Half way through March, there were 68 teams in contention for the NCAA Men’s Basketball title. Now, there are two. Both Kentucky and Kansas have fought their way through many great teams and my picks. I would like to think I was bulletin board material for both of these teams as they entered their games this Saturday, but I’m sure that wasn’t the case. Now these two historic programs face off in the Big Easy in front of one of the biggest crowds they will have seen all year.

                It was only four years ago that John Calipari lost in the National Championship to Kansas. With another group of fabulous freshmen at Kentucky, it is his turn once again to see if he could reach the pinnacle of excellence.  Like I’ve said before, Kentucky lives and dies though the play of Anthony Davis. This freshman has truly been the player of the year with his play on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. On offense, Davis has averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. His 18 points and 14 rebounds against Louisville continue to show fans what he brings to the floor every night. On the other side of the ball, his blocking ability is supreme. With an average of 4.6 blocks game, Davis has continued his dominance by recording 23 blocks in 5 games.

                Davis isn’t the only big man for the Wildcats. Michael Kidd-Glichrist also keeps opponents out of the paint with his 7.5 rebounds per game and chips in on the other side of the ball with an 11.9 point average. The Kentucky talent doesn’t stop there; I could go on for paragraphs writing about Doron Lamb, Marquis Teague, and all the other great Wildcat underclassmen, but with a great team like Kansas, there just isn’t enough time for that.

                Kansas has been around the top of the rankings all year, but they have never really been considered a huge title threat. While all the focus has been on Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State, and Syracuse, the Jay Hawks have gone 32-6 and have been drawing a lot of attention as of late. After squeaking past Purdue and North Carolina State, they blew past North Carolina. That game was such a defining moment for the Jay Hawks. It was like the proverbial curtain had been lifted and everyone could see the great team that was and still is Kansas.

                Just like Kentucky, Kansas has a big man. Thomas Robinson is a 6’10 junior who averages nearly 18 points per game and grabs nearly 12 rebounds a contest as well. He has been the driving force behind the Jay Hawks this season. He is sure to score since he has put up double digits in every one of his tournament games this year. With his explosiveness in the paint, he will pose a great threat to the Kentucky big men. When the post game doesn’t seem to be working, Kansas turns to their senior guard, Tyshawn Taylor. He has been the main man for running the offensive attack and is the Jay Hawks second scoring option. He has been pretty proficient from the three point line this season, but he has yet to hit one in the tourney. I expect that to change this week.

                When Kansas and Kentucky meet, sparks will fly. The battle will be won in the trenches around the paint. It is really hard for me to pick because both teams have such a great post game, but Kentucky is playing on a completely different level at the moment. Also, Kansas struggled against Jared Sullinger when they played the Buckeyes. You need post play to beat post play and Kentucky has it. I see the Wildcats beating the Jay Hawks 70-64.

Thanks for reading!