JOIN US FOR OUR LIVE BLOG UNDER THE DISCUSSION TAB TOMIGHT BEGINNING AT 6:45 p.m., LIVE FROM TEH CARRIER DOME

Stats you need to know from The Dreamweaver:

Uk is 13-4 all time vs west virginia

UK is 3-0 all time vs bob huggins

UK is 9-8 all time vs the ap #6

UK is 1-0 all time as #2 team in ap vs #6 in ap

UK is 184-26 all time as #2 team in AP poll

UK is 5-1 all time on March 27th

UK is 101-44 all time in the ncaa tournament

UK is 40-16 all time in the state of New York

UK is 1-3 all time at the carrier dome

***

WVU PREVIEW

By Josh Sullivan, CoachCal.com Contributor

After a 17-point victory over Cornell on Thursday, Kentucky enters Elite Eight play against Big East Tournament winners West Virginia. In the game against Cornell the Cats' defense was spectacular, holding the normally sharp-shooting Cornell squad to only 33% from the field. The Cats defense has been a staple so far through the first three games of the tournament as they have held every team they have played below 40% percent. The Cats' offense did have its woes on Thursday though, going 2 for 16 from three point range and shooting only 61.5% from the free throw line.

West Virginia is also coming off a solid victory and stout defensive game.  They defeated Washington by 13 and held them to only 3 for 11 from three-point range.  The Mountaineers are a very tough, physical team that can run and rebound with anybody. Their lineup isn’t big but they are long, and they are all good rebounders.  Normally West Virginia is very good at taking care of the ball; this was the case before their point guard Darryl Bryant got injured for the rest of the season.  In their first game without Bryant, against Washington, the Mountaineers turned the ball over an uncharacteristic 23 times.  This could be a major factor for Kentucky if they can cause them to have trouble handling the ball. The Cats thrive off causing turnovers and getting fast break points. 

Wall will play a big part as usual in this game, spreading the ball around and getting it inside and often.  Patterson and Cousins should get some great looks at the basket, and their rebounding will be a huge factor in this game.  In the game against Cornell, Kentucky did not shoot the ball extraordinarily well; however, they did dominate the boards both offensively and defensively.  In that game Cousins, Patterson, and Wall combined for a total of 26 rebounds.  Cornell’s total rebounds as a team combined for only 26.  The Cats will have to rebound well against West Virginia to put them away and the game will be largely decided by who wins the rebounding battle. 

It should be a good game, and UK’s toughest challenge yet.  Look for the Cats to clamp down defensively, and if they win the rebounding battle, keeping the Mountaineers off the offensive glass, then we should be looking forward to the Final Four.