Midwest Region Sweet 16 Preview: Notre Dame vs. Wichita State and Kentucky vs. West Virginia

Strategic Insights -

In the first two games of the Midwest Region Sweet 16, two familiar foes will clash on opposite sides of the semifinal bracket. Notre Dame, led by its scorching hot 3-point shooting, faces a daunting task against Wichita State's stingy defense and the scoring prowess of Fred VanVleet. Meanwhile, top-seeded Kentucky looks to maintain its undefeated streak against the rugged Mountaineers of West Virginia, who are infamous for their 40-minute full-court pressure defense.

Key Takeaways:

  • Notre Dame's 3-point shooting is a major threat, with four players shooting 40% or better from beyond the arc, led by Pat Connaughton's 42.7%.
  • Wichita State's defense is capable of frustrating opponents, totaling 19 steals in its second- and third-round victories.
  • Fred VanVleet is a game-changer, averaging 22 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals in his last two wins.
  • Kentucky's length and size advantage could be too much for West Virginia, with Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Trey Lyles forming a formidable defensive unit.
  • West Virginia's 40 minutes of full-court pressure defense has led the NCAA in steals, steals per game, and offensive rebounds, making it a challenging matchup for any opponent.

Statistics:

  • Notre Dame's 3-point shooting percentage: 42.7% (Pat Connaughton), 42% (V.J. Beachem), 41.7% (Demetrius Jackson), and 40.9% (Steve Vasturia)
  • Wichita State's total steals in its last two games: 19
  • Fred VanVleet's scoring average in his last two games: 22 points per game
  • Kentucky's blocks per game in its last outing: 9

Sources:

  • "Byline: Gerry Ahern" by Gerry Ahern, no publication date provided.