Like It Is

Big Blue lowered the boom on Razorbacks

Kentucky head coach John Calipari urges his team on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arkansas, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won 84-67. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky head coach John Calipari urges his team on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arkansas, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won 84-67. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

Payback was what was playing in Rupp Arena yesterday.

The Kentucky Wildcats were all too aware that the Arkansas Razorbacks were riding a three-game winning streak against them, including a victory in fabled Rupp last year.

It took the No. 1 ranked and undefeated Wildcats eight seconds to score, and basically they never looked back.

It wasn't so much that the Razorbacks didn't play well -- they did -- it was just that they were up against a more talented team, a team that has more experience than most John Calipari teams because the usual didn't happen last season.

The one and dones became Big Blue sons.

After going on a late roll and losing the national championship to Connecticut, Willie Cauley-Stein opted to return for his junior season and the Harrison twins, Aaron and Andrew, decided to be sophomores.

Their goal has become obvious this season: leave a legacy by winning it all and going undefeated in the process.

Honestly, it is easy to see that happening unless they have an off night in the Final Four or run into a red-hot Virginia or Duke at the wrong time.

Sure, Hog fans hopefully can say, "wait until we get them on a neutral court for the SEC Tournament Championship," but yesterday there was never any doubt about which team simply had more depth and talent.

How many Hogs could start for the Wildcats? Probably one.

The Razorbacks Nation should get the rematch in Nashville, Tenn., and perhaps it will be closer on the scoreboard, but mostly yesterday, on their home court, talent abounded in white and blue.

It wasn't about coaching, but which team had the most talent, and that was clearly Kentucky.

Take nothing away from the Razorbacks, they played hard, they gave it their best, but they ran into a team that plays even better defense than they do.

Admittedly, Kentucky did go to the free-throw line 20 times in the first half, making 15, while the Hogs made 10 of 12 free throws, but the officiating was not the difference. In fact, it was one of the better SEC officiating crews, which had three guys with lots of NCAA Tournament experience, including North Little Rock native Doug Shows who has called two Final Fours.

The free-throw shooting evened out in the second half.

The biggest difference in the first half was No. 1 Kentucky showed why it had the No. 1 defense in the nation.

Arkansas plays great defense, and that's even its reputation, but Kentucky played greater defense.

With less than four minutes to play, it was the Wildcats who had eight steals, the Hogs two, and it was Kentucky who finished with 16 points off 12 turnovers. Arkansas had nine points off nine turnovers for the game. That was part of the reason Kentucky led 42-26 at intermission and why the Wildcats won 84-67.

Going 0-9 from behind the arc and making only eight field goals on 27 attempts in the first half put the Hogs in a big hole.

From start to finish the Razorbacks were unable to force the pace against the bigger, deeper Wildcats. Kentucky has eight McDonald's All-Americans, most likely all will be first-round NBA picks soon. Arkansas has one McDonald's All American, Bobby Portis who fought and scrapped for his 15 points and should have picked up some SEC MVP points.

Just in the starting lineup, Kentucky had a 17-inch advantage in starters, and it is still a game where size counts and having that many guys who can play above the rim is worth points in every game against any opponent.

Arkansas played hard. It never quit, but Kentucky had vengeance on its mind, and it got it, solidifying its No. 1 ranking and its likely No. 1 seeding even more.

Sports on 03/01/2015

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