There are no more undefeated teams in college basketball. John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats, the last remaining unbeaten squad, were shocked in Columbia, South Carolina last night. The Gamecocks took care of Kentucky 68-62 days after the Wildcats reclaimed the number one ranking in the nation for the first time since 2003. The Gamecocks lost all seven of their previous games against number one ranked teams. Not last night. South Carolina snapped a three game conference losing streak Tuesday to improve to 3-3 in the SEC and 12-8 overall. Kentucky is now 19-1 following a 30 point posting by the SEC’s top scorer, Carolina’s Devan Downey. Downey delivered the deafening blow through sheer domination, defense and penetration.
South Carolina whipped Kentucky for the third consecutive time by exposing Kentucky’s youth. Second year coach, Darrin Horn, sent an undersized and undermanned Gamecocks crew to the hardwood at Colonial Life Arena. Horn’s 5’9” guard poured in 30 points in 38 minutes and was 10-for-11 from the free throw line. Senior Brandis Raley-Ross added 17 points for the Gamecocks. DeMarcus Cousins had 27 points to go along with 12 rebounds for the Wildcats. Player of the year candidate, John Wall, fired 19 points and was 6-of-16 from the field. Wall, the offensive juggernaut, was agonized after the Wildcats went on a 14-3 run and took a five point lead midway through the second half. The men in blue are now second in the SEC East, but have a chance to change things against Vanderbilt Saturday. Kentucky ended 38.6% shooting from the field and 25% from the arc. South Carolina was up 62-56 with less than two minutes remaining. Wall secured a pair of free throws and dropped a 3-pointer as Kentucky pulled within three points. Raley-Ross went to the line with 40 seconds left and later sealed the upset by converting a free throw with ten ticks on the clock.
The Cats had several matchup advantages over the Gamecocks. South Carolina earned the victory with sensational blocking and rebounding. They overcame a poor shooting night to defeat a more athletic Kentucky team. Defense has been a hallmark for the overpowering Wildcats. Kentucky didn’t have an answer for Downey, and it helped little that the Wildcats’ offensive stars were shutout of the scoring column. Downey raucously cut through Wildcat defenders and was aided by Sam Muldrow’s 11 rebounds. Johndre Jefferson picked up eight for a Gamecock’s defense that forced Kentucky to play half-court basketball most of the evening. South Carolina limited freshman, Eric Bledsoe, to four points after he finished in double digits in six straight games. Bledsoe and Wall missed key layups, and Patrick Patterson was stymied in his attempt at short jumpers. Carolina’s inspired defense spurred 20 blocks while executing an effective coverage strategy. The home team carried a three point deficit into the locker room but bested the number one team by nine points in the second half. Downey was terrific in outplaying Wall and Patterson. The All-American candidate was swift and consistent in the clutch. He had seven points in the final four minutes. With Downey at the helm, the Gamecocks are an unstoppable force in the SEC. But don’t rule out Calipari and his three freshman shooters. The lively Lexington boys will factor into the NCAA tournament’s number one seeding. South Carolina may have plucked a few of their whiskers Tuesday night, but there Cats are bound to claw their way back to the top.
Parting Points: South Carolina was fined $25,000 for allowing fans onto the basketball court following last night’s win.
Andre Dawson is heading into the HOF as a Montreal Expo. Today’s the anniversary of the Giants-Bills Superbowl 19 years ago. Tsonga edged Djokovic at the Australian Open, but Novak has some of the crispest, most formful strokes in tennis.
Song of the day- “Yellow” by Coldplay
Great paperback pickup- “Odd Man Out” by Matt McCarthy
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