Not a game that was expected by many to give Kentucky any trouble, they were at home in Rupp Arena today to take on the Rebels of Ole Miss.
After a couple of trips back and forth to get their wheels turning, Kentucky turned on the athleticism. Taking it to the rack and crashing the boards, UK had a double digit lead before the game was five minutes old. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 5 of Kentucky’s first 7 rebounds.
Terrence Jones, the MAN, came to play…at least for the first 8 minutes of the game. At about this point Kentucky went flat and Ole Miss started feeling froggy. In the end, Terrence had a great night. More on that in a moment.
A couple of poor shot selections by UK and some solid rebounding by Ole Miss had them back within 6, and had Coach Cal calling a time out to talk things over.
Terrance Henry was getting it done for Ole Miss, scoring 9 of their first 14 and giving Michael Kidd-Gilchrist fits. So out of the time out, Coach Cal gave Darius Miller the task of shutting him down. Miller did a good job of this, but in Henry’s place stepped Murphy Holloway, who was getting busy on Terrence Jones.
Anthony Davis had to sit down, drawing his second foul with 10 minutes to go in the half. By the 8 minute mark, Ole Miss was within 2 points of the top team in the nation. Player of the Year nay-sayers take note.
A minute later Ole Miss tied it up, before Kyle Wiltjer hit a three to wake the Rupp Arena crowd.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist committed his 500[SUP]th[/SUP] charge this season and 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] foul of the game. He had to sit down with just under 5 minutes to go in the half. The absence of Kentucky’s tandem freshman phenoms, combined poor shooting early, made this look like a game in the first half.
Ole Miss even took a lead, with about 3 minutes to go in the half. This was before Darius Miller dropped one of the nastiest dunks I have seen in a long time, on Reginald Buckner…Poster.
Behind some crucial minutes from Kyle Wiltjer, and Darius Miller’s best half of the season, Kentucky went to the locker room with an 8 point lead. Kyle and Darius led the Cats at the half with 10 points apiece.
Ole Miss continued the fight in the second half, but Kentucky settled in. UK began to work on Ole Miss’ zone defense while getting their own D rolling as well.
Kentucky had leisurely strolled to a 20 point lead coming up on 10 minutes to go in the game. And by leisurely stroll I mean put on a lob clinic. The difference in Kentucky’s play with and without Anthony Davis is undeniable proof of his incomparable value…P.O.Y.
Davis had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks. He was one of 5 UK players in double figures, along with Doron Lamb, Darius Miller, Terrence Jones and Kyle Wiltjer (14 points!!!!). Doron Lamb led the Cats with 16 points and 3 assists, he was perfect from 3 and Terrence Jones had his first double-double of the season with 15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, a block and a steal. Marquis Teague had 8 assists to only 3 turnovers, to go along with 5 points and 2 rebounds. He has become a very proficient point guard.
While not the spectacle Cal might have liked his team to put on in front the nation’s top recruit, Nerlens Noel, It was a good game for Kentucky.
After a week off, save for one highly publicized practice, UK came out, shook the cobwebs off and learned a couple of things in the process. Namely, Wiltjer [B]can play[/B], Darius Miller is capable of taking the game in his hands, and Allen Iverson was right (practices and games are two entirely different things.) Kentucky rolls, 77-62. Next up at trip to Mississippi St. on Tuesday, which could be one of UK’s toughest games of the SEC slate.
