Kentucky and Louisville have been in some intense contests before, but it usually takes a while for the two rivals to get heated up.
Before even a minute had been played in their most recent meeting, however, the two teams had been whistled for six personal fouls and three technicals. And that doesn’t even figure in the restraint coach John Calipari had to put on Eric Bledsoe after yanking the freshman guard just eight seconds into the game.
“It was heated,” coach John Calipari said, perhaps understating things just a tad.
But the two teams settled down some after that and played an engaging game.
Kentucky dominated early, leading by as many as 13 points, but slumped and gave up the lead briefly to the Cardinals. The Wildcats then finished strong to win 71-62 and stretch their record to 15-0.
Afterward, Bledsoe said the game served as a good lesson for the future.
“We learn to keep our heads in the game no matter what is going on around us,” he said. “We have to focus on the game.
“A game like this makes that very tough. I like to play aggressive. I did too much of that too early, so I needed to calm down.”
Kentucky will have a week between games before opening SEC play at home against Georgia.
NOTES, QUOTES
• Once again, coach John Calipari can thank freshman G John Wall for another win. After Louisville pulled ahead 42-41 with 9:51 left in the game, Wall scored the next six points, setting up two with a steal, to spark an 8-0 run that kept the Wildcats in front he rest of the game.
• A Rupp Arena attendance record of 24,479 was set in the game against Louisville. The previous mark was 24,468 in the North Carolina game earlier this season.
On The Spot: Kentucky is shooting better than 50 percent overall and better than 40 on three-pointers, is outscoring opponents by 18 points a game and outrebounding them by a dozen a game, and is averaging better than 17 assists a game. But the Wildcats have had some lapses in ballhanding and are 10th in the league in turnover margin at just under minus-one a game.
Quote To Note: “This start was physical, but neither team was going to give an inch. So you could come out and do that bravado, it wasn’t working in this game—too much talent on both sides and too much pride on both sides.”—Coach John Calipari, on the intense start of the game against Louisville.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Season Recap: At 15-0, Kentucky is off to its best start since the 1969-70 team also opened with 15 consecutive wins. This is the fifth time in school history the Wildcats have managed to do that, and the 15-0 record for John Calipari also marks the best start ever for a first-year Wildcat coach.
Player Rotation: Usual starters—F DeMarcus Cousins, F Patrick Patterson, G John Wall, G Darius Miller, G Eric Bledsoe. Key subs—F Ramon Harris, F Daniel Orton, G DeAndre Liggins, G Darnell Dodson.
Game Review:
Kentucky 86, Long Beach State 73
Kentucky 104, Hartford 61
Kentucky 71, Louisville 62
Game Preview:
vs. Georgia, Saturday, Jan. 9
at Florida, Tuesday, Jan. 12
at Auburn, Saturday, Jan. 16
vs. Arkansas, Saturday, Jan. 23
at South Carolina, Tuesday, Jan. 26
In Focus: The Wildcats should be able to take care of business against a Georgia team that is competing harder under first-year coach Mark Fox but doesn’t have the overall talent or depth to stay with the Wildcats. They figure to overwhelm Georgia’s Trey Thompkins up front.
Roster Report:
• Senior F Ramon Harris got his first start of the season when G Eric Bledsoe rested a sprained ankle against Hartford. Bledsoe was back in the starting lineup against Louisville but stayed on the court just eight seconds before being yanked after getting into a shouting match with Louisville players following a personal foul. Bledsoe ended up playing 30 minutes and scored 12 points.
• Freshman G John Wall set a school single-game record for assists with 16 against Hartford. He added four against Louisville to raise his season total to a conference-best 106.
• Freshman F DeMarcus Cousins had 18 points and 18 rebounds against Louisville for his fourth consecutive double-double and his eighth of the season.
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