Kentucky basketball

What to know for Kentucky Wildcats Basketball vs Providence Friars in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

[PROV](https://friars.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster) [Kentucky Wildcats Basketball](https://ukathletics.com/) vs. [Go here for more predictions on how Kentucky will fare in the NCAA Tournament](https://www.aseaofblue.com/2023/3/13/23638128/ncaa-tournament-picks-predictions-kentucky-wildcats-basketball-jay-bilas). As Georgia’s Mike White said earlier this season, “Oscar (Tshiebwe)’s one of the best rim-running bigs that again we’ve evaluated and scouted against in a long time... If he is available, he can use his downhill speed to generate some offense for the Wildcats, even in short spurts. While the Wildcats don’t generate many turnovers, they rebound the ball very well, which allows them to push the ball ahead of the defense. [DraftKings Sportsbook](https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/event/providence-%40-kentucky/28569073)currently has Kentucky favored by 4.5 points. This is especially important on the offensive side of the ball in terms of second-chance opportunities and transition opportunities. On the offensive side of the ball, Toppin needs to score in double digits against Hopkins, who has been an inefficient defender for much of the season. [TeamRankings (via ESPN)](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401522154)is projecting a 73-69 victory, Kentucky! Let’s start with the biggest storyline of the game, Bryce Hopkins. However, their opening-round game comes against the Providence Friars, who have a familiar face on their roster in former Wildcat Bryce Hopkins.

For the first time in nearly four years, UK basketball won an NCAA Tournament game. John Calipari's team will face Kansas State or Montana State next.

[Antonio Reeves](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/05/27/kentucky-basketball-antonio-reeves-will-face-adjustment-new-role/9703486002/) and [Jacob Toppin](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/07/13/kentucky-basketball-jacob-toppin-turning-heads-summer-workouts/7808426001/). 15 Saint Peter’s](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/03/17/ncaa-tournament-no-15-seed-saint-peters-upsets-no-2-seed-kentucky/7035300001/). No other Wildcat had more than eight points, courtesy of [Oscar Tshiebwe](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/10/27/kentucky-basketball-oscar-tshiebwe-eager-for-epic-encore-in-year-2/69591549007/). Kentucky now awaits the winner of Kansas State-Montana State (tipoff set for 9:40 p.m. [beat Houston in the 2019 Sweet 16](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2019/03/30/ncaa-tournament-kentucky-takes-down-houston/3287086002/) before losing to Auburn in the next round. But they were slightly better than the Friars (21-12). The Wildcats (22-11) were far from perfect offensively Friday. [What to expect from new Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2023/02/10/kentucky-wildcats-football-big-expectations-for-new-qb-devin-leary/69855618007/) [These players have signed to Kentucky basketball's 2023 recruiting class](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/recruiting/2022/06/28/kentucky-basketball-recruiting-2023-class-commitments/7745684001/) [Kentucky basketball assistant KT Turner named UT Arlington head coach](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2023/03/13/kentucky-basketballs-kt-turner-next-ut-arlington-head-coach-reports/70005807007/) [Kentucky](https://www.courier-journal.com/sports/kentucky/) has won an [NCAA Tournament](https://brackets.usatoday.com/) game. [Greensboro Coliseum](https://www.greensborocoliseum.com/), sixth-seeded Kentucky downed 11-seed [Providence](https://friars.com/sports/mens-basketball) 61-53.

SportsLine's model revealed its college basketball picks for Providence Friars vs. Kentucky Wildcats during the first round of March Madness 2023.

- Providence vs. Providence is in the top 20 of the country in adjusted offensive efficiency, and the Friars secure more than 35% of missed shots on the offensive glass. SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 146 points. Providence struggles to a 16.9% turnover creation rate on defense, and Kentucky is averaging 15.3 assists per game. Ed Cooley's team generates 14.7 assists per game while turning the ball over on only 16.9% of possessions, and Kentucky is below the national average with a 16.7% turnover creation rate on defense. Here are several [college basketball odds](https://www.sportsline.com/college-basketball/odds) and trends for Providence vs. Providence](https://www.sportsline.com/college-basketball/game-forecast/NCAAB_20230317_PROV@UK/) and revealed its coveted picks and predictions for the NCAA Tournament 2023. You can [head to SportsLine to see the picks](https://www.sportsline.com/insiders/2023-ncaa-tournament-providence-vs-kentucky-line-picks-advanced-computer-college-basketball-model-releases-selections-for-fridays-first-round-matchup/#ttag=03172023_agg_cbssports_picks_basketball_ncaa_model_KentuckyProvidence). The Wildcats are 4-point favorites, while the over/under is 143.5 points in the latest Providence vs. [Kentucky Wildcats](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/UK/kentucky-wildcats/) face the No. Before making any Kentucky vs. 11 seed [Providence Friars](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/PROV/providence-friars/) in a first round tilt of the East Region.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Exactly 365 days after suffering the most embarrassing postseason loss in the history of the program, Kentucky basketball is back in the ...

Follow The Providence Journal for live updates as the Providence College Friars meet the Kentucky Wildcats tonight.

[Bryce Hopkins, who played from Kentucky a season ago](https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/college/2023/03/15/bryce-hopkins-set-to-lead-providence-basketball-against-former-team-kentucky-wildcats-in-ncaas/70008946007/), is averaging 16.1 points and 8.5 rebounds for the Friars. [USA Today chose it as one of the potential upsets in the first round](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2023/03/15/ncaa-tournaments-upsets-five-most-likely-first-round-surprises/11471524002/). [Coach Rick Pitino](https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/college/iona/2023/03/16/rick-pitino-iona-basketball-coach-ncaa-tournament-march-madness/70016654007/) in 1987. The winner of Friday's game advances to face the winner of No. [was once a candidate for the Michigan job](https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/2019/05/21/ed-cooley-will-stay-at-providence-with-contract-extension/5084723007/), a position that ultimately went to Juwan Howard. There’s plenty of fan-favorite spots around Rhode Island to catch the Friars on TV — and still time to get there! Did you make the trek to Greensboro to catch your Friars in person against Kentucky? Most people in our online poll think the Friars will lose tonight’s game to Kentucky, but nearly as many are much more confident, saying Providence will repeat their performance of a season ago and reach the Sweet 16 round on the NCAA tournament. Are you a long-time Providence Friars fan who can recite the stats of Ernie D., Marvin Barnes, Billy Donovan or a list of other PC greats? Providence — and head coach Ed Cooley, a city native — are the most obvious Rhode Island connections to this year’s NCAA Tournament, but they’re hardly the only ones. 6 seed this season — rather than a 1 or 2 seed — Barkley said the team is playing with less pressure on them in this tournament, and they should be able to go deep in the tourney. [Providence College was eliminated from the NCAA tournament in Friday night's first-round matchup with No.

The Cats get their first NCAA Tournament win since 2019 thanks to a historic performance from Oscar Tshiebwe.

He also hit a massive two-pointer in the closing minutes to ensure Kentucky stayed ahead for good. The man refused to lose again in the first round after last year’s debacle. Tshiebwe seemingly grabbed every rebound in the first half in an absolutely insane performance. Big Blue Nation wondered why the surgery had to happen that morning, but Calipari insisted he’d play again this season. John Calipari announced before the game that Wheeler was only 70-75% and would not play. The Cats started off a bit slow, but they were clearly prepared to start this one. They will play again on Sunday against the winner of After the break, this game slowed down. He suspiciously missed Senior Day due to tailbone surgery after being out due to an ankle injury. Antonio Reeves is the straw that stirs this Big Blue drink. This is an unbelievable problem that arose on college basketball’s biggest stage. With a Kentucky NCAA Tournament-record 25 rebounds, Big O also became the first player in Kentucky basketball history with multiple 15+ rebound games in the tournament.

Statistical leaders and box score from the UK Wildcats' NCAA college basketball game vs. the Providence Friars on March 17, 2023.

No. 14-seed Montana State on Sunday in Greensboro. Next up for Kentucky is a second-round meeting with No.

Kentucky Wildcats beat the Providence Friars in a March Madness game Friday. NCAA Tournament game score, highlights and more from East Region contest.

3 [Kentucky won the previous season](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2013/12/01/kentucky-basketball-downs-providence-79-65/3800357/) (79-65) in Brooklyn, New York. The last was in 2014, when [UK cruised to a 58-38 win at Rupp Arena](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2014/11/30/kentucky-pulls-away-second-half-victory-providence/19708553/). 4, [is expected to be available Friday](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2023/03/16/ncaa-tournament-2023-sahvir-wheeler-could-return-for-uk-vs-providence/70017063007/). [Sahvir Wheeler](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/07/29/kentucky-basketball-savhir-wheeler-big-year-ahead-chin-coleman-says/10056417002/), out since Feb. Senior forward [Jacob Toppin](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/07/13/kentucky-basketball-jacob-toppin-turning-heads-summer-workouts/7808426001/) battled an issue with his hamstring last week, too. Friday also marks Kentucky's 183rd NCAA Tournament game, another record. [The Wildcats have never lost to the Friars](http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Providence.html) in three meetings. Friday in Greensboro, North Carolina, 1,449 days will have elapsed since the program's last victory in the [NCAA Tournament](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament/). The game will be televised live on CBS. [What to know about first-round NCAA Tournament game](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2023/03/13/march-madness-matchup-2023-kentucky-vs-providence-ncaa-tournament-game/69999629007/) 6 seed Kentucky will face Providence in first NCAA Tournament game](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2023/03/12/2023-ncaa-tournament-bracket-set-kentucky-vs-providence-in-1st-round/69974725007/) 15 Saint Peter's](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/03/17/ncaa-tournament-no-15-seed-saint-peters-upsets-no-2-seed-kentucky/7035300001/) in the first round.

Antonio Reeves scored 22 points and Oscar Tshiebwe pulled down 25 rebounds in an overpowering display, helping Kentucky beat Providence 61-53 Friday night.

Observations from the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament as the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Providence Friars on Friday, March 17, 2023.

The Friars were a mere 5 of 24 from three-point range, including 2 of 13 in the second half. The Cats were just 5 of 16 from three-point range, including 1 of 6 in the second half. As previously mentioned, UK shot an icy 25 percent from the floor in the second half and 36.5 percent for the game. The Big Dance question all along has been can postseason Kentucky do what regular-season Kentucky failed to do — play at an elite level for an extended stretch. Afterward, Calipari consoled an emotional Hopkins with a hug in the handshake line. They appeared locked in throughout, never backing down from a typical, physical, grind-it-out Big East team in the Friars. Meanwhile, Providence was ranked 15th in offensive efficiency, just the type of team that gave the Cats fits all season long. Providence shot 29.6 percent the second half and 36.2 percent for the game. It took at 22-21 lead with 7:33 left in the first half and never let go. Still, the Illinois State transfer finished with a game-high 22 points, hitting 8 of his 18 shots, including 5 of 9 from three-point range. 15 seed Saint Peter’s, Kentucky adopted the John Calipari “Refuse to Lose” mindset on Friday. UK’s sharpshooter was at times the lone bright light on a murky offensive night.

John Calipari is by no means off the hot seat after UK's win over Providence in the first round. But it's at least a step in the right direction.