It was the game Kentucky was not supposed to win. Vanderbilt, starting 4 seniors and playing at home in the strangest venue in America, was said to have the best chance of anyone in the SEC at knocking off UK. One national writer was so confident Kentucky would fall that he said [I]write it in blood[/I].
Vanderbilt started the game driving right at Anthony Davis. Coach Cal screamed furiously from 50 feet away (yet somehow under the same basket), as Davis and Jones struggled against Vandy’s bigs.
Marquis Teague started out hot though, driving to the basket and finishing up. He had a great game all around, protecting the ball, playing defense, scoring and distributing. He had 13 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and only 1 turnover.
Vandy was living on second chances, outrebounding Kentucky early. Cal put the onus for this on Terrence Jones, sitting him for over 7 minutes in the first half. Jones got the message though, when he returned he immediately blocked a shot and followed that up with a viscous dunk. Jones had 14 points and 9 rebounds.
Darius Miller committed his 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] foul and had to sit down with six and half minutes to go in the first half. This, coupled with Jones’ bench time, meant Kyle Wiltjer would get significant minutes.
Kentucky stretched their lead towards halftime, executing half court sets and forcing Vanderbilt to turn the ball over .
Vandy came out swinging in the second half though, and four quick points had Cal calling a time out.
Kentucky scored out of the time out, and on the next defensive possession Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had to sit down with his 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] foul. Darius Miller subbed for MKG and immediately drew his fourth foul. What had been a comfortable 14 point lead at halftime was now a tense 7 point game.
Vanderbilt hit back to back threes to make it a 3 point game with 14 minutes to go. By twelve minutes to go, Vandy had poured in another long range bucket to tie it up. Vanderbilt outscored Kentucky 21-0 from three before Darius Miller hit Kentucky’s first, just below 11 minutes to go.
Vandy’s zone had quieted Teague’s ability to drive and slowed Kentucky down, while Festus Ezeli continued to take it right at Anthony Davis. They took the lead from UK with 9 and half minutes to go.
It seemed like it took Kentucky about another minute and half to realize they were at risk of losing. This is when they started fighting for boards and putting the ball in Anthony Davis’ hands. He got to the line and gave the lead back to Kentucky.
Terrence Jones and Anthony Davis then followed up a Doron Lamb three by blocking consecutive shots in tandem. Scary.
Just under 5 minutes to go, Brad Tinsley hit his 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] three pointer of the game to tie it up for Vanderbilt. He hit his 4[SUP]th[/SUP] to give them the lead seconds later. Doron Lamb answered from long range to put Kentucky up at the 3 minute mark. He led the Cats with 16 points and also had a couple of rebounds.
In the final two minutes Kentucky locked Vanderbilt down on defense and slowly picked apart their zone. A gritty play form Marquis Teague to deliver an assist to Miller while laying on the floor was followed up by a key block by Davis to give Kentucky a 2 possession cushion in the final minute. In the end Davis again proved to be a difference maker for Kentucky. He was the player of the game, finishing with 15 points and 8 rebounds.
The Cats faced the exact test that Coach Cal called for and came away with a victory, 69-63. Send the merchant of Venice to help that writer [I]write it in blood[/I].
