Rating:

3.0 (2 votes)

Roy Williams thought his defense did a better job in the second half, and then he looked at the stats and saw that UK shot 56%.

If someone would have told you that UK was going to shoot 23% from downtown and get outscored by 21 from three point land and win, you would probably say no way.

It's one thing to be on your way to becoming the best shot blocker UK has ever had. It's another thing to make blocks when they really count.

Anthony Davis' block on North Carolina's John Henson with five seconds saved the day as the Cat won 73-72 over the Tar Heels Saturday in Rupp Arena.

Davis quickly admits that it was the best feeling he's had on a block.

"Yeah, Yeah," says Davis. "Guarantee yes. A game winner against North Carolina who is an excellent team."

If there is another player out there who could have done what Davis did, let me know. Cal doesn't think there is.

"No, no," says Cal.

"I made Marquis Teague stand up and hug my man in there. You hug Anthony because he saved you.

"Yeah, he did," says Davis. "He said I love you. He kept on saying I love you."

Teague missed the front end of a one and one with :21 seconds to go to set up Henson's shot that was blocked.

"They've won 38 in a row because I don't know if Kentucky Wildcat fans believe in leprechauns, but somebody got down there and got Mr. Davis to jump up and make a big time play," says North Carolina coach Roy Williams.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has no fear. Cal says if there is one player on the team that he wants to take a free throw with the game on the line, it's the freshman forward.

"After that missed free throw by Teague I was like come on we got to get this last stop and Ant oh man came up with the big block," says a smiling Kidd-Gilchrist who led all scorers with 17 points and was also tops in rebounds with 11.

"If he doesn't block the shot we lose the game," says Cal. "And it came down, both teams gutted it out, gutted it out. This is supposed to be in March, not now. I'm exhausted."

There reaction to this was funny. I'm telling Terrence Jones that Cal said it was his best game of the year. That he finally got a compliment from Cal. He didn't know what to say.

"Yeah, I mean I'm not used to that," says Jones who had 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals. "I like when he tells me what's wrong. It makes me play better."

This was a great game. Greater for True Blue fans that UK won, but when it comes to heart, hustle, effort and thoroughbreds on the court, it's tough to ask for anything more.

The odds are against it, but you could see it happening. These two teams hooking up deep in the NCAA tournament. If it happens to be for the Championship, it could be a classic.