March Madness 2024: Oakland-Kentucky predictions
James Hawkins, Madeline Kenney, John Niyo, Tony Paul, and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News predict the outcome of Thursday’s NCAA Tournament game between Oakland and Kentucky in Pittsburgh (7:10 p.m., CBS/1270).
▶ James Hawkins: The Golden Grizzlies have played several high-major foes tough, including Illinois and Ohio State early, and even scored a road win over Xavier, so don’t expect them to be intimidated by Kentucky. But while this Oakland team might have the most depth and the best defense of Greg Kampe’s tenure, it might not have enough firepower to keep up with the high-scoring Wildcats. Kentucky has balanced scoring, a bunch of length and shoots it better than any other team in the nation from deep. If Oakland can slow down and put game pressure on Kentucky, maybe it’ll get the young Wildcats to crack. That’s a tough ask. Pick: Kentucky, 90-75
▶ Madeline Kenney: Oakland coach Greg Kempe purposely scheduled tougher opponents to prepare his team for a moment like this, but it'll be a monumental task to take down a blue blood like Kentucky in the first round. The Wildcats have five players averaging 10-plus points game; three of those guys average two or more 3s while converting at a 44.1% clip or better. Oakland going on a run and upsetting Kentucky in the first round would make for a thrilling Cinderella story, but the Wildcats have more offensive firepower, and I don't think the Golden Grizzlies will be able to keep pace. I hope I'm wrong. Oakland will keep it close early, but Kentucky will eventually pull away. Pick: Kentucky, 91-72
▶ John Niyo: Oakland has the makings of Cinderella, sure. The Grizzlies have an interior star in Trey Townsend and a lethal outside shooter in Jack Gohlke. They’re led by a veteran coach in Greg Kampe, they’re battle-tested by a tough nonconference schedule, and they’re entering the tournament on a roll, winning 17 of their last 20. But that matchup zone defense isn’t something that’ll fluster Kentucky the way it might some other blue bloods. And if you give up open looks to John Calipari's crew, you’re going to get buried by the nation’s top three-point shooting team: The Wildcats have averaged 11.5 made 3s over their last six games and they’re knocking them down at a 41.2% clip this season. Pick: Kentucky, 85-68
More: March Madness 2024: Oakland vs. Kentucky scouting report
▶ Tony Paul: Can Oakland win this game? Sure. This is a new era of college basketball, where there's just not an invincible team, and certainly not a bulletproof one sitting on the 3 line. And if the Golden Grizzlies, with a tricky zone and the best defense of Greg Kampe's career, can keep this game in the high 60s or low 70s, then there's a possibly of some Cinderella magic. But that's obviously no easy task, not with a Kentucky team that ranks second in the nation in scoring, and has scored fewer than 80 points just four times. The Wildcats also play some darn good interior defense, which could limit the effectiveness of Oakland's best player, Trey Townsend. Pick: Kentucky, 86-72
▶ Bob Wojnowski: Greg Kampe’s Golden Grizzlies shouldn’t be as starry-eyed as you might think. They have a determined senior leader in Trey Townsend and a couple lethal shooters in Blake Lampman and Jack Gohlke. But they can’t match Kentucky’s size and athleticism. Oakland’s hope is that its staunch zone defense will frustrate the Wildcats’ potent attack. Kentucky has a top-five offense and the best 3-point shooting in the country, led by Antonio Reeves and Reed Sheppard (52.5%). John Calipari’s Wildcats won’t play a ton of defense, but the way they score, they usually don’t need to. The Golden Grizzles must keep the score in the low 70s and force Kentucky to feel the pressure. They’ll do it — for a while. Pick: Kentucky, 83-73