Tournament. His squad took care of business in the opening round of the 2014 postseason, and suffered a devastating defeat to Bruce Weber’s bunch in the 2018 Sweet 16.
This year’s No. 3 seed is led by first-year head coach Jerome Tang and a pair of third team All-Americans, Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson. Nowell is a bouncy 5-foot-8 point guard averaging 16.8 points and 7.8 assists per game. Johnson, a former Florida Gator, is making the most of his second chance by averaging more than 17 points and 7 rebounds per game. Third-place finishers in the Big 12, Kansas State only lost once in non-conference play, on the road at Butler.
After spending a week discussing the Bryce Hopkins game, there’s been very little time to wrap our heads around the matchup between the two Wildcats. Before the nerves kick in, settle in and keep scrolling. We’ve got plenty at Kentucky Sports Radio to make sure you’re prepared for what could be a nail-biter in the NCAA Tournament.
Vegas & Computer Forecast for Kentucky vs. Kansas State
After opening as a pick ’em, money on the Cats moved the line to Kentucky -3 with a total of 145. The Purple Wildcats from the Little Apple are 20-12 ATS this year, but have covered just once in their last three games. The over has hit in three of K-State’s last four contests.
The computers believe today’s game is a toss up. Torvik and KenPom each call for a 1-point Kentucky loss in a game played in the 70s. ESPN’s BPI winning percentage is the outlier, giving Kentucky a decisive 61.7-38.3 advantage over Kansas State.
How to watch, listen
- Time: 2:40 p.m. ET
- Location: Greensboro Coliseum (Greensboro, NC)
- TV: CBS – Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Jim Spanarkel (analyst), Evan Washburn (sideline)
- Stream: CBS, March Madness Live
- Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Jack Givens), Varsity App
- Satellite: SiriusXM 134 and 202
Reminder: Your typical audio streaming routine may not be available during the NCAA Tournament. Find your nearby UK Sports Network affiliate to see where you can listen to the Cats.
Sunday NCAA Tournament Schedule
- No. 3 Xavier vs. No. 11 Pitt | 12:10 p.m. | CBS
- No. 3 Kansas State vs. No. 6 Kentucky | 2:40 p.m. | CBS
- No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 7 Michigan State | 5:15 p.m. | CBS
- No. 4 UConn vs. No. 5 Saint Mary’s | 6:10 p.m. | TNT
- No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 6 Creighton | 7:10 p.m. | TBS
- No. 9 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 16 FDU | 7:45 p.m. | truTV
- No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 5 Miami (Fla.) | 8:40 p.m. | TNT
- No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 6 TCU | 9:40 p.m. | TBS
Will Sahvir Wheeler Play?
The Kentucky point guard has not been seen in a basketball game in over a month. Ahead of the Providence game he believed he would be available. Wheeler was scratched after going through pregame shoot-around, still only “70-75%” healthy. Is one more day of rest good enough to get him back in the lineup? We’ll see, but it seems doubtful.
Calipari, Kentucky Wildcats Preview the Game
Warren Central Captures Kentucky State Title
There’s a new champion of Kentucky high school basketball. A year after falling 43-42 to George Rogers Clark in the Sweet 16 Final, Warren Central received revenge at Rupp Arena. The Dragons defeated GRC 64-60 to finish a 36-1 season with the school’s second ever state championship. The Cardinals from Winchester shot 53% from the field and 43% from behind the arc, but they could not keep up with Warren Central, who had four players all score 17 points apiece for Will Unseld’s triumphant team.
Kentucky Baseball Stays HOT
The Bat Cats are ON FIRE. Kentucky erased a 3-run deficit by scoring 12 unanswered to take down Mississippi State and secure a series victory in their first weekend battle with an SEC foe. It was the Wildcats’ sixth comeback win of the season and their 13th straight victory. The Cats will go for the sweep before tip-off with a Noon first pitch at Kentucky Proud Park that will air on the SEC Network.
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