Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: Sunday Morning Links

2:00 PM on  December 27th was a day that was circled on everyones calendar in the Bluegrass state in the year of 2014. It was time for the annual showdown between the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team and the hated Louisville Cardinals.  For most pundits, Louisville was the last  realistic chance for someone to hang a loss on the undefeated Wildcats before tourney play and the top 5 matchup the Kentucky Wildcats first road test of the year.  If that was not enough anticipation for you, fans had to sit through an undercard of Indiana vs Georgetown that went into overtime.   until ESPN 2 finally switched the game over. At this point fans are just hoping for an up-beat game with lots of points. However, with the cats stifling defense, that was not an option. Myron Medcalf has more on the game.

"This annual meeting featured more hype than usual because both entered ranked in the top five, the first time the teams had met with both unbeaten. The question was whether Louisville could provide the Wildcats’ last real competition with the Southeastern Conference not appearing to offer any obstacles.Kentucky answered by handing the Cardinals their third straight loss in the series and seventh in eight games under coach John Calipari, who substituted one-for-one at times instead of using full platoons because of foul trouble to 7-footer Willie Cauley-Stein.It helped Kentucky to have rookies such as Ulis and Booker.“I like my freshmen,” Calipari said. “There are other good freshmen, but I’ll take mine. One point we played with four freshmen and (sophomore) Aaron (Harrison) for a while. I think it stretched the game out.”"

Yesterday’s game did not only feature stars on the court, but also in the stands. Besides a battle of the Bluegrass and a top five matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals, it was a battle for bragging rights for some Hollywoood superstars.   Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence was in attendance today Unfortunately cheering for the “bad guys”. Her Hunger Games co-star Josh Hutcherson would get the last laugh today.  For today, Peeta bested KAT-niss, but if the NCAA selection committee stays true to form, there will be a sequel in March.

Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

The real star of the day could not even find his way into the starting line up. He probably could not see over his front court.  5’9 Tyler Ulis was named the MVP of the game and for good reason.  The Chicago guard played a key role in today’s victory outscoring the Louisville bench 14 to 3, along with a dagger three pointer from the corner, and a consistent mid-range jumper, Ulis was the surge that the Cats needed today. Ulis also displayed his now trademark defense and kept the Cardinals at bay when the Kentucky Wildcats needed him the most. 

"Louisville probably would have had a chance to steal an ugly game in the last few minutes were it not for the heroics of Ulis off the bench. Playing with a gash adjacent to his right eye suffered via a first-half elbow, Ulis hurt Louisville in all facets of the game, from his creativity off the dribble, to his defensive ball pressure to his outside shooting.He got into the middle of Louisville’s aggressive extended zone and made smart choices once he got there. He thrived as a spot-up shooter, sinking two huge second-half threes and giving the Wildcats another means of scoring besides taking into the teeth of the Cardinals’ defense where their shot blockers lurked. And he played excellent defense on shot-happy Louisville point guard Chris Jones, holding him to 3 of 15 from the field."

Nov 24, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino calls out instructions during the first half against the Savannah State Tigers at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Former Coach Rick Pitino was a man of few words today after his loss to his biggest rival. However, he did go on record to say that this Kentucky unit is one of the best defensive units that he has seen in his 40 years of coaching! On the brighter side of the rainbow, better know as the winner circle was Coach John Calipari. Coach Cal is the master at under valuing his team, so when he just comes out and compliments his team, it is important. Today he stated simply enough, ” There are a lot of talented Freshmen in the country, I like my Freshmen.” As do we Coach, as do we.  Take a look at what Coach Cal and the Kentucky Wildcats players had to say as well as the highlights for the game.