After two impressive wins in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, the Cornell Big Red are starting to write a script that stories are made of. The No. 12 seed in the East Region won by 13 in a first round 12-5 match-up with Temple, then dominated the No. 4 seed Wisconsin Badgers 87-69, to advance the Sweet 16 for the first time ever in the schools history. The Big Red Machine’s magical run has been fun to watch, but it will end with a thud Thursday evening against top-seeded Kentucky.

The Wisconsin Badgers came into their second round game with the Big Red with a reputation as a tough nose defensive ball club, the second in a row that the Big Red would face. Although the Big Red shot 61 percent from the floor and made 53 percent from beyond the arc (8-of-15), scoring the most points of the season against Wisconsin and shooting a higher percentage than any of its foes all year long. That type of performance will be hard to duplicate, but that’s the type of performance that will be needed against a Kentucky defense that ranks third in the nation in defensive field goal percentage at 37.9%. Furthermore, the Wildcats are holding opponents to just 31% from behind the arc.

While the Big Red run has been impressive, the Kentucky Wildcats run through the first two rounds has been nothing short of magnificent. The Wildcats made short work of an undermanned ETSU squad 100-71, then they dismantled a talented but inconsistent Wake Forest team 90-60. Unlike the Big Red, the Wildcats can hurt you in a number of ways, whether it be with their athleticism in an open court game, or by pounding it inside to a plethora of big bodies like Demarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson. That advantage inside could give Cornell 7-footer Jeff Foote a tough time and potential foul trouble.

If Foote gets in foul trouble, it could be a long evening for the Big Red. If, and that’s a very big if, Foote can avoid foul trouble and the Big Red hit shots, they could hang around. But ultimately, the Big Red will have to find a way to get stops if they plan on advancing and that’s something they’ve been so-so in doing thus far, allowing opponents to shoot nearly 45% in their last five games.

Cornell won’t sneak up on the Wildcats who after a week to prepare will be ready defensively. The Big Red will struggle to get open looks and should find it hard to get into a rhythm. Cornell’s reliance on the three point shot could come back to haunt them, and if they’re not falling, they’ll find it hard to keep pace with the Wildcats. The only thing that concerns me about the Wildcats is their free throw shooting which could ultimately keep them from a possible championship. Thursday night however, the Wildcats shouldn’t need late free throws as they should win this one going away. Play on the Kentucky Wildcats for 1 unit. Good luck to all.
 

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