MEN’S BASKETBALL: Kentucky’s Ulis, Hawkins save Kentucky from a loss to Louisville

Kentucky fans might not know what they’re getting as a game is unwrapped. “What he’ll do is he’ll come back and kill people next week, if his ankle is healthy”. The two college basketball powers are among the nation’s best every year and their annual match-up is one of the greatest rivalries in the sport. After battling tooth and tong (technical fouls on each coach, five ties and three lead changes) for 20 minutes, United Kingdom led 44-36 thanks to native Kentuckians Dominique Hawkins (two 3-pointers) and Derek Willis (one 3-pointer).

It’s debatable whether Kentucky wanted this game more than Louisville. I didn’t realize I had that many points, ” Hawkins said.

Freshman guard Charles Matthews started in place of Briscoe, who averages 11.5 points, but it was Hawkins who gave the Wildcats a spark in his absence. He was 4 of 7 from three and made his 4 attempts from at least 3 feet behind the three point line. That being said, I’m proud of these guys, the way they fight. UK’s first six points came off second-chance opportunities, this against a U of L team ranked No. 2 nationally in rebound margin.

Second, he avoided almost all media interviews afterward, doing just his post-game radio show with Bob Valvano and leaving assistant coach Ralph Willard to handle the other duties.

“My wife asked, ‘Did he just flip you the bird?'” Harris said.

Kentucky came out flat against UCLA and flat against Ohio State and the Cats lost both games. “As a team I feel like we played really hard and that’s what got us the win”.

Video surfaced on the Internet of Pitino gesturing to the crowd as he walked up the runway to the locker room after the game. John Calipari left UMASS following that season, at just the right time, right before he would be stuck with a program that go stripped of their most successful season ever. Pitino summed up the fist pump to the fans in the stands: “My recollection was a, “we r #1′”. Only Clair Bee, who earned 200 wins in his first 231 games at Long Island University from 1931-41, did it faster. Louisville hasn’t won at Rupp since 2008 and it would be extremely sweet if they pulled off the upset today against a bitter rival, no less. The other transfer grad student, Lewis (from Cleveland State) also had a good game finishing with 15 points (2-3 beyond the arc). With a week to prepare for Louisville and Rick Pitino’s favorite defense, the matchup 2-3 zone, the Cats were going to have to shoot better and definitely attack the zone better.

-Since 2012, Louisville and Kentucky are a combined 30-5 in the NCAA Tournament with five Final Four appearances and two national championships.

Kentucky will return home Saturday for its SEC opener vs. Ole Miss. The Cards will have a week off before opening ACC play and hosting Wake Forest on January 3 at the KFC Yum!