Youth beats experience in Kentucky's heart-pounding win over North Carolina

There’s just something about this series that sparks brilliance, huh? Each time the ball is tipped between these two shades of blue, an instant classic is inevitable, this version being the latest example. Two high-level teams battling from start to finish, leaving it all out on the floor with one team forced to win at the final buzzer. This time, thankfully, it was the Kentucky Wildcats piecing together the much-needed victory, a feel-good resume boost as conference play quickly comes to a close.

Kentucky led for 37:13 and trailed for just 16 total seconds — a single one-point deficit with five minutes to go. North Carolina kept it within reach, scoring five separate times in the final TV timeout to make it a one-score game. Each time, though, the Wildcats threw a dagger right back, refusing to let go of the rope against a veteran-led group, one John Calipari called a Final Four team after the game.

What does that make Kentucky?

“The upside of this team is really up,” Calipari said. “Let’s see if we can get there.”

A balanced scoring effort led by freshmen

Eight different players scored at least seven points for the Wildcats, all with multiple buckets. The leaders? Rob Dillingham with 17 points, DJ Wagner with 14, Aaron Bradshaw with 12 and Reed Sheppard with 11. In a game against four upperclassmen in the starting lineup and just one freshman in the entire rotation, it was Kentucky’s rookies hitting big shot after big shot, a response to every punch attempt thrown their way.

And it was never just one guy putting the team on his back down the stretch. Dillingham had his moments, hitting back-to-back buckets to put the Cats back up five after giving up lead for the first and only time of the game. Bradshaw had a huge second-chance lay-in, then drilled two clutch free throws in the final minute. Wagner drilled a pull-up jumper to give Kentucky another two-score lead with two minutes to go. Even Sheppard made some wildly crucial passes and great decisions in general to help close out the win. The list just goes on and on with the newcomers.

“You all saw it out there,” Tre Mitchell said after the win. “They made plays down the stretch, big baskets down the stretch. They were willing to step up and make the play. These dudes are gaining experience, a game like this comes down to the wire. You see the fire in dudes’ eyes and they’re ready to go get it.”

Kentucky wins in the trenches

“Kentucky was tougher than us in the trenches,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “In order to win games like that, you have to win the battle in the paint.”

Coach Cal talked about the value of adding size and its importance moving forward with this group. The shooting and spacing and scoring is all there, we know that. But could the Cats defend inside and win on the glass? That’s exactly what they did against the Tar Heels, outrebounding UNC 42-32 overall while pulling down an absurd 18 offensive boards. That paved the way for 15 second-chance points in the win compared to just six offensive rebounds and six second-chance points for the opposition.

Kentucky’s Achilles heel to open the season is slowly turning into a strength. Seven players had at least three rebounds with four pulling down at least five. Calipari has said from the beginning that winning on the glass would be a by-committee effort — Oscar Tshiebwe is no longer here to save the Cats in that area. This was always the vision with this group, and they managed to do it on the biggest stage possible

Adou Thiero is a much-needed spark

Something’s got to give with minute distribution. As new players are added to the fold, others are going to have to take on lesser roles. It’s just the reality of the situation. So how about a guy like Thiero, one of the key pieces in question, going out for seven points, two assists, one rebound and four blocks in just 17 minutes of action? The sophomore wing was tremendous, attacking the basket and making plays, an absolute force on the defensive end of the floor. A few of his blocks nearly went through the glass, swatted into oblivion in energy-shifting moments of the game. He was living, breathing momentum in spurts.

Oh, and he hit a 3-pointer.

“The way he’s playing right now, he’s got one thing he’s got to prove: shooting,” Calipari said. “You know how you do that? You live in the gym. You can do that. They wanted to say (Tyrese) Maxey couldn’t shoot. Yeah, that’s true. They wanted to say Cason (Wallace) wasn’t that good of a shooter. Yeah, he leads the NBA. I’ve heard it all. You live in the gym, that can improve. He’s gonna make it.”

Ugonna Onyenso makes sophomore debut

The 7-foot, 247-pound forward out of Nigeria planned to make his season debut after a strong return to practice this week. Then Onyenso got sick and nearly missed the trip to Atlanta entirely, flying in after the fact to join the team, and not a minute too soon. He missed practice Friday, but then made it in time for shootaround Saturday morning ahead of the matchup.

Calipari said he has the flu and vomited in the bathroom, decided he couldn’t play him.

“He said, ‘I’m gonna be fine.'”

That led to a three-block debut while adding a made free throw with one rebound and one assist. More importantly, he provided much-needed depth in the frontcourt with Bradshaw earning his fourth foul early in the second half, neutralizing Armando Bacot in his limited minutes.

“He helped us,” Calipari said. “Aaron gets a fourth foul, I gotta play him. I’m happy about him.”

Armando Bacot is a non-factor

Speaking of Bacot being neutralized, the 12th-year center had more combined turnovers (six) and fouls (four) than points (nine) and rebounds (six) while playing 31 minutes. He was just not the difference-maker the Tar Heels needed him to be, unable to control the paint the way he is used to while struggling with foul trouble himself. And the Wildcats benefitted.

As Davis said, games are won and lost in the trenches — Bacot’s bread and butter. This is a dude that has dominated college basketball over the course of his ridiculous tenure by doing just that. He’s a poor-man’s Hunter Dickinson, but he can still play and even dominate given the right matchups. Unfortunately for him, Kentucky’s gameplan was tremendous and he could never get comfortable doing what he does best. He was trapped and forced into uncomfortable positions, leading to some of the game’s biggest turnovers and momentum swings.

Of all the players on the floor you’d expect to remain steady in that environment and matchup, Bacot is at the top of the list. The Cats deserve credit for ensuring that wasn’t the case.