5 things you need to know from UK’s 61-53 win over Providence in the NCAA tourney
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Five things you need to know from No. 6 seed Kentucky’s 61-53 win over No. 11 seed Providence in the men’s NCAA Tournament’s East Region at Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina:
1. Cats win a rock fight. Kentucky won its first NCAA Tournament game since March 29, 2019, in a grinder.
UK shot 36.5 percent for the game (23 of 63) and 31.3 percent (5 of 16) on three-pointers. It was worse in the second half, when the Cats made 7 of 28 shots, 1 of 7 three-pointers.
Antonio Reeves (8-for-18 shooting, 5 of 9 treys, 22 points) and Jacob Toppin (6 of 14 shooting, 18 points) combined to make 14 of 32 shots for Kentucky. The rest of the Cats went 9 of 31.
But, Kentucky held Providence to 36.2 percent shooting (21 of 58) overall and 20.8 percent on three-pointers (5 of 24). In half two, the Wildcats limited the Friars to 29.6 percent shooting (8 of 27) and 15.4 percent on treys (2 of 13).
Behind another remarkable rebounding effort from Oscar Tshiebwe (25 boards), UK dominated Providence — statistically, the second-best rebounding team in the Big East — 48-31 on the glass.
Obviously, to make any kind of deep run in March Madness, Kentucky must play much better offensively than it did vs. Providence.
Still, for a program craving a return to NCAA Tournament success, a win is a win is a win.
2. Bryce Hopkins vs. his old team. Providence star Bryce Hopkins had a tough time against his former teammates.
The sophomore forward finished 2 of 9 on field goals, 0 of 3 on three-point tries and 3 of 5 on free throws. He had seven points, eight rebounds, two assists and four turnovers.
Hopkins, who averaged 6.8 minutes and 2.1 points a contest in 28 games as a UK freshman in 2021-22, entered the NCAA Tournament averaging 16.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 34.8 minutes after starting all 32 games for Coach Ed Cooley’s Friars.
A 6-foot-7, 220-pound product of Oak Park, Ill., Hopkins was outplayed by Kentucky’s Toppin in the power forward showdown of former teammates.
In addition to Toppin’s 18 points and six rebounds, the UK senior also drew two charges on Hopkins and pinned a layup attempt by the Providence star against the backboard for a blocked shot.
3. Kentucky vs. power conference foes in the Dance. UK’s NCAA tourney win over Providence of the Big East ended a distressing stretch for UK in March Madness against power conference foes — the football Power Five plus the Big East.
Until Friday night, Kentucky had been 1-5 in its past six such games in the NCAA Tournament:
2015: Lost to Wisconsin (Big Ten) 71-64 in the Final Four;
2016: Lost to Indiana (Big Ten) 73-67 in the round of 32;
2017: Beat UCLA (Pac-12) 86-75 in the Sweet 16;
2017: Lost to North Carolina (ACC) 75-73 in the Elite Eight;
2018: Lost to Kansas State (Big 12) 61-58 in the Sweet 16;
2019: Lost to Auburn (SEC) 77-71 (OT) in the Elite Eight;
2023: Beat Providence (Big East) in the round of 64.
4. UK gains on UNC in NCAA tourney wins. Kentucky’s victory over Providence is its 130th NCAA Tournament victory.
The Wildcats are now one win behind North Carolina (131) for the most NCAA tourney wins all-time.
The Tar Heels did not make the 2023 NCAA Tournament field.
5. Oscar watch. Kentucky star Oscar Tshiebwe finished Friday’s game with eight points and 25 rebounds. He now has 1,092 points and 934 rebounds in his two-season UK career.
Tshiebwe moved past Jeff Sheppard (1,091) for No. 48 on the all-time Kentucky scoring list. Immediately ahead of Tshiebwe are No. 47. Randolph Morris (1,123); 46. Wah Wah Jones (1,151); and 45. Vernon Hatton (1,153).
On the all-time Kentucky rebounding list, Tshiebwe moved past Chuck Hayes (910 career rebounds) for No. 7 . Next ahead is No. 6 Kenny Walker (942).
Holding at 47 double-doubles in his UK career, Tshiebwe is still third on UK’s all-time double-double chart behind Dan Issel (64) and Cotton Nash (48).
The 25 rebounds Tshiebwe had vs. Providence were the most ever for a Kentucky player in a NCAA Tournament game. The previous record, 24, was set by Jerry Bird in an 89-77 UK loss to Iowa in the 1956 Midwest Region finals.
The streak is over. Kentucky beats Providence for first NCAA Tournament win in four years.
Box score from Kentucky basketball’s 61-53 win over Providence in the NCAA Tournament
