Kentucky Wildcats batter Chattanooga Mocs 87-62: NCAA Basketball Recap (Part 2)
Chattanooga Mocs were intent on double-teaming the Kentucky Wildcats ace players; however the strategy backfired as it game too many clear looks to the shooters. Their Coach John Shulman was naturally disappointed, but praised
the ability of Wildcats to adapt.
"We didn't have a choice. What was our choice? Our choice was that or -- do what? We really didn't have a choice. I thought our double-teams in the post were really effective if we could get down there quick enough. I mean, they
didn't want any part of our doubles in the first half. They made a nice adjustment and spaced it a little better in the second half."
The Wildcats roared onto the floor and managed to initiate an 18-2 run in the opening minutes, ensuring that the Mocs were under the cosh from the word go. Already on the back foot in the first few minutes, the Mocs failed to penetrate
into the Wildcats defence, allowing them a lead into 20s, 29-9 with 8 minutes remaining in the first half.
Fortunately for the Mocs though, Drazen Zlovaric and Ricky Taylor jumped to the rescue and reeled off a 10-4 run in the next few minutes that got the team into a position, from where they could at least challenge the opponents.
Wildcats though, were still in a commanding position at 36-19.
Both teams failed to find baskets regularly in the last four minutes of the frame and the half ended with Wildcats leading by 39-23. The second half began at a fast pace with the Wildcats making majority of the plays. In doing
so, they again boosted their lead to 20 points, 46-26, in the first three minutes.
Ricky Taylor and Jahmal Burroughs kept on fighting from the other end to bring the lead down, but Wildcats were unstoppable and with 13 minutes remaining had already turned the game into their favour, after Kyle Wiltjer drilled
back to back three pointers to make it 64-37. Doron Lamb and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist continued the onslaught in the next few minutes and almost took the lead to 30 points 74-45 at one instance.
It started to get embarrassing for Mocs down the stretch, but a few quick points salvaged a somewhat decent final scoreline for them.
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