VICTORY!! Kentucky Wildcats upset #1 Ohio State Buckeyes 62-60, advance to Elite Eight
By Paul Jordan
Not too many times in the University of Kentucky’s illustrious NCAA history have they had to play the David role, especially this deep in the NCAA Tournament. But in tonight’s battle, they found themselves in that precise scenario against the number one seeded Ohio State Buckeyes. Adding to the Goliath mystique was the fact that Ohio State held a gaudy 5-0 record against UK in the NCAA Tournament.
Warning flags went up for Kentucky early as Terrence Jones picked up two fouls in the first 3:09 of the game. Both teams started slow though as Ohio State led just 4-2 at the 15:35 mark. Jon Diebler got loose for a three pointer and the Buckeyes got baskets from Buford and Sullinger. A Lighty FT gave OSU a 14-7 lead at the 12:50 mark.
Most of the first half was a half court battle as for the most part, Kentucky kept the Ohio State three point sharpshooters at bay. Kentucky got back into the game behind a couple of Liggins baskets and a Josh Harrellson putback gave Kentucky it’s first lead at 19-18.
The rest of the half was a grind it out affair. I was surprised by how pesky Aaron Craft was on defense and he harassed Brandon Knight most of the first half. The key to the half for Kentucky was Harrellson, who had 12 points and 7 rebounds. In contrast, Sullinger had 10 points and 7 rebounds. You have to give Kentucky the edge for the first half as they held Ohio State to 30.8% shooting and the score was knotted at 30 at the half. Kentucky does have foul trouble though as Harrellson, Miller, Knight, Jones, and Liggins all have two fouls at the half and the Buckeyes have shot 15 free throws as compared to Kentucky’s four. Kentucky won the half defensively as they held the Buckeyes without a FG the last 5:49.
Ohio State came out hot in the second half as a Buford and Lighty three pointer necessitated a Kentucky timeout as OSU jumped up 36-32. Kentucky used free free throws and a trey by Doron Lamb to take a 38-36 lead, but a putback by Sullinger knotted the score at the first timeout. The game continued it’s scrum like grind it out nature through the second half. Harrellson and Miller picked up their third fouls, but a Doron Lamb trey gave UK a 44-42 lead at the 11:39 mark.
With three fouls on both Harrellson and Jones, the Buckeyes started to go inside more to Sullinger and he scored three straight baskets inside. Terrence Jones had a three pointer and Josh Harrellson had a three of the “and one” variety and the game was deadlocked at 53 with 5:39 left. Brandon Knight drained a three pointer and Kentucky continued to pressure the Buckeyes on defense. DeAndre Liggins forced a charging foul on Sullinger, but Kentucky could not covert due to a five second call. Kentucky continued to block shots and frustrate Ohio State inside and UK clung to a perilous 56-53 lead with 3:16 remaining.
As you would expect from the number one team, Ohio State responded to take a 57-56 lead behind layups from Sullinger and Lighty. DeAndre Liggins then forced Sullinger into his fourth foul and sank both free throws. On the other end, OSU went to Sullinger, and his shot was blocked. Liggins drove the ball and scored, putting the Cats up 60-57 with :36 left. The Buckeyes got a three pointer from Diebler and the game was knotted with :25 left. And it all came down to Brandon Knight.
Knight used a screen to get some isolation on Aaron Craft and he sank a jumper with about :05 left. OSU got off a three point attempt by Bufford that bounced off the rim and Josh Harrellson cleared the rebound as Kentucky knocked off the number one team in the country.
Credit goes first and foremost to Josh Harrellson and DeAndre Liggins. Harrellson more than held his own against Sullinger and his play was the reason Kentucky did not have to double team Sullinger. Jorts had 17 points, and 10 boards. Sullinger had 21 points and 16 rebounds. But DeAndre Liggins flat took over the game in the second half. Liggins had 15 points, 6 boards, 3 assists, and 3 blocks and like I said earlier was responsible for getting that third and fourth foul on Sullinger. Calipari’s call to not double team Sullinger allowed Kentucky’s defense to harass the Buckeye shooters all day, holding them to a 32.8% shooting performance.
Once again, Kentucky rode to the win on the backs of their upper classmen as Knight, Jones, and Lamb had 9, 8, and 6 points. The basket by Knight was important not only for it’s game winning status, but because it broke John Wall’s freshman scoring record. It was Knight’s 618th point of the season and Wall had 616 last season. But this just means to expect a big performance from Knight on Sunday.
Hats off to the Buckeyes. It took a perfect game by UK to move on and the Kentucky revenge tour will continue Sunday as Kentucky battles North Carolina for a trip to the final four.
Complete game stats are here.
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