Kentucky
March Madness Sunday predictions, odds: Kentucky vs. Kansas State, FAU
The primary four-day marathon of March Insanity involves an finish Sunday.
We now have already seen a 15-seed knock off a 2-seed and No. 1 Purdue go down within the East Area to 16-seed FDU.
We’re off to a fairly good begin.
Sunday, the ultimate spots within the Candy 16 will likely be crammed. My two preseason futures bets, Creighton (+10000) and Baylor (+1600), will face off.
I lean Baylor there, however for my bets, I went with one other recreation and Closing 4 futures with some worth.
Betting on March Insanity 2023?
Kentucky -1.5 over Kansas State (BetMGM)
Betting Kentucky this yr has been rather less painful than banging your head towards the wall for 2 hours.
The Wildcats have been inconsistent all season, however if you happen to take a look at the final month, Kentucky has proven indicators of turning issues round.
Kentucky is 6-2 over its previous eight video games, with each losses coming to Vanderbilt. The six wins aren’t hole both — the Wildcats have victories over NCAA Event groups Windfall, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Tennessee.
So, if you happen to take a look at Kentucky’s physique of labor over the previous month, it’s encouraging.
I really like Kansas State and I’m an enormous fan of head coach Jerome Tang.
The group performs exhausting each night time, and Kentucky might want to match Kansas State’s depth.
There are, nonetheless, some matchup edges for Kentucky within the recreation which might be exhausting to disregard.
The largest is rebounding.
The best way to beat Kentucky is to restrict its second-chance alternatives and make it shoot from the skin.
As Windfall came upon, Oscar Tshiebwe is an absolute monster.
Tshiebwe completed the first-round recreation with a tournament-record 25 rebounds, and he ought to dominate once more Sunday, particularly on the offensive boards.
Because of Tshiebwe, Kentucky ranks second in offensive rebounding proportion, whereas a lot smaller Kansas State ranks 219th in defensive rebounding proportion.
Kentucky additionally turns rebounds into factors, rating third in second-chance conversion proportion and fifth in near-proximity (layups, dunks, tip-ins) area objective proportion, in line with Haslametrics.
When Kentucky is scoring from shut vary, it’s powerful to beat.
The opposite factor to look at in an in depth recreation is that Kansas State actually struggles with turnovers and fouling, rating north of 290th in each classes.
If Kentucky wins the turnover battle and Tshiebwe is dominating within the paint, search for it to advance to the Candy 16.
Florida Atlantic to win East Area +500 (FanDuel)
One factor some individuals overlook is you’ll be able to nonetheless wager futures through the event.
Typically the best way a bracket shakes out early opens up worth on a sure group. That’s the case with Florida Atlantic.
FAU had a dead-even first-round matchup towards Memphis and, with a win, was more likely to face No. 1 seed Purdue.
Nicely, the Owls gained, solely they gained’t be dealing with the Boilermakers after Purdue was shocked by Fairleigh Dickinson.
That massive upset offers FAU a possible spot within the Candy 16. Something can occur, however the Owls are 12.5-point favorites Sunday.
Let’s say seeding holds and Florida Atlantic advances; then issues will get fascinating.
FAU’s subsequent recreation could be towards Tennessee, with Kentucky, Kansas State, Marquette, or Michigan State subsequent.
Whereas that actually isn’t a simple street, the Owls truly match up nicely with all these groups.
There’s a lot to love about this FAU squad, which ranks within the prime 40 in each offensive and defensive effectivity on KenPom.
The Owls shoot nicely, defend nicely, rebound nicely and don’t flip the ball over.
You’ll be able to argue they don’t play in a Energy 5 convention, however apart from that, this group doesn’t have many weaknesses.
If Memphis had held on and crushed FAU, its odds would have been shorter than +500.
There’s some worth on the Owls making the Closing 4 with Purdue out of the image.
Kentucky
Kentucky MBB players, Bryson Tiller made up sold out Memorial Coliseum crowd
On Saturday, Kentucky Women’s Basketball beat Louisville for the first time in seven years. This win already solidified Kenny Brooks as one of Kentucky’s “greats,” and he did it in front of a sold-out Memorial Coliseum crowd.
The newly renovated Historic Memorial Coliseum holds 6,250 empty seats for fans from all walks to fill. Ticket prices range from $15 for general admission to more than $200 for lower-level reserved seating. Still, Big Blue Nation (and some Cardinal fans) managed to purchase every seat in the building. While there were some empty seats from folks who couldn’t make it, the crowd made up for it by being one of the best crowds Memorial has ever seen.
Before the game, lines outside the building wrapped around the block. Students stood outside hoping to claim some extra student section tickets, and fans with pre-purchased tickets waited eagerly to get inside. Fans showed up and showed out. In fact, this is what the stands looked like 20 minutes before tipoff…
Special guest appearances
Perhaps one of the least surprising and one of the most surprising things happened during last night’s game. As we know, Kentucky Men’s Basketball coach Mark Pope and women’s coach Kenny Brooks are pretty close. They were both hired this year to save two stagnant programs and have already written their names in the “Kentucky Wins to a Team They Haven’t Won Against Since 2015” book. Regardless of their status, members of the men’s team came to Memorial to support their Kentucky Basketball family.
Brandon Garrison, Kerr Kriisa, Andrew Carr, Ansley Almonor, Collin Chandler, Jaxson Robinson, and Amari Williams all showed up to last night’s rivalry matchup. While fans were excited to get women’s and men’s basketball action, BBN was also shocked by the presence of Kentucky-born rapper Bryson Tiller.
The “Don’t” singer was born and raised in Louisville and has been vocal about his Cardinal support for years. While he got his start in the music industry in 2011, Tiller went back to high school in recent years, earning his diploma from Iroquois High School in Louisville. Now, Tiller remains active with music but still finds time to support his Cardinals. Even though BBN and Louisville barely agree, if there’s anything we love more than our teams, it’s a Kentucky-born musician (I’m looking at you, Tyler Childers).
The crowd made the difference
Despite being down at the half, Kentucky was still able to come out with the victory over its long-time rival. The energy in Memorial Coliseum made such a big difference in the outcome of the game. If that arena was empty, we would’ve seen a much different outcome.
“Honestly, that the people show out. You know, I think we’ve had early games, and the crowds are trickling in, but tonight it was, it was loud, and they bought great energy,” Virginia Tech transfer Georgia Amoore said following Saturday’s win.
“And, you know, it’s what was advertised to me, that Big Blue Nation was, and I think it was great that it came tonight, but we’re going to need that when we come conference time too.”
BBN, you heard the All-American! The team needs you to show up and show out come SEC play. Memorial is fun, the team is fun, Kenny Brooks is fun, and who knows? You might see some special guests on the Jumbotron.
Kentucky
Kentucky at Texas odds: Early point spread released, How to Watch
The penultimate week of the regular season also marks Texas’ final home game. Kentucky will make its way to Austin as the Longhorns look to make a run at an SEC title, and the early point spread has been released.
Texas opened as a 20.5-point favorite over Kentucky, according to FanDuel. The over-under also opened at 46.5.
Fresh off a big win over Florida, Texas renewed an old Southwest Conference rivalry in Week 12. The Longhorns headed to Arkansas, and it looked like it was going to be close in the second half. However, Texas got a big score and a timely turnover to defeat the Razorbacks and stay atop the SEC standings heading into Week 13.
As for Kentucky, the Wildcats took a break from conference play and welcomed Murray State to Kroger Field. UK was firing on all cylinders en route to the resounding victory to improve to 4-6 entering the matchup against Texas.
Kentucky and Texas will square off Nov. 23 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Here’s how to watch the Week 13 matchup as the regular season winds down.
CLICK HERE to get in your Last Minute Bets with FanDuel!
How to watch Kentucky at Texas
Time: Nov. 23, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas
Texas was in control through the first half against Arkansas, but the Razorbacks responded well. They got a touchdown from Ja’Quinden Jackson and a field goal to cut the Longhorns’ lead to 13-10 as they searched for an upset.
But Texas put together an efficient touchdown drive to regain control and eventually come away with the victory. It was the type of game Steve Sarkisian expected, and he praised his team’s performance to fight off the second-half charge.
“It was just one of those days they were going to make us earn it,” Sarkisian told ABC’s Katie George after the 20-10 victory. “We weren’t going to get many chunk plays, so we had to be really efficient. I thought that was a really efficient drive on the ground, hitting a couple passes. Great catch by Golden for the touchdown.”
Kentucky
Search for wanted Kentucky man leads to three arrests in Indiana: state police
JASPER, Ind. – A search for a Kentucky man wanted on multiple felony warrants led to the arrest of three people in Indiana, including the man, Indiana State Police said.
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, an Indiana state trooper received a tip that Kevin Henning, 41, wanted on multiple felony warrants in Kentucky, was living in Grandview, Ind., with Letisha Cook, 31.
Police spotted Cook’s vehicle in a Walmart parking lot the following day.
Officers spoke with the driver, 29-year-old Michael Bickett, of Kentucky. Henning and Cook were not at the scene.
While speaking with Bickett, police said they searched the vehicle after recognizing “signs of criminal activity” and found 72 grams of methamphetamine and 61 grams of suspected marijuana.
Bickett was arrested and taken to the Dubois County Jail, where he remains held on bond.
Hours later, the Spencer County Sheriff’s Office saw Henning leave Cook’s home and get into a vehicle.
Officers stopped the vehicle on State Road 66 in Grandview, where both Henning and Cook were arrested without incident.
Police said they found suspected methamphetamine during a search of the vehicle. Both are being held on bond at the Spencer County Jail.
(From left) Letisha Cook, Kevin Henning, and Michael Bickett. (Indiana State Police)
The following charges were filed against Bickett, Henning and Cook:
- Michael BickettDealing methamphetamine, a Level 2 felonyPossession of methamphetamine, a Level 3 felonyDealing marijuana, a Level 6 felonyMaintaining a common nuisancePossession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanorPossession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor
- Dealing methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony
- Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 3 felony
- Dealing marijuana, a Level 6 felony
- Maintaining a common nuisance
- Possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor
- Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor
- Kevin HenningParole and Kentucky warrants – feloniesPossession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felonyPossession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanorPosssession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor
- Parole and Kentucky warrants – felonies
- Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony
- Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor
- Posssession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor
- Letisha CookPossession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felonyPossession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanorPossession of paraphernalia, a Class C msdemeanor
- Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony
- Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor
- Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C msdemeanor
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