Coming into this game, the Kentucky Wildcats had won their first seven games by an average of 28.9 points a game. So it was time to get a good measuring stick of how good this Kentucky team really was and you could not ask for a better barometer than the previously #1 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. In the game of the season so far, UK came back from an early 9 point deficit and needed a key Anthony Davis block to turn away the Tar Heels 73-72.
North Carolina came into the game with an obvious edge in advantage but the Tar Heels were rattled early as UK stormed to a 9-3 lead and forced five early UNC turnovers. Kentucky showed no fear and took it right to the Tar Heels big men and played their usual harassing style of defense. Undaunted, UNC went on an 11-2 run of their own, keyed by two Harrison Barnes three-pointers to go up 14-11.
The Tar HEels were hot from outside and PJ Hairston of the “not going to play today” added two quick three pointers as UNC maintained their advantage 22-16. North Carolina used their perimeter shooting to hold a comfortable advantage the first half as UK suffered some defensive lapses that allowed some early baskets both inside and some uncontested three pointers to allow UNC to take their biggest lead at 34-25 with 6:54 remaining in the half. Kentucky closed the gap and went in down at half 43-28.
North Carolina was taking advantage of some lax Kentucky defense to hit 6-9 three pointers. Hairston and Barnes hit a couple, but Kentucky allowed a wide open Kendall Marshall to hit a trey as well. On the other side offensively, Kentucky was struggling from the field, hitting just 36.8% and 2-9 from three point land. Some shots were rushed, but UK left a lot of points off the scoreboard by coming up short on easy baskets. The big story of the first half was Terrence Jones dominating with 14 points and the fact that Harrison Barnes had three fouls at the half. Anthony Davis also seemed to have some big game nerves as he had two points.
Kentucky came out more focussed in the second half and cut into the lead. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist took over the game and had seven early points and a Teague layup gave Kentucky their first lead in a long time at 52-51. However, Kentucky’s refusal to guard Kendall Marshall at all kept UNC in the game and UK allowed three early three-pointers in the second half. An uncontested Marshall jumper made it 56-52 UNC.
The defensive ability of both these teams was clear as they went into an extended period of in your face, harassing stifling defense. UNC missed 10 shots in a row and Doron Lamb had a couple of layups to knot the score. UK started to get tired with an extended long stretch and UNC scored four in a row, but Darius Miller converted a three pointer of the “and one variety” to help the Cats claw back to 60-59. Anthony Davis gave Kentucky the lead and Kyle Wiltjer scored to put Kentucky up 3. A Zeller brought the Heels to 63-62 but Doron Lamb nailed a trey to give Kentucky a four point lead. Zeller hit a couple of free throws but another Lamb trey gave UK a 69-64 lead with 3:49 remaining and sent Rupp into a frenzy.
Not to be outdone, Harrison Barnes and Reggie Bullock connected with threes over the next three minutes and Kentucky clung to a 73-72 lead with just :50 left. And that is how it would end. Marquis Teague missed the front end of a one and one, giving UNC a shot to seal the deal, but Anthony Davis blocked a John Henson shot with :04 left and UNC inexplicably sat around and watched UK run the clock out, not even attempting to foul.
Usually these games do not live up to the hype, but this one did. Kentucky showed more heart down the stretch and I am not a North Carolina statistician, but I dare you to find a game when UNC hit 11 threes in a game and did not win by double digits. Kentucky was able to counter UNC’s physical play and took it right to Henson and Zeller. Kentucky struggled with the perimeter, hitting just 4-17 treys, but each one was monumental.
Yet again, Darius Miller came off the bench and provided that spark no other team in the country can claim. And this is what makes Kentucky so different. As good as Henson-Zeller-Barnes are, they can not bring a Darius Miller off the bench. James McAdoo is a solid freshman, but he can not compare with the experience and leadership Miller provides. Miller calms this team down and he scored 12 points. michael Kidd-Gilchrist staked his claim to being the best player on this team with 17 points and 11 boards. Kidd-Gilchrist does not play like a freshman either. He plays like an upperclassman and makes very few mistakes. Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb scored 14. Marquis Teague continued his growth with four assists against just one turnover.
I will say it again, the will to win on this Wildcat team is unprecedented. They had several chances to fold and even fell down nine points early, but the heart and hustle on this team are undeniable. The thing is, this team is just going to get beter and they defeated a UNC team that played even over their heads for the first 20 minutes. The second half, Kentucky clamped down on defense, asserted themselves in the paint, and go those key three pointers.
I don’t think we have seen the end of UNC this year. An April rematch in New Orleans seems likely but it will be hard pressed to match the epicness of this game.