UK Blitzes UNC, Holds On Late 68-66

Mark Zerof - US Presswire

Leading up to Saturday’s showdown between the two winningest teams in college basketball history, all we heard from John Calipari was his young UK team was going to be tested for the first time by the North Carolina Tar Heels.

In the midst of a first half half 28-2 run that had the Rupp Arena record crowd of 24,468 in a frenzy, it looked like the supposed test wasn’t going to amount to much of one. John Wall and UK raced out to a 30-11 lead, overwhelming the also young Tar Heels with defensive pressure and a open court offensive attack.

Ironically, that type of play is typically a hallmark of UNC basketball, but Roy Williams very quickly realized that his team was outmatched in a running game, a true testament to just how dangerous UK, especially John Wall, can be.

UK took a 15 point lead into halftime, allowing the Heels to stay relatively close with iffy free throw shooting and a few late unforced turnovers. As the second half started, Roy Williams asked his team to do something you don’t often see them do: slow it down to a half court game.

I’m sure UNC would have succeeded in slowing it down to some extent regardless, but they were helped significantly by John Wall’s departure with cramps in his left calf. Before Wall departed, he raced down the court one last time to create a Ramon Harris fast break dunk. After that, UK’s running game was all but dead.

With Wall in the locker room receiving treatment (by the way, John Wall does not like needles), an also hobbled Eric Bledsoe took the reins of the UK attack, and it just wasn’t the same. The rhythm of the UK offense was gone and the UNC defense clamped down. After shooting over 57% in the first half, the ‘Cats managed only 8-26 shooting (30.8%) in the second. Additionally, with the at times reckless Bledsoe running the point, UK had even more unforced turnovers, 12 for the half.

As phenomenal as Wall is, he makes it pretty difficult for the ‘Cats when he is off the floor. His teammates are used to Wall playing with the ball in his hands and putting them in positions to score, so with him out, things stagnate, especially with Eric Bledsoe at less than 100%.

Fortunately, UK had built enough of a lead and was able to play solid enough defense to withstand the Tar Heel surge with Wall on the sideline, still holding a double digit lead when returned, largely thanks to a gamechanging exchange during which Daniel Orton had an at the rim block of John Henson and a fast break assist to Patrick Patterson. It was a four point swing when the lead was down to seven, and I think the game could have been much different if not for that play.

When Wall did return, he still wasn’t quite right. He received treatment on the cramp even as he sat on the sideline waiting to come back in and didn’t dominate as he did in the first half. Wall turned the ball over three times in the first half, but most were errors of commission. He was trying to force the issue and just went a step too far. In the second half, he had four turnovers, but they were not aggressive turnovers. After not committing enough turnovers according to Coach Cal on Monday, UK’s 21 turnovers against UNC, my guess is that 21 will be more than enough for Cal.

When John Wall isn’t doing damage in the open court, it becomes clear that UK has a lot of improving to do in their half court offense. Really the only player who provided a consistent offensive threat in the half court today was Patrick Patterson. He hit a couple outside shots, scored in the post, and grabbed a couple offensive boards. He finished with 19 points, proving exactly why his veteran presence is such an important factor this season. Plainly and simply, UK doesn’t win that game without Patrick Patterson.

Thankfully Patterson showed up, because otherwise, the ‘Cats were severely outplayed on the interior. Daniel Orton provided some good defense, but little offensive punch, and DeMarcus Cousins made some nice offensive plays early, but not enough to have Cal play him any more than the 15 minutes he was on the floor.

A quick aside, I’d like to discuss one of my favorite topics of this early season: what I like to call “the Cousins Face”. There is this sour, whiny face that DeMarcus Cousins makes when he doesn’t get a call he thinks he should, he misses a shot he should make, or doesn’t get the ball when he’s open that I see (and I’m guessing you know what I’m talking about) and I immediately know Daniel Orton will come in. My prediction is that, by the end of the year, Orton, in an almost Pavolovian reaction, will immediately go to the scorers table any time he sees the Cousins Face.

Anyway, the Carolina big men (Ed Davis, Deon Thompson, and Tyler Zeller) outplayed Cousins and Orton, which makes it all the more encouraging that UK was able to hold on. UK actually was able to win the rebounding battle 39-37 thanks to contributions from the UK perimeter (Wall and Darnell Dodson – five rebounds, Miller – 4, Harris – 3).

UK is going to be stiffly tested by another deep, athletic front court next week in New York against Connecticut. Cousins and Orton need to come to play on Wednesday.

For the third time in this early season, the young ‘Cats passed a “close and late” test. Against Miami, it was back and forth over the past 5 minutes, and John Wall made a play to win it. Against Stanford, UK had to make up a last minute deficit to send it to OT. Against UNC, UK held a tenuous lead, and converted at the line to preserve the win. Eric Bledsoe and John Wall made 5-6 late, all in one and one situations to seal the win.

It’s a testament to UK’s talent that they can win a game like this while they show that they still have so much room for improvement. The fact remains, though, that this team has a long way to go.

The win puts UK at 1,996 victories all time, and essentially ensures that UK will beat North Carolina in the race to 2,000 victories.

AP