By PAUL GOTHAM
If Wisconsin’s Badgers are to avenge last year’s loss to Kentucky in the national semi-final, it will start and end with defensive rebounding.
On their way to a 74-73 victory, UK converted 11 offensive rebounds into a 23-10 advantage in second-chance points. Six of those second-chance opportunities came during a 15-0 Wildcat run early in the second half.
Willie Cauley-Stein (2.34 OR per game) and Karl-Anthony Towns (2.28) lead this year’s Kentucky club which averages 12.76 (27th in the nation) offensive boards per game.
With a rebound margin of +7.3, Kentucky ranks 11th in the country. Wisconsin is 23rd at 5.7. Frank Kaminsky (8 rpg) and Nigel Hayes (6.3) lead the Badgers.
Keeping UK off the glass, as Madison.com’s Jim Polzin states, may start with Wisconsin’s guards.
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