Big Blue Links for Sunday:
(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)
Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News says John Wall is the greatest point guard athlete . . . ever: “To rewrite that declaration so soon required an almost miraculous advancement of those essential qualities. And Wall is blessed with all of it. He is not as strong as Rose, but he is longer, a shade taller, perhaps even faster end-to-end and even better at elevating and controlling his body once in the air.”
Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that UK leaned on Wall to beat Heels: ” Of his many fast-break plays in the first half, one moved Kentucky freshman John Wall. He flew to the left to elude a defender and somehow contorted his body into position to bank in the reverse layup while being fouled. As a record Rupp Arena crowd (24,468) roared in appreciation of this take-that play against North Carolina, Wall searched the stands for his mother.”
Robbi Pickeral of the Charlotte Observer writes that North Carolina ran out of rally: “Remember: except for Ginyard and senior Deon Thompson (the only returning starter from last year’s title team) most of these Tar Heels have had limited (if any) experience being on a college court when things get tight. In the few close games UNC experienced last season, Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green were always around to take the brunt of the pressure (and shots), and they’d been in those tense situations plenty of times in their careers.”
Briana Gorman of the Durham Sun-Herald says Wall showed Williams: “North Carolina coach Roy Williams said earlier in the week that he’s the biggest fan of Kentucky’s John Wall, but for reasons he didn’t want to publicly address, he never offered the Raleigh native a scholarship. And Saturday, Wall showed Williams and the rest of the Tar Heels what they’re missing.”
My column on Wall’s debut before a truly national audience: “And he made shots. And he made steals. And he blew by disgusted defenders. He might even have aided Committee of 101 members in helping patrons to their seats. Or could have. Best of all, Wall led the host Cats on a tornado-like 28-2 first-half blitzkrieg that awarded the home team enough of a cushion to survive a second-half rally and trump the North Carolina Tar Heels 68-66 in this rematch of college basketball royalty.”
Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports on Sam Maxwell’s absence from bowl game: ” Kentucky senior linebacker Sam Maxwell will undergo surgery later this month to repair a torn labrum and will miss the Wildcats’ upcoming game in the Music City Bowl. Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks didn’t specify when the injury took place. UK lost 30-24 to Tennessee in overtime in its regular-season finale last Saturday.”
Herald-Leader photo slideshow from UK-North Carolina.
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