From Kyle Tucker of the Louisville Courier-Journal: “Considering how that one started for No. 1 Kentucky – down 10-0 right out of the gate and in danger of getting run out of the United Center multiple times by No. 2 Michigan State – the Cats can feel reasonably good about the result tonight. After all, now that pesky 40-0 talk is off the table. The areas of needed improvement are apparent. Perhaps most importantly, the fight this team will need in March, when it matters, showed up.
Yes, it was a 78-74 loss for Kentucky. But all things considered, a useful night. It's crystal clear now that free-throw shooting will need work; if not for a miserable 20-for-36 showing at the stripe, the Cats likely win this one. Ball security will be addressed; 17 turnovers, eight by Julius Randle, four by point guard Andrew Harrison, were also killers. But … Julius Randle. After an awful first half, he carried Kentucky in the second, scoring 23 points in the final 20 minutes. He finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds for a third straight double-double to start his career.”
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.