IU vs. Kentucky preview

At 5:15 p.m. today, the biggest game in the Tom Crean era will tip 0ff for the Hoosiers. It will be their first game against a legitimately good team this season, and the first game against a legitimately good team that they actually have a chance to win since 2007.

I want you all to know this: I will not be making a prediction for this game. Because honestly, I have no idea how it's going to go. I will provide as much insight as I can, but I'm not going to predict anything. It's also hard for me to predict IU games because, as an IU fan, I'm obviously pretty biased.

Kentucky is far and away the most talented team in the country. They are 16th in the country in points per game, 52nd in assists per game, 24th in field goal percentage, and 4th in rebounds per game. Their strongest point -- rebounding -- is IU's weakest facet of their game. IU is ranked 163rd nationally in rebounds per game, roughly 8 rebounds fewer per game than Kentucky.

If IU is going to win this game, they need to limit Kentucky's offensive rebounds. In the first half against NC State, that was pretty much the only thing keeping NC State in the game -- IU was shooting the ball well and moving the ball around, but NC State would sometimes get four offensive rebounds in a possession. If you get four chances to score in one possession, chances are that you are eventually going to score.

Cody Zeller, like in most games, is the player to watch here. He is probably going to be matched up against Anthony Davis, the 6'10 freshman who, in a game earlier this season, pulled down 15 rebounds and accumulated 8 blocks. He is a dominant presence down low, and if IU is going to win, Zeller needs to contain him and he needs to win the rebounding battle.

IU does have some things going for them: obviously, the crowd will be a huge factor (mostly because I'm going to be there), and they are one of the best shooting teams field goal percentage-wise in the country (6th nationally at 52.3% made field goals per game). If they are able to hit jump shots, specifically the three pointer, they can win this game. But they can't just throw the ball at the hoop and hope for the best. They have to get the ball to Zeller down low.

If Zeller can play his game and win the battle against Anthony Davis, IU shoots well from the field, and Kentucky's offensive rebounding is limited, then I like IU's chances. The crowd gives them a huge boost -- I know, because I've been to games where the crowd essentially won the game for them. The question is not can IU win this game -- the question is, can they execute a game plan against such a talented team? Only time well tell.

Until then, LET'S GO HOOSIERS!