I'm usually not a big fan of watching big time UK games in a public setting. With that said, that was a fun one. The entire place went crazy when Oweh hit that shot to force OT. Then 3 minutes into OT you could have heard a pen drop, everyone was so into the game. Good times. Glad Kentucky got the win. Glad Pope didn't have a first round exit under his belt. And also glad we get to watch Oweh play another game as a Wildcat. 

34 minutes ago, AvidSportsJunkie856 said:

I have been critical of Brandon Garrison all season, but Kentucky gets beat by 10 if it isn't for him today. He still made a few plays that made me scratch my head, but man, he ways huge in some really important times today in the game! If only he could make some free throws. Moreno is going to be good, but Kentucky has to ride with Garrison and Diaboute Sunday. They give them so much more athleticism compared to the two starting bigs!

Not to mention the difference in pure strength.

35 minutes ago, AvidSportsJunkie856 said:

I have been critical of Brandon Garrison all season, but Kentucky gets beat by 10 if it isn't for him today. He still made a few plays that made me scratch my head, but man, he ways huge in some really important times today in the game! If only he could make some free throws. Moreno is going to be good, but Kentucky has to ride with Garrison and Diaboute Sunday. They give them so much more athleticism compared to the two starting bigs!

Go with whoever is playing best that day, but I get what you are saying. Garrison was huge for them down the stretch.

17 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

I would say yes to that then. As that would mean this team advanced further than they did last year. Which then shows progress in regards to tournament success at least. 

That's part of why I'm pulling for Wright State right now against Virginia. 

Never a doubt ?

 

Some tough officiating down the stretch. I can't imagine the Santa Clara alumni group chat is a pleasant place at this time.

Pope's Miracle off to an appropriate start.

1 hour ago, bugatti said:

Never a doubt :?

 

National Champions 

I couldn't watch live.  Just caught the highlights.  Wild game.  Survive and advance.

Big kudos to the Cats schedule. It was end loaded. They were tested, battered, but tested and came out better for it. 

 

I don't think they would've won this game without that. Still alive, just win! 

22 hours ago, sportsfan41 said:

I'm usually not a big fan of watching big time UK games in a public setting. With that said, that was a fun one. The entire place went crazy when Oweh hit that shot to force OT. Then 3 minutes into OT you could have heard a pen drop, everyone was so into the game. Good times. Glad Kentucky got the win. Glad Pope didn't have a first round exit under his belt. And also glad we get to watch Oweh play another game as a Wildcat. 

I watch a few games a year in public settings and it isn't always peaches and cream but like you sometimes it is pretty awesome when everyone is tuned in and the Cats win.

2 hours ago, theguru said:

He definitely did, but that photo is also the definition of a photo lying.  The reality is that when the shot was made, Sendek didn't react at all.  He had his arms folded for at least another second, second and a half.  By the time he started to call timeout and run towards the official, Aberdeen already had the ball in his hands and was stepping out of bounds to inbound it.  Could they have still granted it? Sure, they could have, but it becomes a judgment call.

But then on top of that, the official he chose to try to signal to was running away from him, doing his job, and I'm certain could not hear him.  I think it would have been a better idea for him to run to the baseline official.  

If he'd been immediately calling for a timeout, and not had the hesitation, then I'd be a bit more on his side about it.

8 minutes ago, DragonFire said:

He definitely did, but that photo is also the definition of a photo lying.  The reality is that when the shot was made, Sendek didn't react at all.  He had his arms folded for at least another second, second and a half.  By the time he started to call timeout and run towards the official, Aberdeen already had the ball in his hands and was stepping out of bounds to inbound it.  Could they have still granted it? Sure, they could have, but it becomes a judgment call.

But then on top of that, the official he chose to try to signal to was running away from him, doing his job, and I'm certain could not hear him.  I think it would have been a better idea for him to run to the baseline official.  

If he'd been immediately calling for a timeout, and not had the hesitation, then I'd be a bit more on his side about it.

Absolutely right. Virtually no chance an official 20 feet away running away from Sendek is going to hear him or see him calling TO. Sendek should have run to the baseline official as you said.

I watched Oweh's shot again. There is a UK fan right behind UK's bench in a white sweatshirt who had their back turned with their hands on their head that entire last play after the Sant Clara player hit the 3. Hilarious. At the game, in the front row and did not watch the shot of the year for UK.

I thought the missed travel by Oweh and the Santa Clara guy being called for a foul on Oweh’s layup attempt late in regulation (Oweh went 1-2 from the line) were bigger misses than failing to catch the timeout. Still, if I were a Santa Clara fan, I’d be miffed about the timeout miss. Still a fluke play and I’d rather take my chances how it unfolded rather than giving UK a chance to set up a play.