6:49 p.m. today, KCNC-4; Kentucky by 2 1/2
Wildcats: 29-8; No. 4 seed in East Region Huskies: 30-9; No. 3 seed in West Region
Key matchup.
UConn’s Kemba Walker vs. Kentucky’s DeAndre Liggins. If voting for national player of the year was based mostly on postseason play, Walker might pose a bigger challenge to BYU’s Jimmer Fredette. Though just 6-foot-1, Walker can create shots when seemingly nothing is there, and he also drives fearlessly down the lane. The 6-foot-6 Liggins has emerged as one of the nation’s premier on-ball defenders.
Up high.
Kentucky has a game-changer of its own in freshman point guard Brandon Knight. He hit the winning jumper against overall No. 1 seed Ohio State and scored 22 points in the regional final win over second-seeded North Carolina. With Liggins paying attention to Walker, 6-7 Wildcats guard Darius Miller will be free to float and utilize his length. Miller has struggled a bit in the NCAA Tournament, averaging just seven points for the past three games. Conversely, Kentucky can’t allow Huskies freshman Jeremy Lamb to get comfortable with his NBA-ready floater along the baseline.
Down low.
UConn 6-9 sophomore forward Alex Oriakhi may be the most underrated player in this game. A force down low, he’s averaging 9.8 rebounds in postseason play. Kentucky 6-10 senior Josh Harrellson has held strong in the postseaon. Look for UConn to go inside to Oriakhi, 6-9 Tyler Olander and 7-0 Charles Okwandu in an effort to get Harrellson in early foul trouble.
The Post’s pick: UConn. Kemba Walker was in a Final Four two years ago. He will be relaxed and almost unstoppable.
