Princeton faces Kentucky in the first round of NCAA Tournament

Basketball, College, Princeton University

March 18, 2022

The Women's March Madness Selection Show occurred this past Sunday to determine which 68 teams would play in the NCAA Tournament for the chance at the NCAA Championship. The Princeton Tigers are ranked No. 11 and will be playing No. 6 University of Kentucky in the opening round of the Bridgeport region on Saturday.

Princeton won the Ivy League Championship, defeating Columbia 77-59. Kentucky won the SEC Championship, defeating No. 1 South Carolina 64-62. Both teams got the automatic bid into the tournament.

The Tigers won the last 15 of their regular-season games, while the Wildcats won their final six regular-season games. Princeton's 24-4 record shows the dominant season the team had.

The Tigers are led by Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Ellie Mitchell and Ivy League Player of the Year Abby Meyers. Mitchell's rebounding and Meyer's three-point shooting help the team be as successful as they are. Kentucky's Rhyne Howard has been a scoring powerhouse for the team, averaging ten points.

The Wildcats average 73 points per game, around four points higher than Princeton's 69 points per game. Kentucky typically gives up an average of 65.5 points per game, giving Princeton the chance to pass that threshold.

This season, both teams shot well from beyond the arc, producing a matchup that will feature many three-point shots. Howard averages 2.3 three-pointers while shooting 38 percent from beyond the arch. Meyers averages 2.3 three-pointers while shooting 40 percent beyond the arc to counter Howard. Howard and Meyers both add significant points to their respective teams.

Princeton's less competitive schedule can be seen as a difficulty for the team to go up against No. 13, ranked Kentucky in the top 25. Avid Tigers fans can see a spark within the team after multiple dominant performances this season.

Princeton plays Kentucky on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. You can watch the Tigers on ESPN.