Top-ranked Kentucky can thank the smallest player on its team for helping it survive its biggest challenge of non-conference play.
Five-foot-9 freshman Tyler Ulis jump-started an error-prone offense with his decision making, outside shooting and creativity off the dribble, leading the Wildcats to a 58-50 road victory over previously undefeated fourth-ranked Louisville.
With starting point guard Andrew Harrison suffering through a nightmarish six-turnover performance against Louisville's relentless ball pressure, Kentucky coach John Calipari turned to Ulis for much of the second half. The Chicago native shook off a gash adjacent to his right eye suffered early in the game and delivered a game-high 14 points, all but two of which came during the second half when the Wildcats turned a close game into a comfortable win.
Another impressive Kentucky victory will only inspire more discussion over whether the Wildcats can go undefeated this season, especially since their biggest tests are now behind them. Kentucky has now beaten Kansas, Texas and Louisville in non-league play, all of which were ranked in the top 10 when the Wildcats faced them. No SEC team is even in the Top 25 in either poll at this point, though Florida, Arkansas and LSU are each among those receiving votes.
Suffering another defeat against Kentucky has to be extremely frustrating for a Louisville team that hoped to avenge its Sweet 16 loss to the Wildcats from last March.
In its last three-plus seasons, Louisville has amassed an impressive 107-21 record, advanced to two Final Fours and won a national championship, but the one thing the Cardinals have not consistently done is beaten their biggest rivals. They've lost six of seven against Kentucky during the Calipari era, with the only win coming by three points in a season that ended with the Cardinals celebrating an unlikely championship run and the Wildcats bemoaning a stunning opening-round loss in the NIT.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/tyler-ulis-helps-top-ranked-kentucky-survive-louisville-s-upset-bid-212837616.html
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