Ad Disclosure
Jay Bilas has Kentucky advancing to the Sweet 16 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
On Monday, Bilas published his prediction for each game during the Big Dance. Bilas is projecting the Wildcats to beat Providence in the opening round and upset No. 3-seeded Kansas State in the Round of 32.
However, Bilas is expecting UK’s run to end during the 2nd weekend. He has Kentucky losing to No. 2-seeded Marquette in the Sweet 16.
Here’s his analysis of how he expects the game to play out:
Marquette has better guards, and the best point guard. Kentucky is better on the glass. But, Marquette wins because of turnovers. Marquette doesn’t turn it over, and forces you to turn it over. Only a drubbing on the backboards can keep Marquette from the Elite Eight.
As Bilas noted, Kentucky is one of the top rebounding teams in the country. The Wildcats rank No. 2 in offensive rebounding rate and No. 59 in defensive rebounding rate, per KenPom. Marquette ranks outside of the top 240 in both categories, which could help the Wildcats pull off the upset if they’re able to make it to the Sweet 16.
Kentucky has not reached the 2nd weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 2019 when it made it to the Elite Eight.
Kentucky and Providence will tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday night.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
