Kentucky 68, UNC 66
by T.H. on Dec 5, 2009 3:31 PM EST
in Basketball
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PrintForget the 28-2 run.
I know, it's hard. After all, it took most of the first half and changed what had been a good UNC start into a disastrous hole the Tar Heels spent the entire game climbing out of. But climb out Carolina did, cutting the lead multiple times to three. As horrible as UNC's first half was, Kentucky's second was equally bad, with John Wall either in the locker room or hobbling around the court . UNC had plenty of chances to win this game, but they all seemed to bounce away along the Kentucky baseline.
That's where the Heels truly let the game slip away. The second half gave them the game the wanted to play, with numerous Wildcat turnovers and UNC defensive rebounds. And yet the resulting fast breaks more often than not resulted in nothing. Too many passes bouncing off hands, too many blocks giving the ball back to Kentucky. If UNC converts those points, they win the game. As it stands, they have a long, snowy trip back to Chapel Hill.
So what did the Heels do well? The bounced back from a horrible first half, holding Kentucky to nine offensive rebounds and even curtailing the turnovers in the second half. They shut down DeMarcus Cousins, keeping him in foul trouble most of the game and limiting him to fifteen ineffective minutes. In fact, the player they never had an answer for was the one starting upperclassman, Patrick Patterson, who was 8-12 for 19 points and 7 rebounds. But they couldn't overcome poor shooting and their inability to capitalize on turnovers, and still haven't shaken the propensity to panic that turns small changes in fortune into 28-2 runs. John Wall's first half was, of course, incredible, but he flusters as easy as the UNC players, and his seven turnovers did a good deal towards letting Carolina back in the game.
I'm trying to find the bright side when I say a close loss and a solid comeback, even if it comes up short, will be good for this team down the road. They'll come through December strong and well prepared for the conference season. But it's still a tough loss on an hostile floor, and annoying to see.
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Great effort, tough loss.
I was hoping for the win, but my “voice of reason” told me the Tar Heel experience was too much for the ’Cats to overcome.
I was wrong about that, but just barely.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
To be a consistent team and become a Final Four team
Ed Davis needs to step up. Ed gets his points, but it’s typically off put backs or missed shots. He needs to get in the low post and create shots. I find it very frustrating the Zoeller is doing a better job at this than Ed. I don’t see him getting position in the low post and demanding the ball. He needs to become the guy that makes the big plays in the low post. If he did it would open up the game for everyone else and really make the Heels into a juggernaut. Hopefully he’ll get there soon.
-"A man may be a fool and not know it, but not if he is married." - H.L. Mencken
Davis' air ball...
on a free throw was the low point. Davis has to toughen up. The long runs are what are killing us. We lost to Syracuse because a long run in the second half and we were stuck with 9 points for around six minutes in the first half against Kentucky.
The offense hasn’t figured out who to give the ball to in those situations. Panic is right. No one wants to shoot and we end up taking bad shots. There’s no way that should happen with our front court.
On the bright side I thought Zeller played a lot better.
I saw a talking head on ESPN U calling Kentucky’s freshman class the best since the Fab 5. I wonder if he watched the game. Winning at home by two points to another team full of freshman is hardly amazing.
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