Tonight’s Match Up of the Day is the final college basketball game of the year, the National Championship.  The number seven seeded Connecticut Huskies vs the eight seeded Kentucky Wildcats.  Going into the NCAA Tournament no one was suspecting both to make it to the championship game.  Two of the most historic programs will be facing off in Dallas for the right to be called champs.

UConn’s Keys: 

The UConn Huskies have had a fantastic run and most of it is because of their effort on the defensive side of the ball.  Ryan Boatright has been the best defender for this Huskies team and has been so crucial for them throughout this tournament.   Boatright and his backcourt bud, Napier, have a major height disadvantage compared to the monstrous twins that Kentucky has playing the guard position.  Boatright has to wreak havoc on the young Kentucky guards to give his team an advantage.  The X-Factor for the Huskies is forward DeAndre Daniels. It always seems like Daniels is the key for UConn and he can change a game where the Huskies can dominate or they can be dominated.  Daniels had a huge game against the number one overall seed Florida in the Final Four and he is a big reason they won. Daniels has to be a force inside and from the perimeter, but most importantly he has to contain the Wildcats stand out big man Julius Randle.

Kentucky’s Keys: 

The Kentucky Wildcats were the preseason number one team in the country but then their inexperience kicked in.  Kentucky had 10 losses in the regular season and some really bad losses like when they lost to South Carolina, who wasn’t even over 500 this year.  The CInderella story wouldn’t be the correct term for their run, it is more like Sleeping Beauty.   The Cats were in a deep deep sleep throughout the regular season but now they have awaken 100 times stronger.  The key for the Wildcats is Mr. Clutch Aaron Harrison.  Harrison has hit three straight game winning threes, which all were highly contested.  Harrison has to play well because he will probably be guarding the best player in the country Mr. Shabazz Napier who is a hungry senior looking to end his college career with a bang.  Harrison has to play well if he wants his fellow freshman to win it all.

Prediction: 

These two teams didn’t even make the NCAA tournament last year and now they are playing each other in the National Championship.  It is just astonishing.  The Kentucky Wildcats have had the most clutch player in the NCAA tournament so he has to do it on the biggest stage right? No.  I think the youth will finally be exposed tonight and the experienced Uconn Huskies will win the National Championship.  Shabazz Napier will win the game for the Huskies an Aaron Harrison will finally miss a game winning shot.  UConn 68 Kentucky 66