Men's Basketball: Different styles obscure similarities between Princeton, Kentucky

Even though it may seem like a clash of polar opposites in Tampa on Thursday – a blue-blooded Southeastern Conference foe known for churning out NBA draft picks versus a small Ivy League school whose basketball rosters are more famous for producing doctors and lawyers – there are some marked similarities between Princeton and Kentucky. When the 13th-seeded Tigers (25-6 overall, 13-2 Ivy League) take on the fourth seeded and 11th ranked Wildcats (25-8, 10-6 SEC East) at St. Pete Times Forum on Thursday at 2:30 pm, we will see two programs with proud traditions and feline mascots each trying to push the tempo and score a lot of points.

Princeton enters the NCAA Tournament off of a now-famous buzzer beater by junior guard Doug Davis in the one-game playoff against Harvard last Saturday. Davis’s shot propelled the Tigers to March Madness for an Ivy League record 24th time, but their first since 2004 and the first time in head coach Sydney Johnson ‘97’s four-year reign. Davis’s shot, which came in the only game this weekend that was not part of a conference tournament, was chosen as SportsCenter’s top play of conference tournament weekend.

This year's squad is one of only three Princeton teams to reach 25 wins, the first since the 27-2 team of 1997-98. The Tigers finished off an undefeated home schedule, a conference slate with only two losses, and a nonconference schedule that included wins over Bucknell and Tulsa.

Kentucky gained an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after routing No. 15 Florida in the final of the SEC tournament in Atlanta on Sunday. The Wildcats were ranked 11th in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, but dropped as low as 22nd in February. Head coach John Calipari’s team played a tough nonconference schedule, losing only to Connecticut and North Carolina while defeating Washington, Louisville and Notre Dame.

While Kentucky fared well in conference play, finishing second in the SEC East Division, it had some road woes down the stretch. However, with the exception of a loss at Arkansas, the Wildcats only lost to teams that qualified for the NCAA or National Invitational Tournament. Moreover, Kentucky was undefeated at home and finished up the regular season with a hard-fought win at current eight-seed Tennessee before its run to the conference tournament title.

Princeton’s athletic backcourt allows Johnson to install a variation of the Princeton offense that runs much more than Princeton teams of old. Matched up against a very athletic and dangerous Kentucky squad, Johnson will look to play up-tempo to a point, since the Tigers are undefeated this season when scoring at least 68 points, but he may also recognize the need to control the pace and grind it out against a talented opponent. Naturally, Johnson has not been very forthcoming about his gameplan.

Davis shares point guard duties for the high-scoring offense with senior guard Dan Mavraides, a second team All-Ivy selection who provides a consistent scoring threat and emotional leadership for the team. Mavraides' ability to score in key situations has led to some comparisons to Brigham Young University guard Jimmer Fredette, the frontrunner for National Player of the Year. Freshman guards T.J. Bray and Ben Hazel provide backcourt depth for the Tigers as well as size and length.

The key for Princeton in the backcourt is containing Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight, first team All-SEC and a projected first-round NBA draft pick. If the Tigers can apply pressure to the talented Knight, he has been known to turn the ball over. Princeton must also deal with guards Darius Miller, who was named MVP of the SEC tournament, and DeAndre Liggins, a member of the SEC All-Defensive team. Guard Doron Lamb is a key piece for the Wildcats, but he played limited minutes against Florida after injuring his ankle during a semifinal win over Alabama.

Compared the Wildcats of last year, this Kentucky team can shoot, especially from three-point distance. The Tigers will need to apply defensive pressure on the perimeter to limit the Wildcats' outside shooting.

Senior forward Kareem Maddox, first team All-Ivy and Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, and sophomore forward Ian Hummer, second team All-Ivy, headline Princeton’s frontcourt. The Tigers are deep down low, with junior forward Patrick Saunders, sophomore center Brendan Connolly and sophomore forwards Mack Darrow and Will Barrett providing all playing extended minutes. The Tigers' big bodies in the frontcourt matchup well with Kentucky and have the ability to outmuscle their opponents and run with the ball. Consistent play in the paint figures to be important for Princeton.

The Tigers will have to contend with Kentucky forward Terrence Jones – first team All-SEC, SEC Freshman of the Year and a likely NBA lottery pick. Along with forward Josh Harrellson, who was key for the Wildcats in the SEC tournament, Jones provides an imposing presence in the frontcourt. He is versatile, lining up anywhere from point guard to power forward. Jones can play very will in transition, teaming up with Knight and Miller to score on the fast break.

However, other than Jones, who plays on the wing, Kentucky does not have a dominating inside presence. The Wildcats have shown that they can play suffocating defense, limiting Florida to 58 points in the SEC championship game.

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In order for Princeton to pull off a huge upset, they will need to contain the Kentucky’s talented guards on the outside, particularly Knight. The Tigers will need to apply aggressive defensive pressure to force turnovers and limit the Wildcat’s transition points. On offense, Princeton should take advantage of its big bodies down low. The Tigers’ big men will need to continue to rebound well and score in the paint. Outside, Princeton’s guards have to shoot well from beyond the arc.

It’s a tall order, but if the Tigers raise their game and echo the legacy of the 1996 victory over UCLA on Thursday, they have a chance to upset Kentucky.