After watching the replay about 20 times, Willis was matched up with Maye as they ran down the floor. Briscoe was on Joel Berry. Willis gave help on Pinson, although I thought De'Aaron Fox maintained very good position on Theo Pinson. Maye popped out and hit the jumper. Briscoe left Berry to try and help, but......too late.

I was surprised at how little Hawkins played down the stretch.

 

At the 8 minute mark Hawkins went out and Monk went in. I said to my buddy if Monk doesn't score 5 points in the next 3 minutes Hawkins needs to be in. I can't blame Cal, Monk hit big shots in the last 2 minutes, just wish he'd done a bit more the 5 minutes before that.

I agree. I believe UNC had more talent, depth and experience.

 

I will give you 2 out of 3.

YES! YES! YES!

The better team won tonight. It's really that simple.

No doubt it would have been a mild upset if Kentucky had won, but I would have liked to have seen the first half been called tighter on North Carolina's bigs. Simply put I think they got away with a bunch of obvious fouls that would have sent them to the bench early if called. Bam should have shot 6-8 free throws in that half. And Fox was blatantly fouled by two players on his drive to the basket to end the half. Someone on Facebook had a still pic of that one and it left zero doubt. I have no idea how or why three officials could swallow their whistle on that play. The refs also took a tip in away from Bam that imo was coming off the rim and downward.

 

If the refs call the fouls in the first half UNC would have had some stars on the bench too, just like UK had Fox, Monk, and one or two more with 2 fouls on the bench.

 

It really hurt the Cats for them to have Fox and Monk not in the game for a big chunk of the first half. I don't totally agree with Cal when he does that. But we came out of it ok trailing by only 5 at intermission. But to have your elite guards on the bench for a long time in a half is like trying to beat your opponent with one hand tied behind your back. UNC is too good to take that chance. Lucky not to be down 15 at halftime.

 

Oh well, it's over and Big Blue lost. I'm sure UNC fans feel that they received more than their share of bad calls as well. I'm happy UK played with heart until the end and it took a last second shot to beat them.

Its not the first time I've been sad after an NCAA tourney loss. My first heartbreak was as an 11 year old in 1966 after the loss to Texas Western. I'm sure this one won't be the last, but I hope there's still championships in the future for my Cats. I've stuck with them too long to stop caring now.

Nothing is ever promised or guaranteed.

 

Brutal way way to go out.

 

Hardest thing in all of sports.... to win six games in a row in March. Brutal.

@RealJayWilliams

All for a great game but do the refs have UNC winning in their bracket or something. @finalfour #UNCvsUK

I never got to post much today had to drive from Lexington all the way up to Athens, Ohio for my Uncle's funeral. Who was a huge UK fan would have liked to see them pull this on out especially for him and his family. But after coming home and watching the game there was about 4 areas the Cats could have done better to pull this one out. Of course the obvious scoring drought down the stretch, but another one earlier in the 2nd half when Kentucky went up 39-38 they came down 4 times and never scored with some terrible possessions. The other two was to many offensive rebounds given up and at the FT line 12-19- 63.2% and there was 3 front ends missed that's not going win against a team as good as North Carolina. On a positive not finished at 32-6 with only 1 of those losses to a team not ranked in the top 15. Great year best of luck to Bam, Fox, and Monk at the next level. Let's reload and get ready to make another great run next season. Go Cats!

Some comments on the officiating. My opinion they called it a little to tight I thought it was tighter than lot of the other games have been called. One thing I did notice was one official who was responsible for several no calls in the first half and most of the ticky tack fouls called on the Cats were made or not made by John Higgins. One of the worst was the foul he ran in and called on Hawkins on a box out with the score 65-64 Carolina that was terrible I did not see anything that warranted a foul. North Carolina made both FT's to go up 67-64. Some of you may remember that the Higgins was on the Kentucky/Wisconsin game in 2015 that messed up the shot clock violation.:idunno:

@RealJayWilliams

All for a great game but do the refs have UNC winning in their bracket or something. @finalfour #UNCvsUK

 

Keep reaching

Congrats to you @NKYknowitall the Tarheels are the best team in the Nation (imo) have been all year if they play their game no one will be them. I did not think they played their best tonight but unfortunately neither did the Cats.

The officials called it tight, their were some bad calls especially getting about 4 of our guys in foul trouble in the 1st Half. But no way officiating cost us this game, We had the game right where we wanted it, Just a miscommunication late on D that lead to an open game winning shot for Maye. This one hurts..I can't talk about it anymore until the Reds start so I'm focused on another sport, Tournament losses always hurt, game winning shot makes it hurt more..

Congrats to you @NKYknowitall the Tarheels are the best team in the Nation (imo) have been all year if they play their game no one will be them. I did not think they played their best tonight but unfortunately neither did the Cats.

 

They had another lapse in the game, roughly 8 minutes without a FG and somehow still had a 1 point lead. Turned it on late and credit Monk for hitting that 3 to tie it. I told my wife I have a bad feeling when Jackson was at the line because I flashed back to Vegas and sure enough he missed and Monk nailed it. But I'll take this matchup any day of the week, love this series. Gotta keep Oregon off the 3 point line now.

Interesting note, which probably means nothing, but all four Elite Eight losers were the late game participant from the Sweet Sixteen match-ups...

The better team won tonight. It's really that simple.

 

What was the total points difference bn the two over two games on neutral floors?