Kentucky vs. North Carolina RECAP: Wildcats oust Tar Heels in final minutes
Kentucky vs. North Carolina RECAP: Wildcats oust Tar Heels in final minutes
The issues that had previously caused problems for UNC basketball in their last two defeats made a comeback and were the cause of their loss to Kentucky.
In the CBS Sports Classic, RJ Davis went above and beyond to provide UNC basketball with an opportunity to win against Kentucky.
The Tar Heels, who were ranked ninth, failed to secure the loose ball, make the critical stop, or prevent the turnover that would have had a significant impact in the high-stakes environment at State Farm Arena.
Kentucky's 14th-ranked basketball team outperformed UNC by securing more rebounds, winning more loose balls, and making more crucial shots, resulting in an 87-83 defeat for UNC in Atlanta. Showing his versatility as a 6-foot guard, Davis showcased his talents by leading the Tar Heels (7-3) with seven rebounds and a game-high 27 points.
In the game, UNC's team had three players who finished with double-digit points, while Kentucky's team, with a record of 8-2, had eight players who scored at least seven points. In addition to out-rebounding UNC by 10, the Wildcats also recorded an impressive nine blocks during the game.
With just 10 seconds remaining, the Tar Heels had a shot at tying the game, but unfortunately, they committed a turnover before they could attempt a shot. UNC had a majority of their turnovers, specifically 11 out of 17, occur in the first half.
The Cats' nail-biting 87-83 win in the latest installment of this legendary series suggests that they might be on the rise again.
Kentucky was in the lead for 37 minutes and 13 seconds and only fell behind once, for a brief 16-second period - although those 16 seconds were crucial. When RJ Davis and Cormac Ryan ignited and propelled UNC ahead, 72-71, with 5:15 left on the clock, it put Kentucky's remarkably talented but incredibly young team to the test. On a previous occasion, they had let go of a lead like this, when they faced preseason No. 1 Kansas in the Champions Classic, and now a different group of seasoned players was attempting to show that the younger ones lacked the ability to finish games.
Despite that, freshman Aaron Bradshaw showcased his athleticism by contorting his body to secure an offensive rebound and convert it into points. Dillingham then pulled off an impressive stop-start, reverse-pivot layup, and Reed Sheppard added to the play with a perfectly thrown long pass to Dillingham for an easy score. In just 67 seconds, three freshmen players swiftly scored six points without any response from the Tar Heels, allowing them to regain control of the game. Kentucky held onto this lead despite UNC's repeated efforts to snatch it back.
With 2:42 remaining on the clock, Davis scored a 3-pointer to narrow the gap. In response, freshman DJ Wagner confidently executed a crossover move and smoothly sank a pull-up jumper. With 1:57 left on the clock, Davis sank another 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to one point. In retaliation, Dillingham took charge by driving Davis toward the basket and executing a floater over him. Leading by 2 points with only 46 seconds on the clock, Bradshaw made an impressive play by grabbing Mitchell's missed 3-point shot, which came as the shot clock ran out. He was then fouled and made both free throws.
The first-year players from Kentucky contributed 18 out of the team's last 20 points and a total of 62 out of 87 points.
Boasting an 8-2 record, they have secured notable wins against Miami and North Carolina, as well as a surprisingly impressive victory over Saint Joseph's, who have revamped their offense and somehow continuously keep adding skilled players to their roster. In his first college game on Saturday, Bradshaw, a McDonald's All-American standing at 7 feet tall, showcased his skills and had a significant impact. Ugonna Onyenso, a fellow 7-footer, played his first game of the season and blocked three shots in just 10 minutes.
Kentucky has finally acquired a strong presence in the post, evident by their nine blocks, impressive +10 rebounding, and successfully neutralizing Armando Bacot, UNC's highly regarded center. Nonetheless, it hasn't had a substantial effect on the Wildcats' rejuvenated style of play this season, characterized by a fast-paced and space-oriented strategy.
“We (added) a big guy, and people thought we were gonna walk it up the court?” Calipari said. “What are you talking about? We’re playing fast. This is who we are. The game is going to this; you better have a bunch of shooters.”
The key, though, is to let them unleash their shots. And in pursuit of that goal, what Dillingham accomplished this season and showed on Saturday night is perhaps the most promising sign that Calipari will relinquish his increasingly firm hold on the reins. Dillingham, with his free-wheeling approach, adds an element of excitement with his wild shots and baffling turnovers from time to time.
Despite starting with a 2-of-10 shooting against North Carolina, Calipari stuck with him. Dillingham repaid that trust by scoring 12 out of his total of 17 points in the latter half of the game and successfully making 4 out of 6 shots to seal the victory.
“He shows me that he has confidence in me, still lets me rock,” Dillingham said, “but at the same time, he wants me to be more pro-like and make smarter decisions. So really I’m just thankful for him. He helps me while letting me be me.”
What does this win mean for Kentucky?
The game served as proof of their true identity. That these new-look Wildcats are an old-school John Calipari team: stylish, exciting and potentially elite, even when the opponent is, as Calipari called UNC, “Final Four-level.” And what does that make Kentucky, which led the Tar Heels” “The upside of this team,” Calipari said, “is really up.” That’s because the freshmen, a vintage No. 1-ranked recruiting class for Calipari, will determine the ceiling, and early returns are very encouraging. The first-year players scored 18 out of the last 20 points for Kentucky and made every crucial shot to respond to UNC's relentless pressure.
Out of the team's total of 87 points, the newcomers contributed 62 points, with Dillingham being the standout performer. Dillingham scored 17 points and celebrated courtside with former Kentucky star John Wall after making one of his most memorable shots. Aaron Bradshaw, a highly rated 7-foot tall player, faced difficulties due to fouls in his third college game and first start. However, he made significant contributions both at the beginning and toward the end of the game, ultimately scoring 12 points, grabbing three rebounds, and making two steals in just 21 minutes of play. In the last 46 seconds, he successfully made three clutch free throws. In the initial stages of his Kentucky tenure, Calipari's teams resembled his best, consistently vying for the national championship. This was the most uplifting sign yet that the Cats' Hall of Fame coach might have a resurgence.
What happened on Cadeau’s turnover?
To be honest, it's quite surprising that Hubert Davis put Cadeau back into the game at that specific time. Cadeau had been on the bench for almost nine minutes without playing, and the freshman seemed overwhelmed throughout the entire evening. Although Davis and his team chose not to elaborate on the play's initial plan, upon reviewing the replay, it seemed that UNC was attempting to pass the ball to Davis, who had been their top scorer in the previous six games. However, Cadeau opted to throw a pass to Ryan as soon as they crossed halfcourt, even though Ryan wasn't even facing him.
UNC fans will find the entire replay to be frustrating. In addition to making the errant pass, Cadeau failed to follow up on the loose ball after it made contact with Ryan. Conversely, Davis rapidly dashed from the corner to get it, successfully doing so... but he found himself without a passing option to keep it, as Cadeau was straddling the mid-court line at that moment. The newcomer guard has been instrumental in UNC's impressive performance at the beginning of the season, so although one error shouldn't have a catastrophic impact on his performance, it was a crucial missed opportunity that, at the very least, could have resulted in a tied game, and possibly a win in overtime.
What does this loss mean for North Carolina?
It is evident that the Tar Heels have more work to complete. However, it is important to take into account that despite having 17 turnovers, being out-rebounded by 10, shooting below 50 percent overall and 33.3 percent from 3-point range, UNC still had several chances to secure a victory. Despite the disappointment in the outcome, it has to be encouraging to face off against a highly athletic team that is considered one of the top 10 in the country.
It's quite straightforward, North Carolina requires more from Bacot. Late in the second half, Bacot had 5 turnovers and only 3 points, but he redeemed himself by giving UNC the lead through two successful free throws. Bacot, who had been putting up an average of 15.9 points and 11.9 rebounds, had a subpar performance in the game, attempting only four shots and even missing one completely by way of an airball. Bacot hasn't had a game with five turnovers since UNC's quadruple-overtime loss to Alabama last season, but this team is still considered one of the top 15 in the nation. It might be tough to swallow after two consecutive missed chances, and there are definitely areas for improvement, but UNC is still considered one of the best teams in the ACC.
Oklahoma up next on UNC basketball schedule
On Wednesday, the Tar Heels will face off against No. 11 Oklahoma (9-0) in the Jumpman Invitational at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. The game is scheduled for 9 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.
Louisville up next on Kentucky basketball schedule
On Thursday night, they travel to Louisville to face their struggling state rival and their embattled coach Kenny Payne, who is rumored to be at risk of losing his job.
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