Kentucky Holds Off Championship, Wins Championship for the First Time Since 1998
Disappointment.
That one word summarizes Kentucky's last 13 seasons of basketball. Last year, the Wildcats lost by 1 point to Connecticut in the Final Four. Kentucky lost to West Virginia in the Elite 8 the year before.
But this year, anything short of a championship was a disappointment. How can you be satisfied with second place with Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Marquis Teague, Darius Miller, and Doron Lamb?
You can't. That's why Kentucky went out and finished first instead.
Lamb scored 22 points, Teague added 14, and Kentucky beat Kansas in an exciting championship featuring [at least] three lottery picks. The Wildcats won by a score of 67-59.
Many shots were blocked, and many dunks came down. Anthony Davis probably had the best six-point game in tournament history, blocking six shots, giving out five assists, and snagging 16 rebounds.
The game started close, but it became obvious Kentucky was the better team. The Wildcats led by as much as 18 in the first half, and they led 41-27 at halftime.
Kansas wasn't able to slow down the pace early, and Kentucky feasted off that. Teague and Lamb scored on layups early, and by wearing down the defense, Kentucky was able to pass the ball around and score on jumpers.
That was key, because Kentucky stretched their lead from 9 to 16 with three triples (by Lamb, Miller, and Teague), and they were all assisted on. Davis had a lot of assists by getting the ball down low and kicking it out for jumpers, or layups.
However, Kentucky was less sharp in the second half, and Kansas had opportunities to come back. But Kansas fumbled some chances away, missing two dunks, missing layups, and turning the ball over.
Kansas was only down 10, matching Kentucky basket for basket, when Lamb stepped up for Kentucky. He drained two threes in 38 seconds, extending Kentucky's lead to 16.
Next, it was Davis who came through, making two free throws and hitting a jumper from the left corner to put Kentucky up 59-44. Although he only scored 6 points, Davis blocked or altered 15.7 percent of Kansas' shots.
By hurrying Kansas' shots, he helped the Wildcats in ways not available on the stat sheet. That's why the Wildcats led by 15 with 5 minutes left. However, Kansas started to find their groove, and they made a game.
Tyshawn Taylor scored six quick points, and Thomas Robinson made two free throws, cutting the UK lead to 7. But just when you thought the game was going to go right down to the wire, Marquis Teague drained a huge three from the top of the key to put the 'Cats up 10.
Elijah Johnson and Thomas Robinson added 5 points to Kansas' total, cutting the deficit to 5, but Anthony Davis and Marquis Teague made free throws to extend the lead to 8. Kentucky ended up winning 67-59.
Now, the big question remains: Who will leave and who will stay?
If Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, and the rest decide to stay, college basketball is going to be in a whole lot of trouble.
College basketball must be hoping for Davis and co to leave.
That one word summarizes Kentucky's last 13 seasons of basketball. Last year, the Wildcats lost by 1 point to Connecticut in the Final Four. Kentucky lost to West Virginia in the Elite 8 the year before.
But this year, anything short of a championship was a disappointment. How can you be satisfied with second place with Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Marquis Teague, Darius Miller, and Doron Lamb?
You can't. That's why Kentucky went out and finished first instead.
Lamb scored 22 points, Teague added 14, and Kentucky beat Kansas in an exciting championship featuring [at least] three lottery picks. The Wildcats won by a score of 67-59.
Many shots were blocked, and many dunks came down. Anthony Davis probably had the best six-point game in tournament history, blocking six shots, giving out five assists, and snagging 16 rebounds.
The game started close, but it became obvious Kentucky was the better team. The Wildcats led by as much as 18 in the first half, and they led 41-27 at halftime.
Kansas wasn't able to slow down the pace early, and Kentucky feasted off that. Teague and Lamb scored on layups early, and by wearing down the defense, Kentucky was able to pass the ball around and score on jumpers.
That was key, because Kentucky stretched their lead from 9 to 16 with three triples (by Lamb, Miller, and Teague), and they were all assisted on. Davis had a lot of assists by getting the ball down low and kicking it out for jumpers, or layups.
However, Kentucky was less sharp in the second half, and Kansas had opportunities to come back. But Kansas fumbled some chances away, missing two dunks, missing layups, and turning the ball over.
Kansas was only down 10, matching Kentucky basket for basket, when Lamb stepped up for Kentucky. He drained two threes in 38 seconds, extending Kentucky's lead to 16.
Next, it was Davis who came through, making two free throws and hitting a jumper from the left corner to put Kentucky up 59-44. Although he only scored 6 points, Davis blocked or altered 15.7 percent of Kansas' shots.
By hurrying Kansas' shots, he helped the Wildcats in ways not available on the stat sheet. That's why the Wildcats led by 15 with 5 minutes left. However, Kansas started to find their groove, and they made a game.
Tyshawn Taylor scored six quick points, and Thomas Robinson made two free throws, cutting the UK lead to 7. But just when you thought the game was going to go right down to the wire, Marquis Teague drained a huge three from the top of the key to put the 'Cats up 10.
Elijah Johnson and Thomas Robinson added 5 points to Kansas' total, cutting the deficit to 5, but Anthony Davis and Marquis Teague made free throws to extend the lead to 8. Kentucky ended up winning 67-59.
Now, the big question remains: Who will leave and who will stay?
If Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, and the rest decide to stay, college basketball is going to be in a whole lot of trouble.
College basketball must be hoping for Davis and co to leave.
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