Kentucky Basketball: Top 30 Wildcats games in John Calipari Era

Sep 13, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Demarcus Cousins (15) and North Carolina guard Dexter Strickland (1) during the North Carolina and Kentucky Alumni Game at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

#5 Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Kentucky Wildcats

2010 SEC Tournament

This was crazy. I seriously remember hiding behind a couch because I didn’t want to see what happened. I knew we had lost, but I didn’t want to see it. I screamed as that Demarcus Cousins shot went in to send it to overtime. It was by far, one of my favorite games I’ve ever watched.

"Two down, one to go? That might be why the Wildcats ran around the arena waving and yelling with their fans without ever cutting down a net. “We will cut down nets,” Calipari promised. “It’s just not the SEC tournament nets. Maybe hopefully in the NCAA tournament somewhere, but I think these guys they have a big picture. … This is a game we should’ve lost.” The Wildcats (32-2) blew earlier chances with freshmen Wall and DeMarcus Cousins missing free throws and making youthful mistakes. But they came through over the defending tourney champs as Cousins’ layup off Wall’s missed 3-pointer from the right corner beat the regulation buzzer to give them some extra time. Wall did miscalculate. He thought the Wildcats had won on Cousins’ shot and tackled the 6-foot-11, 270-pound forward to the court near the press table, celebrating a wee bit early. “I was so excited,” Wall said. “When I went to the bench, Coach said, ‘It’s overtime.’ I was like, ‘Whew.’ I was tired. I knew we fought hard. I didn’t play a great game, but I did a great job of leading my team.” Cousins knew he had forced overtime even if his teammates didn’t as they followed Wall’s lead and swarmed him on the floor. “So I got kind of beat up at the end thanks to John,” Cousins said with a smile."

Next: Anthony Davis Saves the Day