Elite 8: Kentucky Vs. Michigan Preview
Perhaps while we were all writing about how far downhill Kentucky basketball had gone, the Wildcats were simply biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Â That is not likely the scenario.
The truth is that Kentucky had to fight and claw their way into the Elite 8, a spot that most doubted they could grab this season and with good reason.
The time had lost a lot of experience and it showed early on, but this team of mostly freshmen have managed to knock off the formerly undefeated Wichita State and went through defending championship Louisville to find themselves in the Elite 8.
Kentucky now find themselves in position to reclaim their former glory as a NCAA Champion, but the obstacles just keep coming. Â They will likely be without their big man, Willie Cauley-Stein due to an ankle injury. Â They have been spending extra time in practice in order to tweak their strategy.
Their opponents this afternoon are young like the Wildcats (the Michigan Wolverines start three sophomores, a freshmen and a the team’s only senior) though their path to the Elite 8 was not as tumultuous.
They did lose the Big Ten Tournament to Michigan State though, a big bump in their road to NCAA Tournament. Â They may get a chance at redemption against Michigan State in the Finals if they can get past Louisville and Wisconsin.
The Wolverines are made up of top notch jump shooter and compared to the all-freshmen Kentucky squad, the Wolverines are veteran players.
Those “tweaks in strategy” Kentucky is making will need to be something big if they are going to get past Michigan.
Kentucky are the favorites to win this game with a -2 point spread. Â The game starts at 5 p.m. ET and you can watch it on CBS.
