Kentucky vs. Kansas Predictions: Wildcats Athleticism Will Trump Jayhawks Grit

Listen, it won't be all that hard for Kansas to upset Kentucky. All they have to do is score easy buckets in transition, limit turnovers so that Kentucky can't get out in transition, keep the Wildcats off the foul line and force them to shoot jump shots (and hope they are cold from outside) rather than attack the rim.

Oh, and getting Anthony Davis or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in foul trouble should help as well.

Okay, okay, so all of that may be a little easier said than done. Especially since, despite all of the grit, will and determination Kansas has displayed to reach the national championship, Kentucky is simply more talented than the Jayhawks.

What team has more players capable of exploiting a mismatch than Kentucky does? Besides Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, Darius Miller and Marquis Teague can beat teams if called upon to do so.

Look for Jones to have a big game against Kansas. I think the Jayhawks big men will have a difficult time guarding the versatile Jones on the perimeter.

Of course, it could be Kidd-Gilchrist who exploits a favorable matchup—I'm not sure how Kansas will handle him—and goes off for a big game.

Or maybe the ego-less Wildcats will spread the love around. Bill Self will surely cook up something different defensively than Kentucky is expecting, but they'll adjust. Because they are so athletic and selfless, they generally don't become stagnant offensively for long.

And if Kansas lets them get out in transition, forget about stopping them. The only player Kentucky plays incapable of leading the break is Davis, but he sure can finish in transition. If Kentucky plays fast, Kansas is, if we're being blunt, screwed.

This isn't to say that Kansas isn't talented. Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey down low are a formidable pair of bigs. Tyshawn Taylor can flat-out light it up when he is hot. Elijah Johnson can be an x-factor for Kansas since he is the only player they have other than Taylor that can create for himself.

But Kansas has played above its talent to this point, willing themselves to victory and supplementing the talent they have with sheer determination and good coaching.

Kentucky's combination of skill and team play will provide the antidote. If they don't come out flat and can avoid foul trouble, they'll win this one.

But not without Kansas putting up a fight and keeping it close. I can't wait for Monday night.

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