#1 Kentucky 73 #5 North Carolina 72

12-3-11

In-Game Report

Kentucky

• High-scoring first half of action (UNC 43 Kentucky 38) fits the overall make-up of the Wildcats’ squad due to their athleticism and speed.
• Kentucky’s #14 SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (6’7, 232, FR) was arguably the ‘Nastiest’ player on the floor.  He can create off the dribble and spin to get separation in the lane.  He maintains a quick first step when driving to his left and generally ribbles well with his off hand well to finish emphatically…consistently.  Kidd-Gilchrist finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
• Senior #1 Darius Miller flashes quick hands defensively.  What a play he made late in the game when he drove inside and used his strength to convert while getting fouled.  Miller hit the extra free throw to complete the three-point play.  He did have to go to the bench after a key offensive foul vs. North Carolina’s Barnes.  The senior has embraced his role off the bench and continued to be a steadying influence for this band of youngsters. 
• Kentucky really struggled from behind the arc most of the afternoon, but achieved significant balance as four players finished with 10 or more points.
• Sophomore #20 Doron Lamb hit a key three-pointer to put Kentucky up 69-64 and it has belied his confidence in his second year.  Although he’s considered a young player, his vast experience as a freshman a year ago makes him one of this team’s true veterans.   Lamb averaged nearly 29 min/gm in 2010-11.

North Carolina

• Sophomore #5 Kendall Marshall can push the ball up the floor and if you leave him unimpeded, Marshall hit running jumpers in the middle of the lane.  He is incredible at finding the open man in transition, and his pass to Bullock for a three-pointer late in the game to cut the lead to one point showed major league vision.  We don’t think he’s a great athlete, but he possesses floor speed.
• Kentucky went cold from three-point range early in the half, while UNC got into early foul trouble (already had 4 fouls with 12:13 left in the 2^nd half)
• North Carolina SF Harrison Barnes (6’8, 215, Soph) constantly hustles to get to loose balls.  His energy notwithstanding, the Tar Heels would have probably have been elated for their most clutch scoring threat to get the ball on the final scoring opportunity.  He finished the game with 14 points (4-of-5 from three-point range). 
• Junior PF #31 John Henson (6’10, 220) is deadly with his left-handed jump hooks, but he does not maintain his offensive aggressiveness for 40 minutes.  He times his leaps well defensively and contests a number of shots, but he is far from a banger. 
• Guard #1 Dexter Strickland (6’3, 180, JR) runs the floor extremely well and can finish at the rim with explosion. 
• Tar Heels’ PF-C 44 Tyler Zeller’s lack of ball security cost UNC a key possession late in the game around the out of bounds line but he was pretty solid for a big man from the free throw line in this game.  However, his hands came up slippery again on a foul late, when he received the entry pass from Marshall, fumbled it away and luckily Henson was able to corral the ball for at least a shot attempt.  The 250-pounder showed up on the offensive boards (5 OFF REBs).
• Sophomore G #35 Reggie Bullock (6’7, 205) continues to impress with his quick release off the catch-and-shoot.  His three-pointer with 14:41 to go put the ‘Cats back up by 2 during a momentum shift, but it was his three-pointer from the corner which showed his innate confidence.  The 6-foot-7 sharpshooter is hitting at a 43.3% clip from behind the arc thus far in 2011. 
• After Teague missed a key free throw, UNC had a chance to steal the game, but Kentucky PF #23 Anthony Davis (6’10, 223, FR) showed why he was arguably the nation’s #1 recruit.  Using his eye-catching wingspan, he swatted away fall-away jumper by UNC’s Henson on what could end up as one of the season’s defining moments and get votes for Defensive Play of the Year.  Davis contributed 7 pts, 9 rebounds and 2 blocked shots.  His maturity stands out on a young team that seems to have plenty of it.