Nerlens Noel, Kyle Wiltjer have career nights to lead Kentucky Wildcats to upset over #16 Mississippi Rebels

Jan 29, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Alex Poythress (22) dunks the ball during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at the Tad Smith Coliseum. Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Mississippi Rebels 87-74. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden–USA TODAY Sports

For perhaps the first time all season, Alex Poythress flexed his muscles and the whole team responded.  Mays and Poythress drilled treys and Kyle Wiltjer battled with the trees and got a steal. He missed the three pointer, but Poythress rebounded and dunked with authority to make the score 71-56 UK at the 11:27 mark.  A Goodman jumper made it a 17 point lead, but if you have followed the Wildcats this year, you know that nothing will come easy.

Nerlens Noel picked up his fourth foul at the 9:53 mark and that was the break the Rebels needed to get back into the game.  He sat briefly, but had to be reinserted in the game but was a different player.   Ole  Miss took the ball at him and cut the lead to single digits.  Kentucky did itself no favors on the offensive ends with ill-timed shots and missed FT’s.  A Ladarius White trey made it a 16-0 Ole Miss run  73-72 at the 4:29 mark.  Ryan Harrow stopped the bleeding with a trey and Noel followed that with his ninth block of the game.  Archie Goodwin hit two FT’s to give UK a 78-72 cushion.

Noel set a UK record with his 10th block and Ryan Harrow sank two FT’s to put UK up 82-74 with 1:33.  Noel followed that with his 11th block and Archie Goodwin sank two more FT’s to put UK up 10 and sealed the deal.  Ryan Harrow hit 3-4 FT’s for the final margin.  Needless to say, the impact of Nerlens Noel can not be underestimated.  Ole Miss made their run when Noel played it safe and not to lose.  When he finally got fed up and played with the devil-may-care abandon, the rest of the team responded.  Noel was later credited with 12 blocks, which crushed the old previous record of 9.  Noel stepped up in this game like Anthony Davis did in the National Title game.  Nerlens had just 2 points and took one shot, but with 12 blocks, who is counting.

I can not stress enough the play of Kyle Wiltjer. In addition to his 26, Wiltjer had 7 rebounds and three assists. And as it was pointed out several times, the offense runs better with him on the court. Alex Poythress dominated in the second half and had 15 and 7. And most importantly, he played his most aggressive game of the year. Archie Goodwin also played his best game and most importantly went 12-14 from the line. Jon Hood and Jarrod Polson played 23 minutes and had no turnovers.

It was a game where Kentucky overcame foul trouble and poor rebounding. And a 16-0 run. And even after being on the ropes, Kentucky closed the game strong and delivered their first signature win of the year. And it happened without that elusive forty minute game. Just imagine what this team will look like when that happens.