Cats 'buy in' in Oxford, Hold off Ole Miss' rebel uprising in 2nd half

See ya' later Riddick. We bid you a fond farewell Sammy. Nerlens Noel just eclipsed the single-game block record at the University of Kentucky. When you consider that Anthony Davis suited up just one season ago, you realize how outrageous his performance was tonight.

Noel recorded 12 blocks, with some of that total coming at key moments in the game with Noel having 4, count em' 4, fouls, as the Cats showed some grit and took it to the Rebels of Ole Miss on the road in Oxford, for a big 'W', on the back of Noel's record setting night and the 26 points of a full-grown man who can curl his chest hair in Kyle Wiltjer, to see Kentucky take it's 5th win in it's last 7 by the tally of 87-74

Now, it is a constant reminder every single time out this season, of how good and very rare a talent like Anthony Davis was. However, it is very hard to ignore the defensive presence of Nerlens Noel. You could argue, and we do, that Noel is actually the better of the two defensively.

I will go ahead and say as much as that Noel is a better pure defender, and his hand speed is, in my mind, unquestionably better and faster than that of arguably the best college basketball player in the last 20 years.

And how about Archie? his 24 points and the fact that he handled sharp-shooting Marshall Henderson, who would finish with 21 points on 5-19 from the field and 2-11 from behind the arc, so well on D?

The Cats looked a little flat in the 1st half, then in the second we squandered a big lead(17) and saw the Rebs go on a 16-0 run to cut it to 1... But I'll be damned if we didn't quit. Ryan Harrow nailed a clutch 3 to hault the run, and right the ship for the Cats.

The Cats stormed back in the 2nd half after the flurry from the "Hotty Toddys", and held on for a 13 point win.

And let us not forget, Alex Poythress who scored 15 points in 20 minutes of floor time.

The Cats had 7 turnovers int he first half, and then did a remarkable job of taking care of the ball in the 2nd, only giving it up 2 times over the duration.

Floundered a 17 point lead in the 2nd half, weathered a storm in the manner of 16 point Ole Miss run, and bared down and won by 12... any team in America would take these numbers.


Tonight in Oxford, these Cats most assuredly bought in.

Tonight's viewing of 'Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman' is going to be that much sweeter.