Providence Friars vs Kentucky Wildcats 3/17/2023 Expert Picks, Tips and Previews
Men’s Basketball Championship – East Region – 1st Round
In what promises to be an exciting matchup in the first round of the NCAA Basketball tournament, the #11 Providence Friars will face off against the #6 Kentucky Wildcats at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina on March 17, 2023, at 7:10 PM ET. The Friars head into the game on a bit of a slump, having lost three consecutive games and four out of their last five. However, their regular-season record of 21-11 overall and 13-7 in the Big East indicates that they have the potential to turn things around.
Providence boasts an impressive offense and defense, with their scoring averaging 78.5 points per game and their defense surrendering only 71.3 points per game. The Friars’ overall shooting percentage of 46.0% ranks 90th, and their 3-point shooting percentage of 35.5% is respectable. On the defensive side, their opponents’ shooting percentages are 44.0% (ranked 202nd) and 33.4%, respectively.
- Providence is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games played in March.
- The Providence Friars are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games played on a Friday.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of the Friars’ last 5 games when playing as the underdog.
Providence Friars vs Kentucky Wildcats 3/17/2023 Expert Picks, Tips and Previews
Kentucky, on the other hand, stumbled against Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament but finished the regular season with a 5-2 record both straight up and against the spread in the last two weeks. Like Providence, the Wildcats have an above-average offense and defense, with their scoring averaging 75.1 points per game and their defense allowing 67.6 points per game. Their field goal percentage of 46.0% and three-point percentage of 35.9% rank 96th and 89th in the nation, respectively. On the defensive end, Kentucky ranks 115th in both field goal shooting percentage (42.7%) and three-point shooting percentage (32.8%).
For Kentucky, Oscar Tshiebwe is the star player, averaging 16.5 points per game and an impressive 13.1 rebounds per game. Antonio Reeves comes in second with 14.4 points per game on average, while Cason Wallace leads the team with 4.2 assists per game. Kentucky averages 11.7 turnovers per game, 3.8 blocked shots, and 6.5 steals
- Kentucky is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games played in March.
- The Kentucky Wildcats are 19-1 SU in their last 20 games played on a Friday.
- The total has gone OVER in 14 of Kentucky’s last 17 games when playing as the favorite.
#11 Providence Friars vs #6 Kentucky Wildcats. The NCAAB pick for this game is the #6 Kentucky Wildcats. Providence has struggled to stop both field goal and 3-point shots, which will likely play in Kentucky’s favor. Furthermore, Providence has failed to cover the spread in their last four games, indicating that they may struggle to keep pace with Kentucky’s offensive prowess. As a result, it is predicted that the #6 Kentucky Wildcats will emerge victorious, with a projected score of 76-71 over the #11 Providence Friars.
NCAAB Starting Time: 7:10 PM (EDT)
Location: Greensboro Coliseum, NC
Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
TV: CBS
NCAAB Odds: Providence Friars +4
NCAAB Totals: 144
