Kansas vs. Kentucky: The Battle of Match-ups by Lauren Beasley
This is year’s NCAA Championship feature two great teams. One team was picked at the beginning of the season to go all the way. The other team has had struggles and conflict but somehow has found way to make it the big game.
Now in my opinion this game comes down to matchups, from the players to coaches.
The first match up I plan to pay close attention too, is the battle of the post. Kansas has Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey and Kentucky has Anthony Davis and Terrance Jones. This battle will first be interesting because both teams are great rebounding teams, so I look forward to who will win the battle of the boards. I also look to see who defensively will have the biggest impact; both post duos are capable of causing havoc for opponents once they enter the paint. Lastly I want to see how they will guard each other whether it is Robinson vs. Davis; Withey vs. Davis, no matter what it will be a great battle.
The second match up I plan to pay close attention too is the battle of Hustlers, both Kentucky and Kansas have great hustle players who step up when needed. For Kansas its player like Travis Releford and Conner Tehan and for Kentucky they have Michael Gilchrist and Darius Miller and even Kyle Wiltjer. This hustle battle can come into play when determining a winner, especially since Kansas made most of their comebacks this season off hustle.
Third matchup I am looking forward to is the battle of Doron Lamb and Elijah Johnson; both players have had their great moments in the tournament but both have also lacked consistency and gotten in foul trouble in key moments. I am interested to see which combo guard will emerge for it’s team. Both have the ability to score at will and are decent defenders.
Fourth matchup I am looking forward to is the battle of the point guards: Tyshawn Taylor vs. Marquis Teague, they vary in some ways but are alike in other ways. Both guards are leaders and are the engines that make their team goes, when both point guards play well, they’re teams are virtually unbeatable. Taylor has experience and seniority while Teague doesn’t, which could be factor but ultimately I believe whoever wins this battle will win the game
The last match up I am looking forward too is the battle of the coaches: Bill Self and John Calipari, both have past history. Both have different ways of coaching and recruiting, one has more experience and championship under his belt. The other has the best talent in the country and has the taste of revenge in his mouth. Coach Self defeated Coach Calipari in 2010, when Kansas defeated Memphis. I look forward to seeing whether Coach Calipari has learned his lesson from that lost and I look forward to seeing if Coach Bill Self can once again contain the great talent Calipari has.
Overall I believe this game come down to those five matchups. Some says it’s about talent, but in my opinion it’s about heart. It’s about who can go out there and play the hardest, who can out there and play smartest. Both teams have been here before, so whoever wants it will have to take it! I can’t wait to see the outcome!
Now in my opinion this game comes down to matchups, from the players to coaches.
The first match up I plan to pay close attention too, is the battle of the post. Kansas has Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey and Kentucky has Anthony Davis and Terrance Jones. This battle will first be interesting because both teams are great rebounding teams, so I look forward to who will win the battle of the boards. I also look to see who defensively will have the biggest impact; both post duos are capable of causing havoc for opponents once they enter the paint. Lastly I want to see how they will guard each other whether it is Robinson vs. Davis; Withey vs. Davis, no matter what it will be a great battle.
The second match up I plan to pay close attention too is the battle of Hustlers, both Kentucky and Kansas have great hustle players who step up when needed. For Kansas its player like Travis Releford and Conner Tehan and for Kentucky they have Michael Gilchrist and Darius Miller and even Kyle Wiltjer. This hustle battle can come into play when determining a winner, especially since Kansas made most of their comebacks this season off hustle.
Third matchup I am looking forward to is the battle of Doron Lamb and Elijah Johnson; both players have had their great moments in the tournament but both have also lacked consistency and gotten in foul trouble in key moments. I am interested to see which combo guard will emerge for it’s team. Both have the ability to score at will and are decent defenders.
Fourth matchup I am looking forward to is the battle of the point guards: Tyshawn Taylor vs. Marquis Teague, they vary in some ways but are alike in other ways. Both guards are leaders and are the engines that make their team goes, when both point guards play well, they’re teams are virtually unbeatable. Taylor has experience and seniority while Teague doesn’t, which could be factor but ultimately I believe whoever wins this battle will win the game
The last match up I am looking forward too is the battle of the coaches: Bill Self and John Calipari, both have past history. Both have different ways of coaching and recruiting, one has more experience and championship under his belt. The other has the best talent in the country and has the taste of revenge in his mouth. Coach Self defeated Coach Calipari in 2010, when Kansas defeated Memphis. I look forward to seeing whether Coach Calipari has learned his lesson from that lost and I look forward to seeing if Coach Bill Self can once again contain the great talent Calipari has.
Overall I believe this game come down to those five matchups. Some says it’s about talent, but in my opinion it’s about heart. It’s about who can go out there and play the hardest, who can out there and play smartest. Both teams have been here before, so whoever wants it will have to take it! I can’t wait to see the outcome!