Kentucky Runs Away with 98-69 Feel Good Win over North Carolina

For the first time in a long time, Kentucky fans are smiling ear to ear after a big basketball win. The Wildcats set the tone early, then maintained the intensity to run away with a 98-69 win over North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic.

Initial Blitz

Kentucky put North Carolina on its heels early. Of course, Oscar Tshiebwe (16 points, 12 rebounds) played a significant role in the fast start. A pair threes from Davion Mintz and Kellan Grady extended the early UK lead to 17-6.

The early run felt fleeting when Tshiebwe was sent to the bench with his second foul. He had seven rebounds in the first seven minutes against Armando Bacot. Even though the Tar Heels’ big seemingly had the green-light in the paint with Oscar on the sideline, Lance Ware, Jacob Toppin and Daimion Collins hung tough, weathering the storm until Tshiebwe returned in the second half. Toppin also did this.

Jacob Toppin went flying for this dunk. The vertical pop runs in the family. pic.twitter.com/bl16ymEXnQ

— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) December 19, 2021

Unstoppable Wheeler

Kentucky led by as much as 18 in the first half until Bacot re-entered the game just before intermission. The Tar Heels best run of the day cut the deficit to 11, bringing momentum into the locker room. They could not hang onto it, thanks to Sahvir Wheeler.

The Kentucky point guard played his best game as a Wildcat. He was pesky on both ends of the floor, swiping passes and finishing difficult left-handed scoop shots at the rim. Wheeler scored six of the Cats’ first 11 second half points to regain control of the game. He finished the night with a season high 26 points, eight assists, four steals and three rebounds.

Kentucky Cleans the Glass

The game was won on the glass. At one point Kentucky had an 11-0 offensive rebounding advantage. The Wildcats finished with 15 second chance points on 16 offensive rebounds.

Kentucky entered the game leading the nation in rebounding margin, with 16 more boards per game than its opponents. They added to that at T-Mobile Arena, out-rebounding North Carolina 44-25.

Threes are Back

Last week Kentucky was just 2-of-19 from three-point land in the disappointing loss to Notre Dame. Grady’s late, potential game-winning three rolled around the rim and fell out. In what felt like a direct response to that miss, Grady had one ball roll around the rim and flush through the net in the second half, seemingly lifting a weight off the Wildcats.

Grady had 18 points, netting 4-of-6 three-point attempts, and six rebounds. TyTy Washington hit one before injuring his finger and Bryce Hopkins even drilled one late. The Wildcats finished the night knocking down 8-of-15 attempts from long range.

A Feel Good Win

This was exactly what the Kentucky basketball team needed. The BBN had not watched a big basketball win in over 20 months. Reeling from a road loss, the Wildcats rallied in a big way. Kentucky brought the intensity for 40 minutes and completely put it on North Carolina, setting the tone for the rest of the season.