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Kentucky Basketball

Nerlens Noel set to step into void created by Anthony Davis’ departure

Nerlens Noel - photo from CatsPause.com

– photo from CatsPause.com

The comparisons are inevitable. was a skinny, 6-foot-10 shot blocker who, although considered by some to be the top recruit in the Class of 2011, had a raw offensive game in the paint. He had a signature tuft of hair — a singular, sensational eyebrow — that ended up on T-shirts and replicated on fans' faces.  Everyone knows how that story ended. Davis refined his offensive skills, set an NCAA freshman record for blocked shots, won every major award, led the University of to the national championship, was selected No. 1 overall in the NBA draft and won an Olympic gold medal this summer.  Into that giant void steps another skinny, 6-foot-10 shot blocker, considered by most to be the top recruit in the Class of 2012, with a raw offensive game and his own signature hair — this time on top of his head. Many who've seen him play say he's even more adept at swatting shots than Davis.

 

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On This Day In UK Basketball History

On March 28, 1992, in what many called the “best NCAA Tournament game ever,” Kentucky takes defending NCAA champion Duke into overtime before losing 104-103 in the East Regional finals in Philadelphia. A last-second shot by Christian Laettner sends Duke to the Final Four, and breaks the hearts of Wildcat fans everywhere. It is Cawood Ledford’s last game as the “Voice of the Wildcats.”

 

On March 28, 1998, against Stanford, Kentucky rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit, then grabbed a 5-point overtime lead, before fending off the Cardinals to advance to the title game for the third straight season. Jeff Sheppard canned three long-range three-pointers - two in the final three minutes and one in overtime - en route to a career-high 27 points.

 

On March 28, 2014, unranked Kentucky beat No. 5 Louisville 74-69, in the 2014 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.  Aaron Harrison buried a three-pointer from the left corner with 39 seconds left that put UK ahead to stay before 41,072 in Lucas Oil Stadium.

 

On March 28, 2015, No. 1 Kentucky defeated No. 8 Notre Dame, 68-66, in the 2015 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.  With its 37-0 record on the line, Kentucky trailed Notre Dame 59-53 with 6:14 left. UK rallied in front of 19,464 fans in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena and preserved its perfect season thanks to a crucial blocked shot by Willie Cauley-Stein and two game-deciding free throws from Andrew Harrison in the final seconds.

 

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