Collin Chandler expects a "dogfight" against Illinois today. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Koby Brea knows the road to Indianapolis and the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament isn’t going to be an easy ride.
“This one’s not going to be easy — nothing about this tournament is going to be easy,” Brea said Saturday. “We’ve got to be willing to come out and do hard things.”
The No. 3 seeded Wildcats (23-11) will take on Illinois (22-12) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, with the winner earning a ticket to the Midwest Regional semifinals next weekend in Indianapolis. The Illini defeated Xavier 86-73 on Friday night to advance to the second round.
“It’s gonna be a dogfight,” said Kentucky guard Collin Chandler, who scored nine points in the tournament opener on Friday night. “I think a lot of guys have taken that to heart, and we’re playing as a team, and I think the trust has gone up as a team, of trusting each other, that your brother has your back. I think it’s been one of the keys to us being better defensively.”
Aside from the recruiting cycle, Kentucky coach Mark Pope considers the adrenaline and drive of the quick turnaround one of the “best parts of the year.”
“Our life gets really simple right now,” Pope said. “Last night we dug in a scout (report), kind of stayed there all night, this morning met with the team, digging in a scout this afternoon and we had a really nice experience with our guys on the floor and we’ll go back and keep trying to figure out this terrific Illinois team. In that sense, it gets really, really simple. … it’s constantly ongoing right now (and) everything else is just focused on the game. It gets simple.”
In its tournament opener on Friday night, Kentucky took care of business and rolled to a 76-57 win over Troy, giving Pope his first NCAA Tournament win in three tries as a coach. Pope has taken a low-key approach to the milestone and likes the fact that his team advanced past the first round after the Wildcats lost to Oakland in the tournament opener last season.
“How fun is this?” Pope said. “It’s so fun, like it’s just great. Every game is a great game against great teams and great coaches. This event is awesome and it’s a special time to be a part of it.”
The Illini lost three straight early in February but have won five of their past six games. Illinois coach Brad Underwood likes the way his team is playing going into Sunday’s contest against the Wildcats.
KENTUCKY CONNECTIONS
Illinois assistant coach Orlando Antigua, who served two stints as an assistant coach under John Calipari while the pair were at Kentucky, is in his second stint on Underwood’s staff at Illinois.
Underwood said Antigua has been an instrumental part of his staff this season.
“I love O and I call him the GOAT,” Underwood said. “I think he’s one of those guys that is unique. He’s great for me. I don’t know if you want to call it a weakness or strength, it’s your choice, but sometimes I coach the glass half empty all the time. O is always half full and that’s good for me.”
Illinois forward Tomislav Ivisic is the brother of former Kentucky and current Arkansas forward Zvonimir Ivisic and is averaging 12 points and seven rebounds a game for Illinois this season.
“A lot of people say we’re similar, but there’s also a lot of different things to our game. We both have a soft hand and a good touch, but I would say he’s a better rim protector. I play more physical but there are a lot of similarities.”
‘COACH’ ROBINSON
Although not able to play because of an injured wrist, Kentucky guard Jaxson Robinson has been providing valuable insights from the bench to Pope and his staff during the past month as he recovers from surgery.
“It was two games ago (against Oklahoma), all of a sudden, I’m standing on the sideline and I got someone tapping me on the shoulder during live play and I turn around and it’s Jaxson,” Pope said. “He’s like, coach, you’re not seeing this right. He gave me a couple of pointers.”
In addition to his current squad, Robinson has been cheering on his former school, BYU.
“I watch almost all the games, just keeping tabs on some of my old teammates, and I’m really happy for the success they’ve had,” Robinson said.
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GAMERACKER: Kentucky vs. Illinois, 5:15 p.m., Sunday. TV/Radio: CBS, UK Radio Network.
