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The fight Kentucky will need in March, when it matters, showed up last night

Considering how last night started for No. 1 Kentucky, the Cats can feel reasonably good about the result tonight.

Alex Poythress - photo by Walter Cornett | WildcatWorld.com

– photo by Walter Cornett | WildcatWorld.com

From Kyle Tucker of the Louisville :  “Considering how that one started for No. 1 – down 10-0 right out of the gate and in danger of getting run out of the United Center multiple times by No. 2 – 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 , four by point guard , 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.”

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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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