NCAA Tournament 2015 Live Stream: Kentucky vs West Virginia Preview: Watch, Listen Free Online
ByThe West Virginia Mountaineers (5) may have a reason to feel confident going into their game against the 36-0 Kentucky Wildcats (1).
A select few teams have taken Kentucky to the wire, endangering their perfect record, but none have been able to consistently expose one of their few weaknesses. West Virginia certainly appears to hold the key to one of those weaknesses.
CLICK HERE to watch the game live via NCAA.com. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. ET in Cleveland, Ohio. You can also listen to the game live via TuneIn.
West Virginia exercises their press defense on 37 percent of their opponents' possessions, more than anyone else in college basketball. Kentucky this season has turned the ball over on 26 percent of their possessions facing a press defense, a rate among the worst of any team in the NCAA Tournament.
"They're creating havoc, they're taking you out of your offense, they're creating opportunities for tough shots or turnovers," Kentucky coach John Calipari said in a pregame press conference, according to the Associated Press. "They're playing very physical, they're coming in and letting you know it's going to be body to body."
It is a similar modus operandi to Calipari's own Wildcats. In fact, Huggins is known for his bullish approach to defense and his teams have always double-teamed and played a full court press as well as anyone. Huggins is also 8-2 against Calipari.
However, Huggins is aware Kentucky leaves little room for their opponents to slip up; they shoot free throws well, play up to 13 players in a game and are unselfish on offense. In his pregame remarks, Huggins said West Virginia would be in for a "long day" if they cannot force turnovers and keep Kentucky off the free throw line.