I genuinely can’t believe it. Stunned. Speechless. Flabbergasted. Where did that come from? There was nothing to suggest Kentucky was ready for this moment, certainly not coming off a 25-point beatdown in Nashville just days before. There were no hints that these Wildcats — the kings of molasses-paced starts — were ready to make 10 of their first 11 shots and build a 13-point first-half cushion in that type of environment. Nothing suggested they were ready to do the punking on the glass with a plus-nine advantage or double up Arkansas on 3-point makes. We’ve seen some gutsy comebacks, but how about being called for three technical fouls in 38 seconds and watching a five-point lead turn into a four-point deficit in a matter of 2:30 because of them, Bud Walton Arena on fire with the momentum totally flipped — then leading by double figures with 2:03 to go?
This game had disaster written all over it, and for so many reasons. The crap injury luck and ensuing continuity and identity issues, the Razorbacks’ talent and on-paper positional advantages, the building, that coach, all of the above. It’s why I picked a double-digit loss and didn’t feel totally off-base with it, even though the possibility hurt me to the depths of my soul.
Kentucky’s response? Shut up with the bellyaching, we got this. It would be their most complete game of the season, shooting 54 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from three with four double-digit scorers. Hot start, clutch finish to pull off the wildly unexpected…