Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
It was a lot of this.
Both Kyle Wiltjer and Archie Goodwin scored twenty-plus points, Alex Poythress finally engaged beast mode, and the reserves played a solid first half in response to a terrible fifteen-minute stretch of officiating.
And yet, the story of UK’s biggest win this season was all about Nerlens Noel.
What happened?
One of Cal’s favorite questions to ask his team is, “What do you do to help the team when you’re not scoring?” We heard it all last season, when Terrence Jones was slumping, or when Marquis Teague was settling in. Well, last night Nerlens carried his team while only scoring two points, both from the line. The seven rebounds were solid, but the ridiculous twelve blocks (a school record) were really something else. If Cal asks that question of Noel, he can now answer with an Anthony Davis, championship-game level performance.
..and this.
Even Myron Medcalf, who picked Ole Miss by double digits, couldn’t stop raving about the freshman:
Nerlens Noel … that’s all – It didn’t make sense until the end of Kentucky’s 87-74 victory at No. 16 Ole Miss. The quick whistles (22 fouls called in the first 15 minutes of the matchup) didn’t help the flow of a sloppy half. But the biggest factor in the Rebs’ offensive lapse was Nerlens Noel. [Ole Miss scored 16 straight] And then, Noel put a lid on the rim. You could see Ole Miss’ fear again as the freshman swatted shots even though he had four fouls. It was Noel who controlled the game. He had a monumental presence in a crucial win for the Wildcats.
In a game where we were looking for lots of other players to take strides, like Goodwin’s free throw shooting, Poythress’ beast mode, and Wiltjer’s aggression, it was Noel who took enough strides to stay ahead of this team. Not happy enough to let his teammates’ good games be enough, he stepped up and took his own game to an even higher level. The seven blocks to start with were good enough, but the five he got after the fourth foul were transcendent. To see a player still be so aggressive on D, and inspire so much fear, with four fouls on his head, and not foul out, is ridiculous.
…aaaand this.
So while we can appreciate the games that Goodwin, Wiltjer, Poythress, and the others had, it’s really time to appreciate what Nerlens is doing this season. He’s living under Anthony’s shadow, and his team isn’t getting the attention that last year’s did, but in a different year, his defense would be the biggest story in the nation. Let’s hope it can continue, and lead the Cats to a ranking and a low seed.
Also, he got the score way wrong, but somebody give Dickie V some credit for calling exactly how the Cats’ would pick up their first big win:
Something tells me BBN will smile today as @ukcoachcalipariwill have CATS contain 3 pt shooting of Rebels.VBDI just told me Cats 71 – 65!
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 29, 2013
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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January 30th, 2013 at 9:06 am
cannot sleep on my cats, no sirree
January 30th, 2013 at 9:09 am
This game well-prepared for and coached.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:13 am
Great team win and a heckuva performance from Wiltjer and Hood. I think if Polson and Hood get more minutes we will go deep in Tournament. Ole Miss looked bad, not sure if they are bad or just had a bad night vs us Cayts. Proud of Wiltjer, Hood and Polson
January 30th, 2013 at 9:17 am
Dang YO! I wuz MnM an now eyem milee va nilee #punkballahslittlemanhood
January 30th, 2013 at 9:17 am
Harrow’s 3 to answer Ole Miss and end their 16-0 run put UK back up four and turned the momentum of the game and UK’s season
January 30th, 2013 at 9:18 am
Loved that Noel realized he had to risk a fifth foul and continue to bring it on defense because the team needed his D. I swear you could almost see his flat top grow an extra gonad after his fourth foul.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:24 am
We need a GIF montage of all those blocks, especially the blocked dunk attempts. Nerlens is incredible!
How ’bout a nickname? Dr. Block!!!
January 30th, 2013 at 9:24 am
3) Not to be the a-hole, but “heckuva performance from…Hood”??? He played like 5 minutes!! And didn’t do anything. Glad you’re proud of the white boys, though… smh
January 30th, 2013 at 9:26 am
8 – Jon Hood played well in his limited minutes. He had 3 rebs and an assist. He took no bad shots and had zero turnovers. It was a good showing for the minutes that he had.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:29 am
Do you guys consider Noel a better shot blocker than Davis?
January 30th, 2013 at 9:29 am
8 – #9 beat me to it. That is a “heckuva performance from…Hood” We need guys you can spell some of the others for a few every now and then. BTW – Wasn’t that one assist a great third or fourth pass out to Wiltjer for 3? Great TEAM game!
January 30th, 2013 at 9:30 am
#10 – I would say yes. He is on pace for more but I doubt he gets as many games in as AD.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:32 am
8, you are a bigot and an idiot.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:32 am
@SethDavisHoops: Question of the day: Did Nerlens Noel turn in the best 2 point performance in the history of college ball last night?
My answer would be YES
January 30th, 2013 at 9:33 am
#8, you are a racist A hole. Harrow stinks. Polson should start
January 30th, 2013 at 9:33 am
10 – Both Noel and Davis are about neck and neck in my book as far as shot blocking. Only thing is that Davis blocked about 15 three point shots last year…don’t really see Noel doing that. Noel doesn’t usually get into foul trouble and Davis was really good at not getting into foul trouble. That is a rare quality for most shot blockers. I believe Withey of KU is also good at not getting into foul trouble while still being able to protect the rim.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:34 am
Sooo, considering last night’s performance, if we take care of business at A&M Saturday, are we back in the top-25 next Monday?
January 30th, 2013 at 9:36 am
16, Davis was much more polished offensively, but Nerlens is really good at getting steals as well. A.D. was a much better free throw shooter.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:36 am
Ole Miss flops more than a soccer team. That was embarrassing…
January 30th, 2013 at 9:37 am
Next target for the Cats: Shut down Elston Turner and get some sweet revenge against the Aggies!
January 30th, 2013 at 9:37 am
I’ll be honest. I’ve never seen a defensive performance like Noel’s lastnight. Blocking a dunk without fouling is extremely hard to do, especially a 2-handed dunk. Anyone who thinks he’s not worth the #1 pick is insane. Once he develops an offensive game, he’ll be a perennial NBA all star. Tough to say as a Duke fan, but I gotta give credit where it’s due. Noel is lights out!
January 30th, 2013 at 9:38 am
He started slower but he is now on pace to beat Davis’ single season record. Very impressive.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:40 am
18 – Good points, as well. I think if I had to pick one of the two to start a team, it would be Davis because of the better offensive skills. If you recall last season, Davis started out the first 6 or 8 games with about a 55% foul shooting. He turned it around after that and finished the season shooting over 70%. I don’t see Noel making such strides, though.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:42 am
8) Proud of Noel, Poythress and Goodwin too. Didn’t mean to leave them out, but I kinda expect them to play well. They are studs! Seeing Hood/Polson play well is a surprise, to say the least. Noel Goodwin and Poythress are our best players with Wiltjer maybe.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:43 am
What is up with Hatcher recommitting to USC? Why not wait till signing day and just announce/sign? I wonder if there are some shenanigans going on there because that just smells weird.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:45 am
17. I doubt it because we aren’t even receiving votes right now. With all of the teams between us and #25 that would be a big jump to make based on one win over the #16 team and another game we are “supposed to win” anyway.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:47 am
25/Just Sayin
This is totally false…. the USC says the mom said this and that yet not a tweet or a peep has come from Jason himself… Also for this article to be true his mother had to be in her living room doing a visit with UK’s coaches while on the phone with Gerard Martinez a reporter for USC rivals site… The USC writers are a bunch of sunshine pushers that don’t want to state the truth that USC’s class is falling apart at the seams. It is gonna be so great to watch him put that UK hat on and hear the Trojan faithful whine like the stuck up bitches they are. This was done to stop all the hype and stress… He will put a UK hat on at the end of the day…mark my words-
I can’t wait to see the faces of Gerard Martinez and Ryan Abraham when he burns USC on NSD…. This shit is gonna be epic!
1- why do the interview with mom if soon is in the home?
2- if he recommitted why did he not verify it himself?
3- if he was recommitting why have a visit with UK’s staff?
4- do you honestly think that he was in one room doing a visit with UK and she was in the kitchen on the phone with a USC writer?
5- do you honestly think she can afford to fly to and from LA on her own dime once a month?
6- you think USC h has the balls to give up that money while they are on probation?
7- Pendergast runs a 3-4… Jason does not fit in a 3-4 defense at all….
January 30th, 2013 at 9:56 am
27 – hope you are right! If USC gets him, my theory will be that the check cleared and momma wanted to go shopping!
January 30th, 2013 at 10:02 am
The real question is: will Noel have more blocks per game than Davis? I think he will.
January 30th, 2013 at 10:11 am
10 – Shot blocker? Maybe. His pace is ahead right now, though he probably won’t break it unless these Cats play as many games. Because that would mean getting to the title game, that doesn’t look good. But I’d say his overall defense is better, too. More steals, more active, he’s getting his jumps under control… He looks absolutely terrifying.
January 30th, 2013 at 10:35 am
Noel only had 2 pts because the wings weren’t even looking to him on the post, even when he had position. It was kind of weird to watch.
January 30th, 2013 at 11:03 am
Noel can’t be in the ofensive mix because they’ll just foul him and he can’t make free throws. It’s like a turnover.
January 30th, 2013 at 11:08 am
#31 – that’s because they would just foul him, resulting in two more bricks, sadly. Love the kid, though.
January 30th, 2013 at 11:16 am
Why do people continue to bash harrow? He has been in double figures how many games now? He does a pretty solid job of not turning the ball over. He has struglled some the last few games, but who hasn’t struggled this year. I’m a big fan of polson, but his role should be exactly what it was last night. People keep saying he should be the staring p.g. I just don’t understand Why.
January 30th, 2013 at 11:38 am
Great team effort!! Let’s just hope it continues. They are so young but showed allot of promise last night. To lose the big lead yet re-gain their composure was a huge. It should give them confidence for the rest of the season. Go Cats!!
January 30th, 2013 at 2:59 pm
24) I’m sure you were proud of everybody that contributed last night. As am I. My post was pretty “douchey” and I shouldn’t have typed it. It made me look like the a-hole I didn’t want to look like. We DO need guys coming off the bench, ie Hood, Polson, etc, to contribute and play hard when they are in the game, and that’s exactly what they did last night. Thanks to those that called me out on my douchery. Go Cats
January 30th, 2013 at 3:34 pm
Nerlens with some fresh kicks! What kind are those nikes?