Kentucky Wildcats vs Santa Clara Broncos: March Madness Showdown

0:00On March 20, Kentucky Wildcats finally hit the court in the NCAA tournament after watching other games kick off. The seven-seated team faces 10th-seated Santa Clara Broncos on Friday at 12.15pm, Eastern time in St. Louis. It's a classic 17 matchup that could go either way, with odds-makers listing Kentucky as just a 2.5 point favorite. Santa Clara brings some real strengths to the table, ranking in the top 20 for offensive rebounding, steals, defensive turnovers, and overall, offense. The Broncos have been a popular upset pick this March madness, and Kentucky Coach Mark Pope called them a great, disciplined squad. Players and fans in St. Louis are feeling the buzz from open practices and media sessions. Kentucky's veterans like Otega Owe stressed its win or go home, keeping the urgency high despite good vibes on day one. Santa Clara's crew seemed thrilled with the spotlight against the powerhouse like the Wildcats. Staff predictions lean toward Kentucky advancing, but everyone knows these early games stay tight.

1:04Highlights from practice showed sharp shooting, like Modiu Bay hitting 5 straight 3s, hinting at hot hands ahead. Tune in on CBS, or catch the local radio call on the UK Sports Network, as the Wildcats aim to keep the run alive in this tournament opener.