In what many in BBN had billed as a “do or die” game in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Kentucky Wildcats survived a hard fought battle against the Providence Friars.
The Wildcats win in the first round comes a year after experiencing their most humiliating postseason defeat in program history. The Wildcats relied on the dominating rebounding skills of Oscar Tshiebwe and the dead-eye scoring abilities of shooting guard Antonio Reeves to fend off the Providence Friars, led by former teammate Bryce Hopkins, by a score of 61-53.
Reeves contributed a game-high 22 points by hitting eight shots, including five three-pointers. Meanwhile, Tshiebwe scored only eight points but dominated the boards, grabbing 25 rebounds to assert the strength that the Big Blue Nation is accustomed to seeing. Despite both teams shooting 36% from the field, Kentucky’s smothering defense prevented any chance of an upset win for Providence.
At the beginning of the game, Kentucky struggled to find its rhythm, missing nine of its first 11 shots. However, Tshiebwe provided a bright spot for the team, pulling down seven rebounds by the first media timeout. Hopkins, who faced numerous questions about facing his former team, attempted to set the tone by scoring early but was held to just seven points in the game.
As Tshiebwe continued to dominate the boards, Reeves hit consecutive three-pointers to spark a 10-0 Kentucky run, allowing them to take control of the game with a 36-25 lead. Providence’s Devon Carter scored nine points, while bench guard Jerod Bynum hit two crucial three-pointers to keep the Friars in contention, trailing 38-31 at halftime.
In the second half, Tshiebwe was forced to sit out due to foul trouble, but Providence failed to capitalize on the situation. Although former Louisville Cardinal and Florida Gator Noah Locke hit his second three-pointer to cut Kentucky’s lead to 46-41, Reeves continued his scoring run, landing a floater and a drive to the rim to extend the Wildcats’ lead. Despite poor shooting from both teams in the latter stages of the game, Kentucky held on to secure the win.
With all the drama leading up to this game and the pressure of being sent home early, the Wildcats came together at the right time and pulled off a nice win. Hopkins could be seen post game visibly upset but he has nothing to hang his head about. He played a pretty good game considering all the drama leading up to the game and left over from last year with the Wildcats. He has a bright future with the Friars and will likely continue to improve in the years to come. He’s got the body of an NBA player and isn’t shy about taking the ball to the rim. He’s got a tremendous upside at the next level when he decides to make that jump.
Kentucky will now face the winner of the Kansas State vs. Montana State game in the Round of 32, as they aim to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. The game will take place in Greensboro Coliseum, where the Cats hope to continue their momentum in the tournament.
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