NCAA: First Round Preview

Tomorrow night, Kentucky takes on East Tennessee State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Here's what we know...

Game info:#1 Kentucky vs. #16 ETSU
Gametime: Thursday, March 18, 6:15 PM CST
Location: South Region in New Orleans, LA
Television: CBS (Jay Bilas and Dick Enberg)
Online Video Online Audio

Scouting the team:
ETSU is lead by Tommy Hubbard, a 6'4" guard who averages 14.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals a game. He's a highly athletic guard, and a defensive stopper. We shouldn't be surprised if he's Coach Cal's main topic of conversation.

ETSU has been competitive with some very good teams this year. Take a look at their season so far... (key games are in bold)

ETSU 2009-2010 Season, schedule and results:
11/3/2009
MILLIGAN COLLEGE (EXHIBITION) (MEMORIAL CENTER)W 113 - 61

11/9/2009
CARSON NEWMAN (EXHIBITION) (MEMORIAL CENTER)W 81 - 56

11/14/2009
APPALACHIAN ST (MEMORIAL CENTER)W 62 - 58

11/17/2009
at Chattanooga (Chattanooga, Tenn.)L 76 - 85

11/19/2009
at Morgan State (Baltimore, Md.)L 61 - 72

11/21/2009
at Louisville (Louisville, Ky.)L 56 - 69

11/25/2009
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (MEMORIAL CENTER)W 77 - 71

11/27/2009
at Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)W 94 - 85

11/29/2009
NORTH FLORIDA (MEMORIAL CENTER)W 82 - 56

12/2/2009
at Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.)L 66 - 78

12/4/2009
at UAB (Birmingham, Ala.)L 52 - 74

12/10/2009
NORTH GEORGIA (BROOKS GYM) (BACK TO BROOKS GAME)W 75 - 71

12/12/2009
MURRAY ST (MEMORIAL CENTER)L 57 - 61

12/18/2009
at Morehead State (Morehead, Ky.)L 58 - 60

12/21/2009
JACKSONVILLE (MEMORIAL CENTER)W 93 - 70

1/4/2010
at USC Upstate (Spartanburg, S.C.)W 63 - 62

1/7/2010
at Kennesaw State (Kennesaw, Ga.)W 63 - 46

1/9/2010
at Mercer (Macon, Ga.)L 78 - 83

1/14/2010
STETSON (MEMORIAL CENTER)L 52 - 54

1/16/2010
FLA GULF COAST (MEMORIAL CENTER)W 73 - 51

1/21/2010
at Lipscomb (Nashville, Tenn.)W 71 - 69

1/23/2010
at Belmont (Nashville, Tenn.)L 89 - 100

1/27/2010
CAMPBELL (MEMORIAL CENTER)W 72 - 57

1/30/2010
LIPSCOMB (MEMORIAL CENTER)L 84 - 85

2/1/2010
BELMONT (MEMORIAL CENTER)L 67 - 74

2/4/2010
at Florida Gulf Coast (Naples, Fla.)W 56 - 47

2/6/2010
at Stetson (Deland, Fla.)W 75 - 60

2/12/2010
KENNESAW ST (MEMORIAL CENTER)W 66 - 45

2/14/2010
MERCER (MEMORIAL CENTER)L 77 - 82

2/19/2010
at Campbell (Buies Creek, N.C.)L 57 - 79

2/21/2010
USC UPSTATE (MEMORIAL CENTER)W 63 - 56

2/25/2010
at North Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.)W 61 - 46

2/27/2010
at Jacksonville (Jacksonville, Fla.)W 64 - 62

3/4/2010
vs. Campbell (University Center in Macon, Ga.) (Atlantic Sun Tournament)W 72 - 64

3/5/2010
vs. Kennesaw St (University Center in Macon, Ga.) (A-Sun Semifinals)W 69 - 64

3/6/2010
vs. #6 Mercer (University Center in Macon, Ga.) (A-Sun Finals)W 72 - 66

3/18/2010
vs. Kentucky (New Orleans) (NCAA Tournament East Regional first round)7:15 PM

As you can see from the schedule above, ETSU played some good teams in the non conference schedule and was somewhat competitive in those games. They won't be intimidated by Kentucky and will come ready to leave it all on the court.

Prediction:Kentucky will have way too much firepower for ETSU, though they'll be scrappy out of the gate, Kentucky should pull away by halftime. Let's say Kentucky by 25, with a final score of 76-51.

But what says you? Post your own thoughts and predictions in the comments section below!

Go Cats!