Nov 18, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Evan Manning (5) and Kansas Jayhawks guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) fight for the ball against Kentucky Wildcats guard Dominique Hawkins (25) in the 2nd half of the State Farm Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Porter Binks-USA TODAY Sports
10. Kansas Jayhawks vs Kentucky Wildcats
(14-15)
The Courier-Journal’s Kyle Tucker analyzed this game to a perfect extent. I remember reading it after the game last season and was thinking, “man, why didn’t I think to do that?”
Take a look at what he had to say about the domination over the Jayhawks.
"John Calipari opened his postgame press conference with: “No, we’re not that good.” But No. 1 Kentucky sure looked like it in throttling No. 5 Kansas 72-40 in the Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday night. The Wildcats (3-0) held the Jayhawks to 19.6 percent shooting and blocked 11 shots. Eleven UK players scored at least four points led by Dakari Johnson (11), Andrew Harrison (10 and 4 assists), Karl-Anthony Towns (9, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 assists), Aaron Harrison (8) and Willie Cauley-Stein (7 and 10 rebounds). Both platoons played and thrived. No one got more than 21 minutes. The Cats shot a decent 43.1 percent but had just six turnovers and went more than 22 minutes without one. It was a clinic. Afterward, KU coach Bill Self opened a water bottle at the podium and joked that he hoped it was vodka. He said it’s not crazy to think Kentucky could go undefeated this season and it’ll take someone “special” to beat the Cats. Here’s how each platoon fared until Calipari started shuttling in his 10th and 11th men, Derek Willis and Dominique Hawkins, and even the walk-ons. (Reminder, with the exception of sprinkling in some subs for foul trouble: Platoon 1 is the Harrison twins, Poythress, Towns and Cauley-Stein; Platoon 2 is Ulis, Booker, Lyles, Lee and Johnson.) KENTUCKY’S TWO PLATOONS VS. KANSAS Platoon 1 – 20:00 to 14:55, 8-7 UK lead (2-6 FG, 8-6 rebounding, 3 turnovers, 8-7 advantage in 5:05) Platoon 2 – 14:55 to 11:19, 14-9 UK lead (3-6 FG, 5-3 rebounding, 1 turnover, 6-2 advantage in 3:36) Platoon 1 – 11:19 to 7:51, 26-10 UK lead (4-8 FG, 8-1 rebounding, 0 turnovers, 12-3 advantage in 3:28) Platoon 2 – 7:51 to 5:38, 30-15 UK lead (1-4 FG, 5-1 rebounding, 0 turnovers, 4-5 deficit in 2:13) Platoon 1 – 5:38 to 2:04, 35-21 UK lead (2-5 FG, 1-9 rebounding, 0 turnovers, 5-6 deficit in 3:34) Platoon 2 – 2:04 to 0:00, 38-28 UK lead (1-3 FG), 0-4 rebounding, 0 turnovers, 3-7 deficit in 2:04) TOTALS: Platoon 1 outscored KU 25-16, outrebounded KU 17-16, 3 turnovers in 12:07; Platoon 2 outscored KU 13-12, was outrebounded by KU 10-9, 1 turnover in 7:53. * Trey Lyles subbed in for Willie Cauley-Stein (two fouls) for 2:03 of Platoon 1’s final rotation of the half. SECOND HALF Platoon 2 – 20:00 to 16:26, 44-28 UK lead (3-5 FG, 5-1 rebounding, 0 turnovers, 6-0 advantage in 3:34) Platoon 1 – 16:26 to 12:00, 53-35 UK lead (4-8 FG, 5-4 rebounding, 0 turnovers, 9-7 advantage in 4:26) Platoon 2 – 12:00 to 6:58, 62-36 UK lead (3-6 FG, 6-4 rebounding, 1 turnover, 9-1 advantage in 5:02)"
Next: Ending An Undefeated Season