West Virginia Set To Take On Undefeated Kentucky Tonight

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Published on March 26 2015 6:37 am
Last Updated on March 26 2015 6:37 am

CLEVELAND -- The 36-0 Kentucky Wildcats may be the best college basketball team in the country -- and just four games away from a historic 40-0 finish -- but No. 5-seeded Sweet 16 opponent West Virginia has them beat in at least one category:

Confidence. According to Elias, Bob Huggins is one of two coaches to face John Calipari at least 10 times and have a record over .500. The other? Mike Jarvis.

"I give them their props," West Virginia freshman guard Daxter Miles Jr. told reporters Wednesday. "Salute them to getting to 36-0. But tomorrow they're gonna be 36-1."

Miles said the Wildcats "don't play hard," and should fear the Mountaineers -- not the other way around.

"They should be more intimidated," Miles said. "Because they're the ones who have the high standard, and we're coming for them."

Miles also predicted UK wouldn't be able to pass the ball against the Mountaineers' vaunted press, which will enter Thursday's Midwest Regional semifinal forcing opponents into turnovers on 28.3 percent of possessions, the highest mark in the country. When asked whether the Mountaineers' uptempo defense would work against unbeaten Kentucky, guard Juwan Staten responded with a question of his own.

"Why wouldn't it?" Staten said. "We've been playing this way all year, we've had success against everybody no matter what style or what type of players they have. That's the only way we play and it's just up to us to make it work."


Thursday, March 26 Schedule (All Times Central)

(7) Wichita St vs (3) Notre Dame, 6:15 p.m.

(4) North Carolina vs (1) Wisconsin, 6:47 p.m.

(5) West Virginia vs (1) Kentucky, 8:45 p.m.

(6) Xavier vs (2) Arizona, 9:17 p.m.


Friday, March 27 Schedule

(11) UCLA vs (2) Gonzaga, 6:15 p.m.

(8) NC State vs (4) Louisville, 6:37 p.m.

9:45 PM    (5) Utah vs (1) Duke, 8:45 p.m.

(7) Michigan St vs (3) Oklahoma, 9:07 p.m.