The Kentucky Wildcats have returned to the Big Dance after missing out a year ago. Ranked as a two-seed, the Wildcats begin play in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament on Thursday night against the Saint Peter’s Peacocks.
One of the nation’s top offensive teams averaging 79.5 PPG, Kentucky enters the 2022 NCAA Tournament coming off a semifinal appearance in last week’s SEC Tournament, as well as holding a 26-7 overall record for the year. One of the SEC’s top teams (16-4 record in regular and postseason conference play), this Wildcats team now enters the Big Dance with a team that is arguably built for March, led by the 2021-22 SEC Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe (17 PPG, 15.1 RPG).
In addition to Tshiebwe, the Wildcats have four other players averaging in double-figures in TyTy Washington Jr, Kellan Grady, Keion Brooks Jr, and Sahvir Wheeler, a group that leads a Kentucky team that shoots a combined 48.4% from the field. Davion Mintz and Jacob Toppin are also the Wildcats primary options off the bench, a duo that averages a combined 14.6 PPG.
The champions of the MAAC, Saint Peter’s enters the 2022 NCAA Tournament as a 15-seed, and are coming off a 2021-22 season in which the Peacocks went 19-11 overall. Finishing behind only Iona in the MAAC during the regular season, the Peacocks however have won their last seven games entering the Big Dance, a stretch that includes a 60-54 win over Monmouth in the conference championship game.
While a solid defensive team allowing only 61.8 PPG, Saint Peter’s however could struggle to keep up with Kentucky offensively, as the Peacocks average only 66.9 PPG for the year. Led by two double-digit scorers in Daryl Banks III and KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s also has eight others that have all averaged 10+ MPG this season, a group that includes other key names such as Doug Edert, Fousseyni Drame, and Matthew Lee.
Kentucky vs Saint Peter’s Odds: Line, Spread, Over/Under
The odds for Kentucky vs Saint Peter’s can be found here.
Kentucky vs Saint Peter’s 2022 NCAA Tournament Prediction
As mentioned previously, this is a matchup where Saint Peter’s will likely struggle to keep-up offensively with Kentucky. Expect the Wildcats to claim an early lead, and potentially cruise to the Round of 32. Prediction: Kentucky 82, Saint Peter’s 64
What Channel is the Kentucky vs Saint Peter’s Game On?
A first round matchup in the East Region, Kentucky vs Saint Peter’s will be played on Thursday, March 17 at 7:10 pm ET. The game will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN, and will be available on CBS.
Kentucky vs Saint Peter’s Live Stream
A live stream of Kentucky vs Saint Peter’s on fuboTV can be found here.