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Kentucky shows it’s as long on determination as it is on talent

It wasn’t talent that made the difference in Kentucky’s 68-66 escape. It was heart.

Andrew Harrison - photo by Walter Cornett

Andrew Harrison – photo by Walter Cornett

That has talent was never in doubt.

Its determination and heart, well, that may not have been as certain because the Wildcats hadn't had to show it. Not often, at least, and certainly not lately.

There will be no questions anymore. Not after Kentucky was pushed so far by it had one foot on the bus, yet somehow managed to scratch out another win to preserve its hopes for a national title and the first unbeaten season in 39 years.

It wasn't talent that made the difference in Saturday night's 68-66 escape. It was heart.

How else to explain making the last nine shots against an Irish defense so pesky Kentucky had considered asking for a restraining order? Or smothering Notre Dame so thoroughly on its last possession the Wildcats looked to have both of their platoons on the floor?

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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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