K-State, Kentucky KO’d
The Butler Bulldogs are headed to their first Final Four in team history after besting second seeded Kansas State in Saturday’s West regional final. Butler beat the Wildcats 63-56 to advance to Indianapolis next weekend. The underdog Bulldogs clawed the Cats with fantastic defense to extend their winning streak to 24 straight games. Butler’s in-your-face defense propelled them to a 27-20 halftime lead, and the Bulldogs held K-State’s top two scorers to two first half points. Butler hounded Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen as they shot a combined 11 for 30. A late Kansas State comeback fell short. The Bulldogs were relentless despite falling behind briefly in the second half. Sophomore Gordon Hayward was the Bulldogs’ most consistent vessel, scoring 22 points in leading Butler to the Big Dance Final Four.
The Wildcats entered Saturday’s contest with a decided size benefit, but Butler grabbed a plus-12 rebound advantage in establishing their ferocity. Hayward collected nine of the team’s 36 rebounds. The teams scored an even 36 in the second half due in part to senior Clemente’s passionate effort. Clemente carried K-State with 18 points, including three from beyond the arc. Butler boasted their own big man downtown in team leader, Shelvin Mack. Mack, the Bulldogs’ sophomore guard, went 3-for-6 from long range and finished with 16 points. Pullen and Curtis Kelly added 14 apiece for the Big 12 Wildcats. Willie Veasley and Ronald Nored smothered the Wildcat shooters who scored a combined 53 points their double overtime victory over Xavier. Forty hours later, K-State looked lethargic and tired against the Cinderalla Bulldogs. Pullen clanked floating jumpers off the rim time after time, and Clemente hobbled throughout most of the game with a bruised thigh. The Bulldogs shot 38% and did not hit a basket outside 15 feet in the first half. Butler controlled the tempo and pace of the ball game and gave every indication they wanted it more. Clemente’s 3-pointer with 4:49 remaining capped an 8-0 run and the only K-State lead of the day. Butler continued to pack the zone, eliminating any driving chances for the offensive-minded Wildcats. Now it’s on to their hometown Indiana for a Final Four meeting with the winner of today’s Tennessee-Michigan State pairing.
Top-seeded Kentucky is the third number one to be ousted in the tournament. John Calipari’s favored Wildcats were downed by the dance darlings, West Virginia. The Mountaineers topped Kentucky in Syracuse last night, 73-66. Second-seeded West Virginia returns to the Final Four for the first time since Jerry West’s junior season in 1959. The Mountaineers played Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium against the victor of Duke-Baylor. The 31-6 Big East champions were fuled by junior, Joe Mazzulla’s career-high 17 points. Cold-shooting Kentucky was shocked from the opening tip in this one-two matchup. West Virginia made eight 3-pointers in the first half and succeeded in slowing the scintillating sensation, John Wall. Wall, an NBA-bound freshman, scored 19 points for the young and overmatched Wildcats. The aggressive and athletic Mountaineers used solid defense and played exclusively out of the 1-3-1 zone to puzzle the Wildcats. Kentucky’s inability to sustain runs and solve the WVU zone was a major factor in just their third loss of the year.
The Wildcats were dismal from long range, connecting a mere 12.5% of the time. Kentucky missed their first 20 attempts from deep. DeAndre Loggins ended the 3-point drought with 3:29 left, but it was too late for Kentucky. West Virginia allowed few chances for the Kentucky guard to penetrate as the defense and long range shooting kept the Mountaineers in the game during the first half. Bob Huggins’ team were held without a 2-point field goal the entire first half but still led by two points at the break. They were 8-of-15 beyond the arc. Kentucky’s inexperience showed as the ineffective Wildcats misfired following an 11-0 run to open the contest. Da’Sean Butler guided the Mountaineers with 18 points. West Virginia denied the top seed easy shot by committing fouls and forcing the Wildcats to make free throws. The Wildcats were just 16-of-29 from the line. Wall was 7-of-18 from the floor and hit half of his eight freebies. Kentucky outrebounded West Virginia by nine, but four Mountaineers reached double digits in this team effort. Kevin Jones and Devin Ebanks combined for 15 rebounds and 25 points. Patrick Patterson, the junior forward snatched 13 rebounds in Kentucky’s attempt to reject the Mountaineers. WVY deployed a second half strategy to get to the rim and implement layup opportunities. It paid off to play to their offensive strengths. The Mountaineers built a ten point advantage to begin the second half. The spurt put WVU in control the remainder of the game. The mighty Mountaineers exited the Carrier Dome with an encouraging upset to grab the spotlight in this unpredictable tournament.
Parting Points: Happy Palm Sunday!
Showing posts with label Kentucky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kentucky. Show all posts
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Carolina (De)Claws Cats in Columbia
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
