It was the image of the weekend: Sophomore sniper Trent Noah burying a corner three against Arkansas, turning to the hostile Bud Walton Arena student section, and putting a single finger to his lips.
The "Shush" heard 'round the Bluegrass.
But was it a moment of spontaneous passion, or a calculated move by a cold-blooded assassin? Depending on who you ask in the Kentucky locker room, you get two very different stories.
Theory A: The Babe Ruth 'called shot'
According to teammate Collin Chandler, this wasn't an accident. In fact, he claims Noah literally scripted the moment the night before the game.
"He must have been feeling a certain type of way about the Arkansas game," Chandler laughed. "We were sitting in the hotel the night before... and he's like, 'You know, it'd be pretty cool to shush a crowd like tomorrow.'" Chandler and the guys laughed it off at the time.
"We're like, 'Yeah, it would be pretty cool.' ... I actually didn't know till after the game that he did that. I saw the pictures, and we had a good laugh. Called his shot a little bit."
Theory B: The blackout
Trent Noah, however, remembers it differently. When asked if the moment was premeditated, the Harlan County native swore it was just the heat of the battle taking over.
"No, it was spontaneous," Noah said with a grin. "I don't know what came out of me for that one... I normally kind of keep it even-keeled... but it was kind of just natural."
Noah explained that the Arkansas student section had been "chirping the whole time" while he was standing in the corner. When the shot finally fell, the reaction just happened.
"You kind of dream of that whenever you're little," Noah admitted. "Going on the road, being villains, and getting a big win."
So, did he plan it in the hotel, or did the "villain" instinct just take over? Honestly, who cares?
Whether it was premeditated or spontaneous, it proved one thing: This sophomore isn't scared of the moment. And as the Cats get ready to host Oklahoma tonight, that is exactly the kind of swagger Big Blue Nation wants to see in Rupp tonight.