2023 March Madness 1st round bracket breakdown: East Region
No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Providence
A matchup between Kentucky and Providence should be a very physical one, and this could ultimately be one of the best first-round games of the region. Ed Cooley鈥檚 Friars have been a staple of the NCAA Tournament over the past decade, reaching the Sweet 16 last year. This year鈥檚 team hasn鈥檛 been quite as good, but it鈥檚 still the gritty squad that you would expect from Providence. The Friars have five guys who score in double figures, but the headliner of the group is Bryce Hopkins, a Kentucky transfer, who averages 16.1 points and 8.5 rebounds. Providence has been a bit cold of late, though, going 4-6 in its last 10 games with three consecutive losses.
The Friars were one of the last at-large teams placed in the field, a scenario Kentucky was staring at in January. However, the Wildcats proved themselves throughout the second half of the SEC season with a couple of good wins against Tennessee. Similar to Providence, though, the Wildcats enter the Big Dance losing two of three games, both to Vanderbilt. Still, this team has plenty of talent as usual. Freshman guard Cason Wallace 鈥� who is dealing with an ankle injury currently 鈥� has emerged, while senior guards Sahvir Wheeler and Antonio Reeves have given Kentucky relatively consistent production. The Wildcats also have dominant center Oscar Tshiebwe again this year who has averaged 16.5 points and 13.1 rebounds. If those guys play well, Kentucky should be on to the Round of 32, but Providence won鈥檛 make it easy.
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— Providence MBB (@PCFriarsmbb)
