Kentucky ended West Virginia with a blowout, 78-39
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Andrew Weber-USA Today[/caption]
Not since March 26th, 1949 has a team failed to score 40 points in an NCAA Tournament game against the Kentucky Wildcats. That's what happens when you run your mouth, I guess, which West Virginia did a lot this week. Bob Huggins said he was okay with the trash talking, downplaying the notion it fueled Kentucky's players to play harder. "That's a bunch of BS," Huggins said, when asked if he thought UK used his Mountaineers' words as motivation.
Whether the talking did or didn't add to the fire, Kentucky played like a team that was out for blood. The Cats dominated from the opening tip en route to a 44-18 halftime score and on to the 39-point win. That's not how Sweet 16 games are to be played, FYI. It tied the record for largest margin of victory in the Sweet 16 and was only the second time in history a team doubled up its opponent in a regional semifinal or later. Again, it was a whoopin'.
Oh, and it was all done without Karl Towns, the future No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. Towns scored one point and grabbed two rebounds in 13 minutes of action. Calipari said, "We know how good Karl is and he feels bad about how he played, but he'd feel great for his teammates but he needs to have a presence."
Kentucky did get big games from just about everyone else, including Dakari Johnson, who reached double figures for the first time since mid-February. He was joined by four other Wildcats -- Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Trey Lyles and Devin Booker -- with double digits in the scoring column.
As for the opponent, West Virginia shot 24 percent from the field -- the lowest by any team in a Sweet 16 game, ever -- and had only two players with more than six points. Daxter Miles, Mr. Guarantee, added zero to the scoring column. He went 0-for-3 from the field in the game he was certain Kentucky would lose.
Up next for the Wildcats is Notre Dame for a spot in the Final Four. The Irish are the complete opposite of what Kentucky saw in West Virginia tonight. Mike Brey's team has one of the best offenses in the country but doesn't defend, so buckle up for a high-scoring contest.
And don't worry, Aaron Harrison's finger is fine.
Andrew Weber-USA Today[/caption]
Not since March 26th, 1949 has a team failed to score 40 points in an NCAA Tournament game against the Kentucky Wildcats. That's what happens when you run your mouth, I guess, which West Virginia did a lot this week. Bob Huggins said he was okay with the trash talking, downplaying the notion it fueled Kentucky's players to play harder. "That's a bunch of BS," Huggins said, when asked if he thought UK used his Mountaineers' words as motivation.
Whether the talking did or didn't add to the fire, Kentucky played like a team that was out for blood. The Cats dominated from the opening tip en route to a 44-18 halftime score and on to the 39-point win. That's not how Sweet 16 games are to be played, FYI. It tied the record for largest margin of victory in the Sweet 16 and was only the second time in history a team doubled up its opponent in a regional semifinal or later. Again, it was a whoopin'.
Oh, and it was all done without Karl Towns, the future No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. Towns scored one point and grabbed two rebounds in 13 minutes of action. Calipari said, "We know how good Karl is and he feels bad about how he played, but he'd feel great for his teammates but he needs to have a presence."
Kentucky did get big games from just about everyone else, including Dakari Johnson, who reached double figures for the first time since mid-February. He was joined by four other Wildcats -- Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Trey Lyles and Devin Booker -- with double digits in the scoring column.
As for the opponent, West Virginia shot 24 percent from the field -- the lowest by any team in a Sweet 16 game, ever -- and had only two players with more than six points. Daxter Miles, Mr. Guarantee, added zero to the scoring column. He went 0-for-3 from the field in the game he was certain Kentucky would lose.
Up next for the Wildcats is Notre Dame for a spot in the Final Four. The Irish are the complete opposite of what Kentucky saw in West Virginia tonight. Mike Brey's team has one of the best offenses in the country but doesn't defend, so buckle up for a high-scoring contest.
And don't worry, Aaron Harrison's finger is fine.
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