UNC Asheville vs. Kentucky Wildcats, 30 November 2009

The Kentucky Wildcats faced up against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in an away game at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky.  Although it was technically an away game, Freedom Hall was full of Big Blue Nation looking on as their Wildcats started off with an impressive first half of basketball against UNC Asheville.  The Wildcats pulled away early behind John Wall and Patrick Patterson.  The score of the basketball game was 45-23 in favor of UK at the half.  Nine different Wildcats scored in the first half, shooting 51.5% from the field as a team.

In the second half, the Kentucky Wildcats put on their burners behind John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Patrick Patterson.  The basketball game was never in doubt and the Wildcats maintained a 20+ point lead for most of the game.  The final score of the basketball game was 94-57 in favor of the Kentucky Wildcats.

Top Performers for Kentucky were:
DeMarcus Cousins - 24 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks
Patrick Patterson - 17 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block
John Wall - 12 points, 14 assists, 6 steals, 4 rebounds (only 1 turnover)
Darnell Dodson - 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Eric Bledsoe - 7 points, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds
Darius Miller - 9 points
Daniel Orton - 5 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
Ramon Harris - 3 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

This was probably the best all around basketball game played by the Kentucky Wildcats all season.  The Wildcats had 28 assists (season high) and only 8 turnovers as a team.  The Cats also came away with 12 steals for the game.  The Wildcats shot the ball well from the field, shooting about 52% for the game, but did only shoot 67% from the free throw line, going 14 for 21.

Now that this game is over, it is time to get ready for the North Carolina Tarheels.  The Tarheels come into Rupp Arena on Saturday, 5 December 2009.  The game starts at 12:30 p.m. (EST).  Big Blue get ready for Baby Blue, let’s put this game and these critics to bed!!

Stanford vs Kentucky, Cancun Challenge Championship, 25 November 2009

The Stanford Cardinal were able to keep the Kentucky Wildcats in check during the first half by slowing the game down.  The Wildcats did take an early lead, but Stanford was able to take and make good shots.  Stanford was able to get Patrick Patterson, Darius Miller, and Eric Bledsoe in early foul trouble (2 fouls each) to capitalize on a first half lead.  Stanford was leading at half-time by a score of 38-32.

Stanford was able to come out in the second half and maintain a slow-paced game.  Kentucky was able to cut into the six point lead and get it back even.  The lead would switch between Kentucky and Stanford late in the second half and it came down to the final seconds.  Stanford was up by 2 points after missing 2 free throws with only 9 seconds left.  Patrick Patterson rebounded the miss and immediately gave it to John Wall.  John Wall took it the length of the court, put up the shot, NO GOOD, but Wall was fouled with only 2 seconds left.  John Wall was calm and swished both free throws to tie the game at 63 apiece.  Stanford heaved the ball the length of the court with 2 seconds left, but Kentucky was able to come up with it to send the game into overtime.

Neither team could get bigger than a 1 point lead in overtime until there was only 40 seconds.  Kentucky was up by 1 with only 40 seconds left and Eric Bledsoe (UK) buried a three pointer to seal the game in favor of the Kentucky Wildcats.  The final score of the basketball game was 73-65 in favor of Kentucky in overtime.

Top Performers for Kentucky were:
John Wall - 26 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks (5 turnovers)
DeMarcus Cousins - 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks
Patrick Patterson - 12 points, 11 rebounds
Darius Miller - 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Ramon Harris - 7 points, 7 rebounds
Eric Bledsoe - 5 points, 3 assists

This was a hard fought game by the Kentucky Wildcats.  The pace was slow and played into Stanford’s favor.  The Wildcats was able to be patient and get the job done in the end.  Another great win by the Kentucky Wildcats in an unexciting game.  Kentucky now has 6 wins with no losses.  UK’s next game is on Monday, 30 November 2009, at 7:00 p.m. (EST) against N.C. Asheville in Rupp Arena.

Cleveland St. vs Kentucky, Cancun, Mexico, 24 November 2009

If you like slow-paced, foul-plagued, turnover ridden basketball games, then you would have loved the first half of the basketball game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Cleveland St. Vikings.  The game got off to a slow start and didn’t get much better before the half was over.  Kentucky finished the half with 12 turnovers, but did manage to shoot 55% from the field.  Cleveland St. wasn’t good at all from the field, shooting just 9 of 32 from the field at 28%.  Ramon Harris (UK) hurt his knee and went back to the locker room before the half.  The half-time score was 35-27 in favor of Kentucky.  On a positive note, the Kentucky Wildcats had nine different players that scored in the first half.

During the second half, the Wildcats were able to pick up the tempo a bit and cut down on turnovers.  Ramon Harris returned to the game and seemed to be okay, but Patrick Patterson (UK) left the game with what looked like an ankle issue.  It didn’t look serious, but Patterson did not return to the game.  John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins led the second half in scoring while Perry Stevenson and Ramon Harris led in rebounds.  The final score of the basketball game was 73-49 in favor of Kentucky.

Top Performers for Kentucky were:
John Wall - 15 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds (6 turnovers)
DeMarcus Cousins - 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks (3 turnovers)
Patrick Patterson - 9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block
Darius Miller - 9 points, 7 rebounds
Eric Bledsoe - 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists (5 turnovers)
Ramon Harris - 7 rebounds

This game was a different kind of game than we have seen the Kentucky Wildcats play all year.  While they won it by double-digits, the Cats didn’t seem to have that quickness and strength that they’ve had all season.  They are in Cancun, so that may be a bit of distraction for the youngsters that aren’t used to that type of transition.  Darnell Dodson did not play in his second straight game for unknown reasons.  DeAndre Liggins has not played a game all season.  His reason for not playing has been speculated to be either a disciplinary or academic reason, but no official word has been heard.  We hope both players are able to get back into the lineup soon.  Kentucky’s next game is tomorrow (25 November 2009) versus either Stanford or Virginia at 9:30 p.m. (EST) in the Cancun Challenge Championship game.

Rider at Kentucky, Cancun Challenge

The Kentucky Wildcats (3-0) had no problem on Saturday after coming off a short rest, having played a game on Thursday night against Sam Houston St.  The Cats came on the court to play today and it showed.  Their defense looked much better against the three, but Rider (2-1) couldn’t hit a 3-pointer in the first half even when they were wide open.  Rider finished the half going 0 for 9 from behind the 3-point line.  Patrick Patterson had a monster half to include 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 1 assist.  DeMarcus Cousins got into foul trouble in the first few minutes of the basketball game, but Daniel Orton was excellent off the bench.  Daniel Orton finished the first half with 10 points and 3 rebounds.  John Wall was able to get to the rim at will, scoring 12 points in the first half to go with 7 assists and 3 steals.  Eric Bledsoe continued to stroke it from behind the 3-point line, going 3 for 5 in the first half for 9 points.  The Kentucky Wildcats led at the half by a score of 51 to 26.

UK was able to come out in the second half and maintain their big lead.  John Wall continued to do just about anything he wanted with the basketball.  DeMarcus Cousins was finally able to get back in the game and score some points.  Patrick Patterson continued his beast of a game on the boards.  Overall, great effort to maintain a huge lead, the Wildcats’ biggest of the season.  The final score of the game was 92-63 in favor of the Kentucky Wildcats.

Top Performers for Kentucky were:
John Wall - 21 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks (only 2 turnovers)
Patrick Patterson - 19 points, 18 rebounds, 1 block
DeMarcus Cousins - 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks
Daniel Orton - 14 points, 6 rebounds
Eric Bledsoe - 11 points, 2 steals (5 turnovers)

All in all, an outstanding effort by the Kentucky Wildcats.  Their turnovers were down, only 14 for the game.  They shot better from the free throw line, going 20 of 27 for 74%.  Kentucky’s 3-point defense was much better as Rider only shot 23.5% from behind the 3-point line, going 4 for 17.  This was the kind of game needed for the Cats to build some confidence and hopefully gather a little more experience.  GO BIG BLUE!!

Sam Houston St vs. Kentucky in the Cancun Challenge

Four words can sum up the first half between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Sam Houston St Bearkats, “terrific offense, horrible defense”.  The Kentucky Wildcats shot for 62.5% in the first half, 20-32, for a total of 53 points.  The only problem is that they gave up 42 points, including twelve 3-pointers.  Sam Houston State shot for only 40% total in the first half, but went 12 for 21 behind the arc for 57%.  DeMarcus Cousins had a monster half, recording a double-double in the first half with 18 points and 10 rebounds.  Corey Allmond, for the SHS Bearkats, went 8 for 11 behind the 3-point line and finished the half with 24 points.  Kentucky led at half-time by the score of 53-42.

The second half proved to not be much different.  The offense was still there, but the defense lacked again.  The Bearkats ended with eighteen 3-pointers made on the night, 18-39, for 46%.  The Wildcats were good behind the 3-point line as well, hitting 11 of 22 for 50%.  Overall, the Wildcats shot 60%, going 36 for 60 from the field.  A great offensive night where all starters scored in double-digit points, but not one single bench player scored a point for the Kentucky Wildcats.  The final score of the game was 102-92 in favor of the UK Wildcats.

Top Performers for Kentucky were:
DeMarcus Cousins - 27 points, 18 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals (4 turnovers)
John Wall - 21 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals (5 turnovers)
Patrick Patterson - 20 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists (3 turnovers)
Eric Bledsoe - 19 points, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks (6 turnovers)
Darius Miller - 15 points, 3 assists (No turnovers)

Corey Allmond (Sam Houston), finished the game with 37 points, going 11 for 16 behind the 3-point line.

As you can see by the turnovers listed above, the Kentucky Wildcats committed way too many turnovers for the game, 21 turnovers and 21 assists.  The Wildcats had excellent performance on the offensive end, but lacked the 3-point defense needed to put the game away.  The Cats once again were mediocre from the free throw line, going 19-29 for 65%.  The Wildcats are inexperienced and will get better as more games are played, so this should be taken as a learning experience, because Coach Calapari will have a lot to improve on before the next game, if they even have time to practice with such a short turnaround.

The next game in the Cancun Challenge, puts the Kentucky Wildcats against the Rider Broncs on Saturday, 21 November 2009, at 1:00 p.m. (EST).  Rider has already recorded a win against the Mississippi St. Bulldogs this year, so this will be a game to watch.

Miami (Ohio) at Kentucky, 16 November 2009

My Oh My!!!  The first half of this basketball game did not go as the Kentucky Wildcats had planned.  Kentucky started out strong by scoring the first five points of the basketball game, but Miami came to play.  Miami went on a 19-4 run and led the game by as much as 18 in the first half.  Miami’s Nick Winbush was lights out behind the three-point line, going 6 for 6 in the first half and finishing the half with18 points.  The Wildcats were finally able to stop threes from raining against them and put on a run of their own, behind Darnell Dodson’s three 3-pointers.  John Wall finished the half with10 points while Patrick Patterson and Darnell Dodson both had 9 apiece.  The score at half-time was 39-36 in favor of the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks.  Miami was able to control the first half mainly on their ten 3-pointers posted by the half, and only three 2-point shots.

 If this basketball game didn’t have any hype before the game, the hype had arrived by half-time.  The game would only prove to get better as the clock ticked down in the second half.  During the second half, neither team could get more than a 5 point lead and the Redhawks led for most of the half.  Daniel Orton head-butted a Miami player unintentionally and had to go to the locker room to receive 6 stitches, but he did return to the game.  DeMarcus Cousins came alive in the second half after picking up 2 fouls early in the first half and sitting the rest of the half.

 If you are a Wildcat fan like me, you were sitting on the edge of your seat with your heart pounding, wondering if Kentucky was going to be able to grind it out or if we would have another VMI, Gardner Webb in the building.  As time ticked away, the game only had me closer to a heart attack.  The score was back and forth in the last few minutes and proved to be something amazing in the last minute. 

Kentucky was up by 2 points, and Miami had the ball with less than a minute to go.  Miami’s guard drove to the basket, met by a little contact, and shot an airball.  DeMarcus Cousins grabbed the rebound while on his back (on the floor).  Kentucky ran it down the court and called a time-out, with about 20 seconds to go in the game.  After the time-out, Miller inbounded the basketball to John Wall in the back-court.  Wall grabbed the ball from miller, which almost resulted in a turnover, but Wall got the foul call while falling to the floor.  John Wall was able to make the first free throw, but missed the second free throw as it seemed like the ball was sitting on the rim for eternity before it fell off. 

Kentucky was up by 3 points, but Miami was a determined bunch and why not!!  Miami dribbled the ball up the court and immediately went for a three. GOOD!!!  Tie ball game at 70-70 with only 6 seconds left.  Miami was out of time-outs!  Kentucky inbounded the ball to John Wall who pushed the ball down the court in what seemed like a nano-second.  About 15 feet out, John Wall pulls up for the shot (2.5 seconds left) with a Miami defender in his face!  WHAM BAM!!! IT’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!  Only 0.5 seconds left in the game, Miami throws a desperation shot from about 85 feet with no luck.  GAME OVER!!  Wow, what a game!  I don’t think anyone had ever anticipated a game like this tonight.  For John Wall, his first official Collegiate game and he makes the winning shot with only .5 seconds left.  Final score, 72-70 in favor of the Wildcats.  I hope that is a sign for things to come from him!

Top Performers for Kentucky were:
John Wall - 19 points, 5 assists, 3 steals (5 turnovers, but had the game winning shot)
Patrick Patterson - 17 points, 10 rebounds
DeMarcus Cousins - 10 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks
Darius Miller - 9 points, 5 rebounds
Darnell Dodson - 9 points

Hats off to Nick Winbush and the rest of the Miami squad.  Winbush finished the game with 26 points, going 8 for 10 from behind the three point line.  Kentucky really needs to improve their free-throw percentage, shooting only 56% for the game.  Kentucky’s next game is versus Sam Houston St. in the Cancun Challenge on November 19th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. (EST).

Morehead St. at Kentucky, Season Opener

The Kentucky Wildcats started slow in their men’s basketball season opener.  The game was only 7-5 in favor of Kentucky at the first time-out, but Kentucky turned on their burners and started pulling away after the time-out.  Then, the Morehead St. Eagles turned it up and made it a game before the half with the help of a lot of Kentucky turnovers.  The half-time score was 33-25 in favor of Kentucky.  The Wildcats missed the talent of John Wall, who was ineligible for this game due to him serving his last game of a two-game suspension.  Patrick Patterson and Darnell Dodson were leading scorers in the first half, both scoring in double-digits before the half.

Kentucky was able to pull away in the second half and maintained a lead between 15 and 20 points for most of the half.  Eric Bledsoe was the main scorer in the second half, including a ridiculous circus shot that went in the basket for him (#1 on ESPN Top Ten Plays).  The final score of the basketball game was 75-59 in favor of the Kentucky Wildcats.

Top Performers for Kentucky were:
Eric Bledsoe - 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks (7 turnovers)
Patrick Patterson - 20 points, 12 rebounds
Darnell Dodson - 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
DeMarcus Cousins - 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks
Daniel Orton - 4 points, 5 rebounds

Kentucky’s downfall for the basketball game was their 24 turnovers, including Eric Bledsoe’s 7.  Kentucky will have Freshman John Wall back for the next game versus Miami (Ohio) in Rupp Arena on November 16th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. (EST).

Clarion at Kentucky: Exhibition Basketball Game 2009

The Kentucky Wildcat Men’s basketball team defeated the Clarion Golden Eagles on November 6th, 2009 by a final score of 117-52 in their final exhibition game of this season.  It was the first game for Freshman John Wall.  The Kentucky Wildcats came out strong and John Wall did not seem to be nervous at all.  He gathered his first assist within the first 30 seconds of the game.  Wall finished the first half with 17 points and the Cats led going into half-time by a score of 58-22.

The second half seemed to mimic the first half.  John Wall and the Wildcats came out strong and put up points in a hurry.  It was a team effort and the dribble-drive seemed to be working and used more in this game.  However, it should be noted that Clarion’s biggest guy on the court was only about 6 feet 8 inches.  The UK Wildcats need to work more on the defense and their cohesiveness as a team.  They aren’t quite where they need to be, but John Calapari should have them there before the big games start.

Eric Bledsoe did not play in the game due to a sore ankle.  Daniel Orton left in the first half with a minor shoulder injury that shouldn’t affect his play in the future (listed day-to-day).  He did not re-enter the game in the second half.  John Wall finished with 27 points and 9 assists.  DeMarcous Cousins finished with 20 points.  DeAndre Liggins did not play in this game or the last exhibition game for unknown reasons.

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