Last Updated on March 14, 2010 11:42 am by drew
Kentucky Tourny Odds
It took a coaching change and an amazing recruiting class, but the 2009-10 Kentucky Wildcats have made themselves a top contender for the NCAA Championship.
In the first year with John Calipari as head coach, the Wildcats have consistently been one of the top two teams in the country along with Kansas. The Wildcats are 31-2 on the year and 14-2 in the SEC, currently holding a No. 2 ranking in the country. Today, Kentucky will face Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament Championship. Kentucky has high hopes this season to win its first national championship since 1998.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have given Kentucky 31/1 odds to win the NCAA Tournament and the Wildcats opened with 2/5 odds to win the SEC Tournament. Freshman sensation, John Wall has also emerged as the favorite to win the 2010 John Wooden Award with 6/5 odds.
This season, Kentucky has defeated six ranked opponents. The Wildcats opened the season with 19-game winning streak and after the opening loss to South Carolina, Kentucky won eight straight and then lost to Tennessee near the end of the season. Kentucky has won its last four games leading into Sunday’s title game.
Kentucky scores 79.4 points per-game, which leads the SEC and the Wildcats have the top scoring margin in the conference at +14.4. UK leads the conference in field goal percentage at 48 percent while holding opponents to 38 percent shooting. Kentucky pulls down 41.5 rebounds per-game and have a rebounding edge of +8.3.
Wall is averaging 16.9 points, 6.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per-game. He shoots 46 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free throw line. Teammate and forward DeMarcus Cousins scores 15.5 points and pulls down 10.2 rebounds per-game. Patrick Patterson is averaging 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per-game.
2010 March Madness Odds
Kentucky 3/1
2010 SEC Tournament Odds
Kentucky 2/5
2010 John Wooden Award Odds
John Wall (Kentucky) 6/5
Posted: 3/14/10 11:42AM ET