ARLINGTON, Texas – Bracket experts, media analysts and office pool juggernauts certainly didn’t expect these two teams to be in the national championship game. The players and coaches at Kentucky and UConn aren’t surprised much, go figure.
“I don’t think we were a No. 8 seed and I don’t think Connecticut was a No. 7 seed,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said.
These teams have had their inconsistencies, but their routes to Monday’s title game highlight the unexpectedness of the NCAA tournament and the maturation of two fiery teams. This game will come down to Xs and Os, sure, but the key to understanding these teams is simple: Resiliency and togetherness have got them here.
“I know we are fighters,” UConn coach Kevin Ollie said. “Dark times is what promotes you.”
Game Time: 9:10 p.m. ET
Location: Arlington, Texas
TV: CBS
Analysis: Who has the edge? Here’s a video breakdown and key factors for UConn and Kentucky.
How the Wildcats (29-10, 12-6) got here: Beat Kansas State, Wichita State, Louisville, Michigan, Wisconsin.
How the Huskies (21-8, 12-6) got here: Beat Saint Joseph’s, Villanova, Iowa State, Michigan State, Florida.
BACKCOURT
Key Kentucky players: Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, James Young
Key UConn players: Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright, Niels Giffey
Advantage goes to: UConn. Napier and Boatright are arguably the best backcourt tandem in the country, and they undoubtedly have been the best in this NCAA tournament. Napier has ability to take over games offensively, but it was the duo’s defense that made the difference in the Huskies’ victory against top-ranked Florida. They held SEC Player of the Year Scottie Wilbekin to four points — which caused the Gators to completely unravel offensively. If they can put a similar defensive lockdown on Andrew and Aaron Harrison — forcing turnovers and bad shots— that can be the ultimate edge. Young, who paced Kentucky with 17 points against Wisconsin, could be the X-Factor. His length and athleticism will be tough for even Napier and Boatright to guard. And Aaron Harrison obviously wins the clutch award for his back-to-back game-winners, but Napier has been the definition of clutch this season. Giffey is a big-time glue guy to keep an eye on for Connecticut.
FRONTCOURT
Key Kentucky players: Julius Randle, Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress
Key UConn players: Phillip Nolan, DeAndre Daniels, Amida Brimah
Advantage goes to: Kentucky. For all of the love Aaron Harrison and James Young have been getting for their backcourt heroics, it’s important to remember Kentucky wouldn’t be positioned to win if it weren’t for Randle, the Wildcats’ most consistent offensive force all season. His pitbull-like aggressiveness could be tough for Connecticut to handle. Daniels was the Huskies’ best player against Florida, finishing with a double-double (20 points and 10 rebounds). He’ll need a similar performance to keep UConn in the mix. Nolan and Brimah both had four fouls against Florida, and they’ll need to stay out of foul trouble against an athletically gifted, deep Kentucky frontcourt that got huge contributions from Johnson and Poythress vs. Wisconsin.
BENCH
Advantage goes to: Kentucky. The Wildcats got a much-needed boost from Marcus Lee in the win against Michigan, but the freshman wasn’t as effective in 10 minutes against Wisconsin. Poythress is a great sixth man who plays starter minutes, doing the little things to help win games — evidenced by his eight points and seven boards in 29 minutes vs. Wisconsin. Terrence Samuel had some big buckets for UConn against Florida, but the Huskies aren’t particularly deep. That could be an area that gets exposed.
COACHING
Advantage goes to: Ollie. Surprised by that answer? Calipari has a ring and has done perhaps his best coaching job in getting this initially undisciplined team to the title game. But Ollie’s leadership is the reason this Connecticut team has defied even bigger odds in beating national title favorites Florida and Michigan State en route to the championship game. He’s instilled the same chip-on-the-shoulder mentality he had as a player within his players.
“A lot of it has come from coach,” Boatright said of the team’s extra gear. “He played 13 years in the NBA, and he’s worked extremely hard for everything that he has. He’d be the first one to tell you that he wasn’t the most talented player. He just worked extremely hard and took a lot of pride in himself, and he instills that in us every day.”
(Graphics by Tim McGarry.)
