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Vanderbilt is making a nice late-season push and looks a lot like the team many thought we’d see for most of the season. The Commodores have won four of five and have beaten their last three opponents at home by an average of 15 points. Of course, none of those three were Kentucky.
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HOW THE KENTUCKY WILDCATS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
The Wildcats are peaking at the right time, and once again appear to be realistic national title contenders. With five wins in the last six games, UK has moved into the driver’s seat in the SEC and has its vision focused on a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
When playing at its best, Kentucky has the talent to beat any team in the country. The biggest talent might by Tyler Ulis, the best point guard in the country. Over the last six games, Ulis has been as good as ever with an incredible 10.2 assists and just 1.7 turnovers per game.
Not surprisingly, those have been some of Kentucky’s best games of the year. In the six-game stretch, the Cats have five wins by an average of 23 points with just one loss, which came in overtime on the road against Texas AM. Ulis had four turnovers in the defeat.
As good as Ulis has been over the past six games, Jamal Murray might be even better. Murray is averaging 26.2 points, with at least 20 in seven straight games, and has proven to be one of the nation’s to pure scorers. The incredible play of the backcourt tandem has masked any weaknesses the Wildcats have up front.
HOW THE VANDERBILT COMMODORES CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Vanderbilt had been one of college basketball’s biggest disappointments, but over the last month the Commodores are finally playing like the team many people believed they’d see in the preseason.
The month of February began with an impressive win over Texas AM and the Commodores won five of seven to climb up the SEC standings. The squad has all the ingredients to make a run towards the NCAA Tournament.
The ‘Dores have three bonafide NBA prospects in Wade Baldwin, Luke Kornet and Damian Jones, and the trio has played at a high level during the recent surge. In Tuesday night’s win over Florida, they combined for 49 points in the 87-74 victory.
The three will also be seeking redemption after a pitiful display in a 19-point loss in Lexington on Jan. 23. The leaders collectively shot 8 of 24 and scored just 27 points in that loss. Vandy is still a bubble team, but with games against Kentucky and Texas AM remaining, that’s two opportunities to beat teams that will likely be playing in the field of 68.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Vanderbilt is starting to resemble the team many predicted they would at the beginning of the season, and the surge couldn’t have come at a better time. The Commodores moved into fifth in the SEC and added a resume-building victory with Tuesday’s verdict over Florida. They have a few more chances in the regular season to put a stamp on their ticket to the dance and beating the SEC’s top dog would be a huge boost to the team’s confidence. Vandy has an advantage in the frontcourt with Kornet and Jones, and will look to pound the ball inside for easy buckets at the rim. This strategy could be more difficult now that Alex Poythress has returned to the Cats lineup. Stopping the backcourt of Ulis and Murray should be the ‘Dores top priority. The two went off for 39 in the earlier meeting and Vandy was powerless to stop them. More of the same is likely.
Kentucky 77, Vanderbilt 70
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