[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial][I] I had every intention of making a morning post previewing today’s UK-UNC matchup. But, as fate would have it, my child’s body was inhabited by Beezelbub last night, which caused him to run from one end of the house to the other, jump on the furniture, and be a generally mischievous little beavis up into the wee hours of the night. This in turn led to me, a fat white lazy American, not getting up until after 9:00, which in itself isn’t abig deal, but we had to go to Lowe’s and build a train caboose out of balsa wood, because what kind of parents would we be if we didn’t? This was followed by my having to get a haircut, because I have a company dinner this evening,and my sideburns were looking like something out of the 1700’s. I entertained the thought of wearing a powdered wig and being done with it, but at the end of the day, I like being able to see my ears. These factors combined to equal my getting back in the driveway as the starting lineups were being introduced, getting inside and turning on the TV just as the opening tip went up. [/I][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial][I]So instead, this will be a retroactive preview,where I will list the few points I had, and see how it turned out. But first, a quick recap[/I]. [/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]Damn, I did not see that coming. Wow, was that a great game. And Anthony Davis, in a game where he didn’t stand out, ended it with a HUGE block of a John Henson shot with about 6seconds left to give Kentucky a 73-72 win over North Carolina. In fact, as I write this, I can’t really find words to put it into context, so let me just say OOOOOMWMWLDFJLFJLDKJWWETTWSDFBOOGABOOGABOOGA!!!!! [/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
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[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]Now that that’s out of the way, let me say that again. If you didn’t see the end of this game, hit yourself in the head with a brick, because you missed a thriller. Anthony Davis got the game-winning block with 5 or 6 seconds left, and UNC was so flabbergasted, they just stopped playing. There was plenty of time for the Heels to foul and get the ball back, but they, like pretty much every damn one else who saw it, were absolutely STUNNED by the Davis block. How fitting is it that UK won it that way?[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]Now, onto the review preview (pregame thoughts in bold):[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][B][FONT=Arial]Anthony Davis v. John Henson[/FONT][/B][FONT=Arial]-[B]While this isn’t going to be a direct matchup, there is length on both sides. Defense v. experience. Henson may negate Davis’ shot-blocking ability. [/B]These two managed to cancel each other out, as Henson finished with 10 points, 8 boards, and 3 blocks. Davis managed a 7-9-2, including the game-winning block of Henson, so I guess looking at it that way, Davis won this matchup. Now go somewhere else and grin like a buffoon, John Henson. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][B][FONT=Arial]Marquis Teague v. Kendall Marshall- Marshall is a better passer and pure point. Teague is quicker and more of a scoring threat[/FONT][/B][FONT=Arial]. While Teague didn’t light it up, he didn’t play terrible, either. Marshall finished with his usual stat line of several assists and few points, getting 8 of each to go with 3 turnovers. Teague got a 7-4-1, but to me, it seemed UK played better when Teague wasn’t running the point. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][B][FONT=Arial]Tyler Zeller v. Terrence Jones- Another indirect matchup, but an even one. Either is capable of disappearing or dominating. [/FONT][/B][FONT=Arial]Both these guys owned it in the first, and disappeared for the vast majority of the second. Call it even. Jones finished with 14-7, and Zeller put up a goofy-ass white stiff line of 14-8. Both players got nearly all of their points in the first half.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][B][FONT=Arial]X-factors- UNC experience. UK speed in transition. Rupp crowd. Darius Miller[/FONT]. [/B][FONT=Arial]UNC didn’t really look like a more experienced team in regards to composure, but for most of the first half, they forced UK out of their comfort zone. In fact, late in the game, it was Carolina that looked rattled. UK’s transition game didn’t really get going until midway through the second half, especially since UNC shot the lights out from behind the line. The Rupp crowd brought its A-game, but for a long time, it seemed that just when they’d have a chance to stand up and make some real noise, the Tarholes would silence them with a bucket. Darius got 14 points, including several key buckets in the second half when UK was making its run. An x-factor I didn’t mention was Doron Lamb, who didn’t do a thing in the first half, but came alive late in the second, finishing with 14 points and a couple of absolutely huge three-pointers late in the game.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][B][FONT=Arial]PJ Hairston v. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist- Hairston will go off from outside, while MKG will dominate the game in the paint. [/FONT][/B][FONT=Arial]Just kidding, I didn’t think a thing about this before the game. But holy crap, how good did these two play today? While Jones carried UK early, it was MKG making the noise at the end of the first half and for a large part of the early 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] half, as he finished with 17 points and 11 boards. It looked like he was everywhere at the start of the second, and he gave the team a boost that carried them through the second. After a subpar showing against St. John’s, MKG brought the heat today, and like usual, it was just when the team needed him the most. As for Hairston, he went from possibly not playing to throwing daggers like a drunken carnie in the first half. He finished with 11 points on 3-4 3FG, but it seemed like he hit a clutch three on about 7 different occasions, so I think the box score is wrong.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]This game, as like pretty much every game UK has played this year, was a tale of two halves. In the first, they couldn’tseem to make the big play, and UNC shot lights out from behind the arc, and UK was lucky to only be down 5 at the break, thanks mostly to defensive effort. In the second, they team played its good half, as they usually do. The defense dug in, and hunkered down, and stepped it up, and the shooting percentages swung in UK’s favor.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]At the end of the day, Kentucky’s defense made the difference in this one, holding UNC to less than 40% in the second half, and 41% for the game. For all the offensive firepower this team has, its defensive tenacity is a thing to behold, especially this early in the season. When the guys manage to put together a full 40 minutes, this group is going to be truly special. Until then, it seems to be a matter of which team plays which half.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]UNC finished 25-60 for 41.7%, but shot a blistering 62% from outside, going 11-18. That means they went 14-42 inside the arc, for a dismal 33%. Kentucky wasn’t much better overall, going 28-63 for 44%, and a paltry 4-17 from behind the line, only 23.5%. Free throws were pretty even, with UNC getting 11-14 (78.6%) and UK hitting 13-18 (72%). UK finished with 36 boards (14 offensive), 9 assists, 7 steals, 7 blocks, and 9 turnovers. UNC got 33 (13), 17, 2, 6, and 13. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]Kentucky’s next game is next Saturday, against Indiana and another damn Zeller. I’m just thankful the Duggar kids don’t play basketball. I’d probably end up on the roof with a sniper rifle if that were the case. Also, if you are in or around the Lexington area, there is an [URL=”http://www.nationofblue.com/nation-blue-uk-vs-unc-after-party-forte-10038/”]afterparty at Forte night club[/URL] in Lexington tonight, sponsored by Nation of Blue.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]What a win. See you tomorrow. In the meantime, here’s a video of the game-winning block.[/FONT][/SIZE]
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