Kentucky upped the ante for March Madness when Otega Oweh hit a 3-pointer to force overtime against Santa Clara on Friday.
The seventh-seeded Wildcats went on to win 89-84 in overtime with the superstar scoring 35 points.
Now, they face two of the tournament’s most dangerous seeds in Iowa State, who recently outscored Tennessee State, 108-74, by scoring 38 points at halftime.
The Cyclones were nearly flawless, shooting 48 percent from 3-point range and producing 23 points on 16 possessions, though guard Joshua Jefferson sprained his ankle, leaving his availability unclear.
Iowa State holds a five-point advantage heading into Sunday’s Round of 32 clash, as the Cyclones look for their first win over the Wildcats in program history.
There is a surprising amount of public love for the Cyclones, with 82 percent of BetMGM stream bettors placing those scores.
Kentucky vs. Iowa State, opportunities
In the larger pools, Iowa State has been successful with a six-game winning percentage, per the Action Network.
This is a disciplined team that takes good care of basketball. They force the fifth-highest turnover rate in the country and boast a 49.1 percent shooting clip, where they excel at pulling down and from mid-range.
The Cyclones also controlled the boards against Tennessee State and produced easy scoring opportunities, but the team’s Achilles heel is free throws.
Despite going 21 of 27 in that game, the season-long struggles at the line leave room for an upset — ranked 332nd overall.
Jefferson’s situation made things even more difficult; his absence will leave a significant gap in rebounding, scoring and defense.
Kentucky matches the Cyclones with insignificant size and firepower.
Its frontcourt features 6-foot-11 sophomore Andrija Jelavic, seven-footer Malachi Moreno and versatile forwards in Mouhamed Dioubate and Brandon Garrison, who contributed six blocks against Santa Clara.
Betting on College Basketball?
The Wildcats may not be the 3-point shooting machine they were last year, but they are a heavy team, scoring 18 fastbreak points in the first round.
I’m rooting for the Wildcats to rally as Iowa State’s defensive identity can be tested against a high-scoring team, averaging just 1.5 points less than the Cyclones this year.
GAME: Kentucky +5 (-110, Fanatics)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Sean Treppedi handicaps NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He focuses on selections that reflect market value while tracking trends to minimize risk.
