Now that we have gotten over the fact that the selection committee didn't do Kentucky any favors, let's take a look at the Wildcats first opponent.
Kentucky will face Ivy League school Princeton Tigers in the first round Thursday at 2:45pm.
Princeton University:
Location: New Jersey
Enrollment: 7,567
Nickname: Tigers
Former names: College of New Jersey (1746-1896)
Famous Alumni: First Lady, Michelle Obama
CEO of Google, Eric E. Schmidt
Princeton finished the regular season with a 25-6 record and 12-2 in conference. They were 12-0 at home this season, while going 10-5 on the road, and 3-1 on neutral floors. The Tigers won their conference tournament 63-62 defeating Harvard on a last second shot. They also had some decent games against some good teams this season. They defeated Rutgers in November by a score of 78-73 in overtime. Another NCAA tournament team that they beat is Bucknell 66-55. So this team can play and should not be over looked by the Cats.
They are not a very good 3 point shooting team averaging just 36% on the season, but they hold their opponents to 32%. They are not a high scoring team averaging just 69 ppg, but again they hold their opponent to 63 ppg. The one thing they can do is shoot free throws, they average as a team 73% from the line, with 3 players right at 80% from the stripe. So you don't want to get into a foul shooting contest with them.
Their leading scorer is Kareem Maddox(13.9ppg) and Ian Hummer(13.9ppg) that's right his last name is Hummer, I expect to hear some taunts going his way come Thursday. Kareem Maddox shoots the ball at a 56% clip from the floor, and Hummer shoots it 55% from the floor. Their best 3 point shooter is a guy by the name of Douglas Davis at 39% with Dan Mavraides coming in second with 38%.
Kareem Maddox is good underneath, he can rebound the ball averaging 7.1 rpg, and blocks 1.8 shots per game, so that will be something to watch on Thursday. Princeton has two guys who knows how to share the ball well with Dan Mavraides averaging 2.8 assits per game, and again Kareem Maddox averaging 2.5.
Kareem Maddox, Dan Mavraides, and Ian Hummer are a bit turnover prone with all averaging over 2 turnovers a game, and Maddox averaging almost 3 a game. So you have go think that Kentucky's defense will cause problems for this team.
Now I don't see this team being a problem for Kentucky on paper, but it's teams like this that can hurt your feelings if you don't take them serious. They have nothing to loose, and it's all on Kentucky to prove they can win. But I doubt that Calipari would allow Kentucky to overlook this team.
Kentucky should be motivated by the slap in the face they received from the selection committee on Sunday with a 4seed in the toughest region with #1 overall Ohio ST., while Florida who Kentucky beat twice in ten days gets a 2seed handed to them on a platter, and in the weakest region. But thats the best part of the NCAA tournament. You can never predict who will go how far and who knows, if Kentucky comes to play, and plays like they did in the SEC tournament, theres no doubt they can make the Final Four.
But first things first, let's send Princeton back to Jersey.
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