Men’s college basketball: Kentucky sticks with the heels
Published at 12:51 AM Sunday, December 17, 2023
- Kentucky guard Justin Edwards (1) shoots North Carolina guard Elliot Cado (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the CBS Sports Classic, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
By Paul Newberry AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA — Kentucky seems to be making all the big plays down the stretch. Even then, North Carolina still had a chance at victory.
But the Tar Heels threw him away.
Rob Dillingham scored 17 points, including two straight baskets to give Kentucky the momentum back, and the No. 14 Wildcats held on for an 87-83 win over the No. 9 Tar Heels on Saturday.
North Carolina State missed a chance for a 3-pointer when Elliott Cado, who rushed the ball up the court, tipped a pass off the back of Cormac Ryan, who was looking the other way.
RJ Davis rushed to recover the loose ball but ended up dribbling across midfield for a backcourt violation.
“It’s just a switch,” coach Hubert Davis said, ignoring any attempt to dissect what his team was trying to do. “The play wasn’t her turn.”
Aaron Bradshaw was fouled and sank a free throw with 4.7 seconds left to seal the win for Kentucky (8-2), which won Game 2 of the CBS Sports Classic at State Farm Arena. Ohio State beat UCLA 67-60 in the opener of a made-for-TV doubleheader.
Davis scored 27 points and Ryan added 20 points for the Tar Heels (7-3). The Wildcats were a more balanced team, with eight players scoring at least seven points.
“When they make a play at the end of the game to win the game, it shows you what kind of team they are,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “The upside for this team is really high. Let’s see if we can get there.”
After an 11-day break following an 87-76 loss at No. 5 UConn on Dec. 5, North Carolina State trailed for almost the entire game. The Tar Heels finally took their first lead, 72-71, on two free throws from Armando Bacot with 5:15 left.
But Kentucky didn’t hesitate.
Bradshaw scored on a rebound, and then Dillingham went to work. He made a crafty move in the lane to lose his defender for a finger spin, and ended up with another easy move off a fast break after a Tar Heels miss.
And just like that, the Wildcats regained a 77-72 lead.
Clinging to an 83-81 lead, Kentucky made another huge inbounds play with just 3 seconds left in the shot clock. Trey Mitchell missed a quick 3-pointer from the corner, but Bradshaw grabbed the rebound with Davis pinning him, drawing a foul before time expired.
Bradshaw made both free throws with 46.3 seconds left, and the Wildcats held on from there with a little help from the Tar Heels.
The Wildcats led by 11 at halftime, impressing their fans who traveled to the city known as “Cat-lanta” for Kentucky’s dominance over the years when they played in the ATL.
But North Carolina seized the momentum just before halftime, scoring the final eight points — including 3-pointers from Ryan and Seth Trimble — to head into the locker room down only 40-38.
Ryan scored 12 points in the first half, hitting 5 of 6 shots while the rest of the team hit 8 of 25 shots from the field.
The Wildcats led at the break despite making just 14 of 41 shots.
The Big Picture
North Carolina: The Tar Heels dominated the boards. Kentucky finished the game with a 42-32 lead, including 18 offensive rebounds, none bigger than Bradshaw’s play in the final minute. “It’s just the will and the desire,” Davis said. “We have to find a way to be a better rebounding team.” Seventeen turnovers didn’t help either, especially the last one.
Kentucky: The Wildcats picked up their second win of the season against a top-10 team, also beating the then-No. 10 team. 8 Miami in the ACC-SEC Challenge. That feeling was especially good after that inexplicable setback for another Tar Heel State school, an 80-73 loss at home to UNC-Wilmington on Dec. 2.
the next
North Carolina: Faces Oklahoma on Wednesday night at the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Kentucky: Head to Louisville on Thursday night for a matchup with their struggling in-state rival and embattled coach Kenny Payne, who is reportedly in danger of losing his job.
The men’s college basketball scene is heating up, and Kentucky is making headlines with their strong performance. With their eyes set on the prize, the team is determined to stick with the heels and make a mark in the upcoming games. As the competition gets tougher, Kentucky’s perseverance and talent on the court are earning them respect and admiration. With a promising season ahead, all eyes are on Kentucky as they continue to showcase their skills and determination on the court.