Why kentucky will win

The Wildcats won It's the only time Kentucky's failed to win by fewer than 22 points in exhibition play since John Calipari got there. So as far as I'm concerned, this is all setting up beautifully for people to be duped into taking Duke without much hesitation. But I will go UK on the moneyline in this spot because it's the most veteran-laden team Calipari's ever had at UK, the shooting will undeniably be better than last season's team, and I think PF Oscar Tshiebwe is going to have a lot of success neutralizing Duke's frontcourt presence.

With these teams likely have some jitters after all, MSG is going to be an environment unlike anything any of these players have experienced in almost 20 months , defense will win out. On the whole, I trust Kentucky's defense, and its shooting, a bit more than Duke's. Who wins every college basketball game? And which teams could sink your bankroll? By Matt Norlander.

Nov 9, at pm ET 2 min read. Featured Game Duke Blue Devils vs. Kentucky Wildcats. Banchero is a fantastic player, of course, and there's a reason he was considered the most college-ready prospect in the high school class of Kentucky simply had no answers for him. He's going to push for the Wooden Award. But the way Duke stepped up when Banchero went to the locker room in the second half was eye-opening.

Keels was one of the best scorers in the class, but it was unclear if he would be relied upon to that extent right away. Well, he was, and he answered the bell. His size, shooting, vision and defensive ability are highly, highly impressive. Moore has taken the next step; he's much more fluid offensively this season.

Theo John adds some physicality and toughness the Blue Devils lacked last season. The bench isn't loaded, but there's enough depth. I picked Duke to go to the Final Four earlier this week, and Tuesday night didn't change my mind -- but it did make me more optimistic. Gasaway: I learned that an older Kentucky team than we're used to seeing might need about as much time to jell as many of the younger teams did.

Take nothing away from Duke. Banchero was every bit as good as advertised, and Keels is already a grown man as a freshman. It's just that there were times early in the game when it looked like we would be showering this praise first and foremost on Oscar Tshiebwe. He absolutely dominated the offensive glass for as long as he was in the game, and he will doubtless continue to do so going forward.

The questions will be how many minutes he plays and what his teammates bring to the table. Lunardi: I continue to lean more into Duke as a legitimate national championship contender. This season was already going to be all about Coach K's farewell. If the Blue Devils are truly good enough to reach the Final Four and beyond, it would be almost Wooden-esque.

Medcalf: I was more impressed by a Kansas team that separated from Michigan State in the second half, even though it didn't have Jalen Wilson suspension.

Ochai Agbaji will be an All-American if his point effort 3-for-6 from the 3-point line is a sign of what's ahead. David McCormack struggled on offense but made some key defensive plays. Remy Martin is still trying to find the right rhythm with his new team see: three turnovers , but 15 points 5-for-9 , six rebounds and two assists isn't a bad start for the Arizona State transfer.

The Jayhawks also got 21 points from their bench. Borzello: Kansas entered Tuesday night as a legitimate national championship contender and did nothing to temper those expectations -- and the Jayhawks did it without Wilson. I came away highly impressed by them as a team.

Agbaji has clearly taken the next step in his offensive development, showing more confidence going off the dribble and attacking the rim, while also being aggressive in passing lanes, finishing in transition and making shots from the perimeter. If he's that guy consistently, Kansas found its go-to guy. The other impressive thing for me was the play of Martin.

Going from a high-octane system in which he had the ball in his hands most possessions to a more balanced operation, there were going to be growing pains. But Martin -- after not taking a shot in the first half -- finished with 15 points on nine shots and generally played within himself and within the Kansas offense.

Gasaway: Impressed by a KU team that played without Wilson but gave the impression that this game was put away for much of the second half even if the score remained relatively close. Agbaji had an outstanding night, of course, and as a team the Jayhawks gave the ball away just nine times in a fast possession contest.

That will win you some games. The combination of Agbaji and Martin is going to pose a serious challenge to the defenses of the Big If there's a silver lining for the Spartans it's that sophomore A.

Hoggard looked excellent in leading MSU with 17 points in just 26 minutes. Lunardi: As the guy in the room who picked Kansas to win it all, I think you can probably guess my answer. The Jayhawks did nothing to dispel the notion that they belong on the short list of national championship contenders.

And they are only going to get better when all the pieces are in place. John Carter Jr. That's three ugly losses in the opening hours of the season.

Gasaway: I was frankly shocked that Nebraska lost at home to Western Illinois. I climbed out on a limb all by myself when I picked Alonzo Verge Jr. Verge rang up 26 points, but his teammates were just of from the field against an opponent coming off a season in the Summit League.

This is Year 3 in Lincoln for Fred Hoiberg, who showed beyond doubt that he can get results during his tenure at Iowa State. But the Cornhuskers are just under the head coach, and losing to the Leathernecks suggests this team might have an even tougher time than expected in a deep Big Ten this season. Akron takes the lead with seconds remaining on a triple plus a foul, then Ohio State responds with Zed Key's winning shot.

Not turning the ball over is a big key to the Tennessee attack. The Tennessee offense might be great, but the defense is getting run over. It allowed close to 1, yards of total O to Ole Miss and Alabama over the last two games — holding up in key moments against the run was the biggest issue.

Ole Miss moved quickly — Matt Corral got beaten up, but he ran well — and Bama pounded away. Kentucky will do a little bit of both. Tennessee might provide the flash and the fun, but the Wildcats win when they can get past yards on the ground, and they win relatively easily when they get to President Biden referred to the late baseball player Satchel Paige as "the great negro" before correcting himself during his Veterans Day address at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday.

Gobert and Turner had a legitimate scuffle it wasn't a fight. After two and a half years with the 49ers and zero games played, Jalen Hurd has been released. The 49ers announced today that they have released Hurd, who had been on injured reserve. A talented athlete who had [more]. Bob Myers believes the Warriors will benefit from situations like the one between Draymond and Jordan Poole on the bench Wednesday.

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