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After late scheduling changes, the Kentucky Wildcats returned to action as they faced off with the North Carolina Tar Heels in the CBS Sports Classic.
It was a great start for the Cats as they came out ready to play and jumped out to the early 11-6 lead.
Sahvir Wheeler looked like a completely different player in this one as that early lead swelled to 19-6 at the under 12 media timeout.
Kentucky took their biggest lead of the half with just over 4 minutes remaining as a layup by Wheeler made it a 35-17 lead.
Like all good teams, North Carolina wasn’t going to quit. With Oscar Tshiebwe on the bench in foul trouble, the Tar Heels were able to cut into the lead down the stretch.
Despite the run, it was still the Cats that went into the locker room with a 40-29 lead.
The second half got off to an outstanding start for the Cats and turned into pure domination.
The Cats matched their biggest lead of the game at the under 16 timeout as they led it 55-37.
Kentucky looked as locked in on both ends of the floor as we have seen them this season and a Kellan Grady three with 11:14 remaining gave the Cats a 70-46 lead.
The big lead only continued to get bigger as it grew to 80-52 at the under 8 media timeout.
Down the stretch it was all Kentucky as they were able to absolutely dominate the Tar Heels and come away with the 98-69 blowout win.
Here are the best Twitter reactions to what was a very fun time for the Big Blue Nation!
Time to ball.
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) December 18, 2021
⚪️ @KeionB_12
⚪️ @KellanGrady31
⚪️ @Oscartshiebwe34
⚪️ @tytywashington3
⚪️ @sahvir_ pic.twitter.com/rtDmfOMucJ
So strange not seeing Roy Williams on Carolina bench. Dad Gummit!
— John Huang (@KYHuangs) December 18, 2021
Sahvir Wheeler looking like the best player on the court early here.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) December 18, 2021
Oscar Tshiebwe had 7 boards in his first 7 minutes... then picked up his second foul. Brutal.
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) December 18, 2021
Holy hell, that Daimion Collins effort. Legit pogo stick moment there.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) December 18, 2021
That’s three foul calls that were actually walks. That’s almost impressive.
— Tod Lanter (@tod_lanterIII) December 18, 2021
This is a total opposite team than what was rolled out in South Bend last weekend.
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) December 18, 2021
This is the the Kentucky Basketball I know
— BIG BLUE NATION #BBN (@UKBasketbalI) December 18, 2021
John Calipari: "Shoot it TyTy"
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) December 18, 2021
TyTy drills a 3 as soon as he gets it.
Kentucky is not allowing North Carolina to run its normal offense. Excellent defensive half by the Wildcats.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) December 18, 2021
This is fun!
— The Kentucky Logo (@TheKentuckyLogo) December 18, 2021
Wheeler came to play today!!!
— Sara Cardona (@Sara_Cardonaa) December 18, 2021
When wheeler plays like this Kentucky is going to be very hard to beat
— Big Blue Nation (@BigB1ue9ation) December 18, 2021
Creating havoc on D and hitting jump shots which is opening up the lane
I’m having fun. I hope you all as well!
— Michael Beard (@TheBracketGuy) December 18, 2021
LETS GO!
Well, hello, Lance Ware.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) December 18, 2021
Kentucky heard the noise all week long, and they have played with a chip on their shoulder in the first half. The defense has been suffocating. North Carolina rallied somewhat and now is forced to play desperately in the second half.
— David Sisk (@CoachDavidSisk) December 18, 2021
Brad Nessler on Kentucky fans: “They’d travel to the moon to watch this basketball team.”
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) December 18, 2021
LETS GOOOOO pic.twitter.com/ZKzOEVJgBG
— Immanuel Jaylen Quickley (@IQ_GodSon) December 18, 2021
This Kentucky team would have pounded Notre Dame.
— Larry Glover Live (@larrygloverlive) December 18, 2021
That toppin dunk was wild
— The Kentucky Logo (@TheKentuckyLogo) December 18, 2021
Air Toppin ⬆️pic.twitter.com/FpkPlYofo0
— Cats Coverage (@CatsCoverage_) December 19, 2021
Wheeler can do this any and every game for all I care
— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) December 19, 2021
If Sahvir Wheeler plays like this every night we will never lose again. Sheesh
— BIG BLUE NATION #BBN (@UKBasketbalI) December 19, 2021
This is a bludgeoning
— All Things Kentucky (@BBNWonka) December 19, 2021
LET IT BE KNOWN UK IS KICKING THAT tarheel ASS!!!
— John Mathus (@JohnMathus2) December 19, 2021
LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO #BBN4LIFE
Kentucky looks like a completely different team on offense. Just impressive.
— Round Daddy (@JStreble82) December 19, 2021
Again, Oscar Tshiebwe is an NBA player.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) December 19, 2021
The fire Coach Cal crowd right now. pic.twitter.com/uc0gxuic0h
— Ethan DeWitt (@EthanDeWitt1) December 19, 2021
Kentucky having its way with North Carolina (albeit in their first year without Roy) is exactly what #BBN needed.
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) December 19, 2021
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. GO CATS.
— Brandon Patterson (@brandonpatt) December 19, 2021
Is ...
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) December 19, 2021
Is ...
Is ...
John Calipari going layups-and-3s offense?
THIS Kentucky team can go far into the NCAA Tournament.
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) December 19, 2021
— A Sea of Blue (@ASeaOfBlue) December 19, 2021
This is the best game Kentucky has played in the last 2-3 years
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 19, 2021
Big Salute to the team
For as critical as I was of Calipari a week ago, this was a masterful coaching performance tonight.
— All Things Kentucky (@BBNWonka) December 19, 2021
What a performance.
#BBN mood right now @Oscartshiebwe34 pic.twitter.com/PU0QckeyUP
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) December 19, 2021
THEY BROUGHT THE WALK-ONS IN VERSUS A BLUE BLOOD
— Cats Coverage (@CatsCoverage_) December 19, 2021
Bringing home the victory pic.twitter.com/DEL8mXVzuj
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) December 19, 2021
We probably do need to talk about focus and execution when that third digit on the scoreboard is at stake. They got sloppy.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) December 19, 2021
Congrats to coach Cal and BBN on the beat down of North Carolina.
— Rich Brooks (@UKcoachbrooks) December 19, 2021
That was a easy dub #BBN
— PJ Washington (@PJWashington) December 19, 2021
The 29-point margin for UK over UNC was the largest for the Wildcats in a win over the Tar Heels since an 83-44 UK victory over North Carolina on Jan. 9, 1950 https://t.co/gHcKS9ds1b
— Mark Story (@markcstory) December 19, 2021
A UK team that: a) has Tshiebwe; and b) takes care of the ball has the potential to be the shot-volume Beatles.
— John Gasaway (@JohnGasaway) December 19, 2021
Today vs UNC: 12.5 TO%, 45.9 offensive rebound %.
Kentucky had that top 10 look about them again after dismantling North Carolina. Very impressive. Louisville next
— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) December 19, 2021
CATS BY 29 pic.twitter.com/qLVPY31EHl
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) December 19, 2021
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