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Surviving and advancing in March requires more than just heart. It requires mathematical execution.
When Kentucky matched up against Texas earlier this season, the Wildcats found themselves trailing by just three points in the fourth quarter before the Longhorns ultimately pulled away for an 11-point victory. The blueprint for an upset was laid out on that floor. Now, with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line, Kentucky simply has to clean up the margins.
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If the Wildcats want to keep dancing, these are the seven statistical keys they must master against a lethal Texas squad.
1. Clean up the turnover catastrophe
Coughing the basketball up 23 times is going to get you beat. Kentucky barely got here after turning it over 17 times against West Virginia. If you followed the team, you knew this was going to be number 1. Giving away possessions is exactly why Kentucky lost the first matchup. And a lot of these turnovers are just unforced. Double dribbles, bad passes, these girls are better than that.
Texas boasts one of the most terrifying perimeter defenders in the country in Rori Harmon, who averages 2.7 steals per game and swiped three against Kentucky last time. The Wildcats average 12.7 turnovers on the season, which isn’t bad. But they have hit 20 5 different times, and 16+ 10 times. If they can stick to their season average, Texas loses its transition momentum. 13 or fewer turnovers.
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2. Replicate the Madison Booker blueprint
Holding a National Player of the Year candidate to a 1-for-6 shooting night is almost impossible. Yet, that is exactly what Kentucky did to Madison Booker in their last meeting. Booker is an absolute machine, averaging 19.3 points on 52.2% shooting for the season. Kentucky forced her into contested looks and frustrated her all night, limiting her to just 8 points. Kentucky has the size to make this a hard matchup, but much like South Carolina in the second game in the SEC Tournament, players can get hot. If the Wildcats can…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/7-keys-kentucky-upset-texas-111500491.html
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Publish date : 2026-03-27 11:15:00
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