ESPN predicts the winner between Oakland and Kentucky

Will the Wildcats move on to the Round of 32?

The Kentucky Wildcats are getting ready to play in the NCAA Tournament and their first game will come against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. The Golden Grizzlies went 23-11 on the season and 15-5 in Horizon League play. 

They went on to win the Horizon League Championship to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Grizzlies did play some quality opponents this season losing to Ohio State 79-73 to open their season and then they lost to the Big 10 Tournament Champion Illinois Fighting Illini 64-53 in the following game. 

Oakland has the Horizon League Player of the Year in Trey Townsend, who averaged 16.9 points per game and 7.8 rebounds on the season. The 6'6 forward is also shooting 42.1 percent from three, although he does not shoot all that many. 

The Wildcard for this Oakland team is Jack Gohlke. The senior 6'3 guard is second in all of college basketball in three-point attempts, as he has shot 327 threes on the year while making 121 of them for a percentage of 37. This means Gohlke is shooting 9.6 three-pointers a game this season. Kentucky needs to be ready for him to come in and try to nail some three-pointers early. 

ESPN doesn't believe the Wildcats should be all that concerned about this game, as they give Kentucky an 89.2% chance to take down the Golden Grizzlies in Pittsburgh. If Kentucky can guard the three-point line and score like we know they can, they will win this basketball game and move on to the Round of 32.