Takeaways From UNC vs. Kentucky

Dec 13, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Booker (1) shoots a lay up against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Theo Pinson (1) in the second half at Rupp Arena. The Kentucky Wildcats defeated North Carolina Tar Heels 84-70. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

You’re up next, UCLA. Louisville, you’re on deck. Good luck to you both.

To get some perspective on how dominant this Kentucky team looks to be this season, just take a look at the numbers North Carolina put up against the Wildcats in its visit to Lexington.

The Tar Heels put up 70 points and shot 45 percent from the field, by far the best showing against a Kentucky defense that had been nothing short of smothering entering Saturday’s contest giving up fewer than 46 points a game with opponents connecting on 28.7 percent of their floor attempts.

North Carolina found its stroke from long-range. Averaging 28 percent from beyond  the arc, the Tar Heels hit on six of their 13 3-point tries (46.2 percent) with a struggling Marcus Paige making good on four long-range second-half bombs to finish with 14 points. The inside tandem of Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks were effective against Kentucky’s standout length, ending with 15 and 10 points, respectively, and North Carolina even owned a 31-24 rebound advantage, including an 18-11 lead on the offensive glass.

All to no avail in an 84-70 loss to a Wildcats team that came in boasting an  average victory margin on nearly 30 points but may have put together its most complete game of the season thus far.

In some ways, the Tar Heels and Kentucky mirrored each other entering Saturday’s showdown between two of college basketball winningest programs. Like North Carolina, the Wildcats’ work from long distance had been problematic with Kentucky hitting on just 25.4 percent of its tries outside the arc, good enough to rank 305th nationally.

And just as the Tar Heels came in shooting less than 70 percent from the free-throw line, the Wildcats ranked 258th shooting a mere 65.3 percent from the stripe. Those nicks in  the armor were suddenly repaired, however, against a North Carolina team that was allowing opponents to shoot just 33.5 percent from the field and only 24.1 percent from long-range.

Kentucky finished shooting over 56 percent and buried seven of its 11 3-point attempts (46.7 percent), including six in an opening half that saw the Wildcats hold a 49-34 halftime advantage and the Tar Heels never seriously threatened afterwards. The six pre-intermission makes equaled the total Kentucky had made in its three previous games combined, and when it visited the line it shot over 74 percent (23-of-31).

When you put the bow on the package and if the Wildcats continue to display the effort put forth against North Carolina, then that undefeated chatter that has been a gentle hum throughout college basketball circles escalates into a near-deafening buzz.

Simply put, the Wildcats come at their opposition in waves. To be sure, John Calipari has amassed plenty of talent and size throughout his sparkling roster. All but one of 10 of Kentucky’s players logging 10 minutes or more stands 6-foot-6 or taller, and center Willie Cauley-Stein, who entered as the Wildcats’ lone double-digit scorer, flexed his muscles against the Tar Heels finishing with 15 points, six boards, four steals and two blocks.

But as eye-catching as the talent and size is the depth. Kentucky’s bench outscored North Carolina’s reserves 33-19, coincidentally the  same margin as the game’s final score. And the Wildcats’ somewhat leaky defense still forced 18 turnovers, converting the giveaways into 24 points, the most the Tar Heels have allowed off turnovers in three seasons, according to ESPN.com.

Really, North Carolina has little to be ashamed of. They were simply outgunned and outmanned. The Tar Heels found out what previous Kentucky opponents have and what others will discover — that if the Wildcats put on the same show throughout the season, those platoon waves they continually throw at opponents will be perilously difficult to navigate.

The Tar Heels and others attempted to swim with a team that could be spoken of as one of college basketball’s greatest at season’s end. Ultimately, however, the waves forced them to sink.