Wall, Wildcats live up to star billing

A basketball player can be likened to a movie in that the trailer does not always accurately depict the quality of the film. John Wall, Kentucky's freshman point guard, was billed as a star before he played a college game.

So you get the popcorn ready, and sometimes disappointment sets in when the truth is exposed and you realize there was a hitch in the trailer. Wall is a pleasant surprise. He's the real deal.

If you want to see a phony, watch Tiger Woods and his carefully scripted apology today. Woods is a superstar golfer, and he's equally skilled as an actor.

Wall and the second-ranked Wildcats (25-1) were good from the start of this season and will be entertaining to watch to the finish.

Coach John Calipari has critics -- myself and Bob Knight included -- but this team of his is pretty close to flawless. The NCAA Tournament is around the corner, and you can bet on the Wildcats to advance deep in the office pool bracket.

Five more teams -- top-ranked Kansas, Villanova, Duke, Purdue and Syracuse -- are strong Final Four candidates. But none is quite Robert De Niro-as-Al Capone quality.

''I don't think any team is untouchable this year,'' The Gold Sheet handicapper Bruce Marshall said. ''Even Kansas is a little bit vulnerable.''

It's not a terrible thing, or a sign of impending gloom and doom, to lose a game or two in February. But it's never advisable to lose three in a row (UNLV).

As Marshall noted, Kentucky, a 2½-point favorite, was ''lucky'' to get the win and cover by escaping Mississippi State 81-75 in overtime Tuesday. Wall was typically good while compiling 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

The Wildcats might hit a higher hurdle at Vanderbilt on Saturday. When the betting line opens today, Kentucky will be about a 1½-point favorite.

''I think Vandy could be a Final Four team,'' Marshall said. ''I think they beat Kentucky at home. I could see the upset coming there.''

The Commodores, who have swept Tennessee, will be out for Southeastern Conference revenge after losing 85-72 at Kentucky on Jan. 30. That game came four days after the Wildcats' lone loss, 68-62 at South Carolina.

As tough as it is to win on the road in college basketball, it's tougher to win and cover against a strong underdog. Vanderbilt is a versatile team with point guard Jermaine Beal, 6-foot-11-inch center A.J. Ogilvy and 6-7 forward Jeffery Taylor.

There are some potential Final Four sleepers out there. Marshall said he likes Gonzaga and added, ''I would put New Mexico on that list.''

This is Bracket Buster weekend. On a normal Saturday, about 100 games are on the betting board. This will be an abnormal Saturday only because several of those 100 games will be odd-looking matchups (Siena at Butler, for example).

It's not easy to thoroughly handicap the Saturday card on Thursday for Friday's newspaper. But here are a handful of games to consider -- with projected lines according to The Gold Sheet power ratings and other sources -- so start the 35-second shot clock:

Marshall (goldsheet.com) recommends Temple (-9) over St. Joseph's, Wake Forest (-5½) over North Carolina State and Washington (-10) over UCLA.

My list will include Kansas State (-3½) over Oklahoma, Missouri State (-4) over UNR, Oklahoma State (-2) over Baylor and South Florida (-6) over St. Johns.

For those who haven't seen him, South Florida guard Dominique Jones is a star on an under-the-radar team.

As of now, Ohio State's Evan Turner gets my vote for national Player of the Year. Turner is carrying the Buckeyes.

Wall is surrounded by more help at Kentucky, which also features 6-11 DeMarcus Cousins, 6-9 Patrick Patterson and guard Eric Bledsoe. But Wall is a must-see freshman worth the price of admission.

Contact sports betting columnist Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.