Tonight’s national championship game to crown the greatest in college basketball for the 2011-12 season is bound to feature some incredible shots and highlight-reel dunks. But one other thing you’re bound to see tonight is the awesome shot blocking skills of two of the best in the country. Anthony Davis of Kentucky and Jeff Withey of KU are actually called the best by Kansas head coach Bill Self.
“[Davis is] probably the best shot-blocker in the country. If he is, and I think we’ve got the second-best right here, two great shot-blockers [will be] going at each other,” Self said.
Calipari describes Davis as a great shot blocker because of his technique and the permission he gives the shooter to go ahead and try.
“He doesn’t block it in your hands; he lets you release it. That’s what great shot-blockers do,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “They never try to get it in your hand. … Even though he will block his own man’s shot, it’s the other guys he’s getting most of the time, which means he’s nimble, quick to the ball, he’s got a quick twitch.”
Withey had an impressive seven blocks against Ohio State in the national semi-final game on Saturday night. This will be fun to watch the post presence of both players to see who comes out on top.
For more on this game, visit Kentucky blog A Sea Of Blue and Kansas blog Rock Chalk Talk. Head over to SB Nation NCAA Basketball. For all your 2012 March Madness needs, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NCAA Tournament hub.