Kentucky Basketball: The Top 10 Keys To Victory Against Ohio State
On Friday at the Prudential Center in Newark, the Kentucky Wildcats collide with the Ohio State Buckeyes, attempting to reach the Elite 8 by taking down the tournament's top overall seed. This will certainly be a tough task for the very young Wildcats in the East regional semifinals.
However, Kentucky is one of the best teams in the country for a reason. In a tournament where it has all happened, anything is possible on Friday.
Here are ten things that can either win or lose the game for Kentucky.
Stay Healthy
1 of 10
This almost goes without saying as every team remaining in the field would like to keep their best players on the floor. However, Kentucky felt how it would be when they lost Josh Harrellson for a time during the third round against West Virginia. Harrellson was busted open above the eye and could not return until the bleeding had ceased. Harrellson is a big reason for why the Wildcats are still here.
Luckily for Kentucky fans, Harrellson was able to come back into the game and was not seriously injured. Without him, or any other crucial part of the Kentucky gameplan, they may not even have been in this game, let alone have a chance against Ohio State.
Brandon Knight Playing Well
2 of 10
Brandon Knight came into Kentucky with just as much hype as the man he was replacing: John Wall. However, Knight has not had a Wall-esque season in his freshman campaign. Knight is one of the reasons that Kentucky is in the position that they are in now, but he has not pulled down the headlines, especially in a world where Jimmer Fredette plays basketball.
Knight had some troubles in his NCAA Tournament debut against Princeton, scoring just two points in the game. However, those two points were the winning basket to help Kentucky advance. Knight then went off for 30 points against West Virginia. Which Brandon Knight will arrive in Newark to play Ohio State? It is what every Kentucky fan is worried about when it comes to the freshman phenom.
Shut Down Jared Sullinger
3 of 10
Speaking of freshman phenoms, Ohio State has a pretty good one as well. Jared Sullinger has been one of the most dominant players in the tournament up to this point. Sullinger has spearheaded a Buckeye rampage over Texas-San Antonio and George Mason.
Ohio State's first real test comes against Kentucky, but the strategy for the Wildcats has to revolve around limiting Sullinger as much as possible. The closer that Sullinger's stats are to his jersey number, the better the chances for Kentucky.
.png?w=256 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
Listening to John Calipari
4 of 10
There are a lot of good freshmen in this game on both sides, especially for Kentucky. However, there is one crucial part of this team that has enough experience for all. Coach John Calipari is headed to the ninth Sweet Sixteen of his coaching career. Last year, with a group of freshmen at Kentucky, Calipari led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight. In order to repeat the performance, Calipari will have to win this game.
While the first two games were nerve-wracking for the players, the regional sites bring a new level of excitement and nerves. A team could be swallowed up by the bright lights of a regional and it is up to Calipari to keep his players' feet on the ground and not have them freak out in the big game atmosphere.
Don't Give Up Easy Baskets
5 of 10
Yet another basic rule to live by as a basketball team, but anyone who saw Ohio State in their two tournament games can see that the Buckeyes will exploit any weakness. George Mason was without Luke Hancock and Ohio State crashed the boards and owned the post. Kentucky averages four more rebounds than Ohio State does per game (38 to the Buckeyes' 34).
Josh Harrellson and freshman Terrence Jones each average more than eight rebounds per game and will be keyed upon in Ohio State's offensive sets. If Jones and Harrellson can send some shots back and eliminate second chance points, they will eliminate most of Ohio State's momentum.
Limit Ohio State's Three-Point Attempts
6 of 10
One thing that Ohio State does very well is hit shots from beyond the three-point line. David Lighty and the rest of the Ohio State sharpshooters can hit lights out and put this game out of reach in a big way. The Buckeyes hit 16-26 from three against George Mason and 12-24 from beyond-the-arc against UT-San Antonio.
As a team, Ohio State shoots 42 percent from three-point range. If they shoot the same way against Kentucky, it will be very hard to stick around in the game.
Jump Out to an Early Lead
7 of 10
Kentucky has had two close games in the tournament, while Ohio State has enjoyed two blowouts. If Kentucky jumps out to a lead to start the game, it may affect the psyche of the Buckeyes, who have five freshmen among the 11 players on their team. Winning has been almost implied for Ohio State this season, but an early lead on a neutral site on a big time stage may be too much for Ohio State to handle.
It will also do wonders for Kentucky's confidence.
Considering that both West Virginia and Princeton could have been in this position instead of them, they have to be thankful to have held on this long. A lead to begin the game will allow the Wildcats to relax and believe that they really do belong here.
Make Free Throws
8 of 10
One Achilles' tendon for Kentucky lately has been their inability to make their free throws. Against Princeton, Kentucky was just 6-for-11 and was 17-for-24 against West Virginia. Combined, the Wildcats have been 23-for-35, shooting just 65.7 percent from the charity stripe.
Missing free throws is just literally throwing points away. It is likely what kept the team from having more comfortable victories in the previous rounds. Don't expect to be so lucky against Ohio State.
Don't Give Up After a Buckeye Run
9 of 10
Let's be honest for a minute; we know that Ohio State is bound to rip off at least one big run in the game against Kentucky. It is best to not try and avoid it entirely because it will happen whether you like it or not. However, what makes a good run great is the lack of recovery from the team who gave up the run. If your team gets outscored by ten during a run, then that run will pay off as a more important run than if the lead is diminished to around what it was before the run.
This is the reason that they play a 40-minute game in college basketball. Giving up a 10-2 run over four minutes of the game does not have to destroy the other 36 minutes of the game. In any fight, you are bound to take a good punch to the jaw. Instead of trying to protect your jaw in the fight, the focus needs to be on the returning punch.
Put Ohio State in Foul Trouble
10 of 10
Kentucky fans, get a load at this picture.
This picture will be seen in one of two situations: either the game is another blowout or these Buckeyes are in foul trouble. If it is the latter, I can understand why you are smiling. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that forcing fouls on your opponent will make them play less and will often be in your advantage.
However, it is crucial to put the pressure on the top-seeded Buckeyes if you are Kentucky. Drive the lane and force a foul. There has not been a Buckeye with more than three fouls in either tournament game this season. There has not been that real sense of urgency just yet for Ohio State. If Kentucky can put that pressure on them, the Wildcats will have the potential on pulling out the win and moving into the Elite Eight.
.png?w=480 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
