Would you have ever thought that Kentucky would be 22-0 today and the only thing the national media has to do is dream up ways for them to lose?
Well, Myron Medcalf of ESPN.com has made up the top 5 teams that he thinks has the best shot of beating the Wildcats.
Here are his top 2:
1. Wisconsin: One miraculous shot. That’s how Kentucky sent the Badgers back to Madison in last year’s Final Four. Kentucky is even better this year, and it’s deeper. But the Badgers have improved, too. They still present the same matchup problems with Wooden Award favorite Frank Kaminsky and with Sam Dekker so comfortable in space. Nigel Hayes is one of the most improved players in the country. Per ESPN Stats & Info, the trio combined to shoot 19-for-24 (79.1 percent) from the field in Wisconsin’s 92-78 victory over Indiana on Tuesday. Right now, the Badgers boast the most efficient offense in America (1.25 points per possession), according to Ken Pomeroy. They’d be tough to beat in a rematch with Kentucky.
2. Virginia: Everything is a chess match with the Cavaliers. They’re masters of controlling the pace. North Carolina has averaged 70.3 possessions per game. The Tar Heels played 64 against Virginia. Duke averages 68 and played just 59 possessions in its weekend win at Virginia. When things get tight, Virginia’s execution on offense and defense — sixth and third in efficiency, respectively — becomes the most significant factor in the game. Kentucky is averaging 63 possessions per game, proof that its opponents have tried to slow things down to maximize their chances of victory. But no team dictates pace the way that Virginia does, and no team finishes opponents in those gritty matchups the way that Virginia can. That coupled with Tony Bennett’s pack-line defense could prove to be the antidote for the Wildcats.
You can read “Five teams that could beat Kentucky” by clicking here.
The only two teams I think that could have a chance to beat Kentucky is Duke and maybe Arizona.
But, last time I checked, none of these teams are on Kentucky’s regular season schedule. They will all have to make it to the Cats in the tournament if they are to have a shot of ending the 40-0 dream.
