A Key to Ohio St. vs Kentucky

The Kentucky freshmen against the number one overall seed: In most peoples minds, the Ohio St. Buckeyes have been the most consistent team this season and have everything a team needs to win a national championship. They have scorers on the perimeter with William Buford and David Lightly, a deadly three point shooter with Jon Diebler, and a dominant big men with Jared Sullinger. The question that all Buckeye fans are wondering is how will the Kentucky freshman play in their third NCAA tournament game. Kentucky coach John Calipari has said, "You can't count on freshmen." The three major freshman for Kentucky (Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones, and Doron Lamb) averaged 48 of their teams 77 points during the regular season. However, aside from Knight's third round game against West Virginia, all three have really struggled to get going in the tournament. In Kentucky's second round game against Princeton the three freshmen scored a combined 19 points going 8 for 23 from the field. John Callipari said, "I think they had the jitters at their first NCAA tournament game ever that they've been watching since they're 12 and all of a sudden starting in the NCAA tournament that's on national television." Although Knight had a fantastic third round game against West Virginia, Jones and Lamb looked like they still had some jitters. Jones only had 3 buckets from the field and Lamb only played 14 minutes and had 6 points. Jones and Lamb have ben struggling with their shot in the tournament. Since Kentucky relies so much on their freshman, it will be very difficult for them to advance in the tournament without Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb playing very well.