4-point play: Instant analysis on Kentucky's huge win vs. Kansas
Nicole Auerbach
INDIANAPOLIS — Breaking down No. 1 Kentucky's 72-40 Champions Classic win against No. 5 Kansas:
HOW KENTUCKY WON: Size. It's not much more complicated than that. Kentucky has incredible height and freakish length, and two platoons' worth of it. Kansas is smaller, quick and athletic, but couldn't hang with Kentucky in the paint. The Wildcats were swatting away shots all night, altering others and getting what felt like every single rebound. Kentucky didn't shoot lights out in the first half (didn't need to), but Kansas struggled on both ends and the game's outcome wasn't truly ever in doubt after halftime.
THE BIG PICTURE: The first week of the season doesn't predict who will win the national championship. We know this. We learned this last season, at this very same event. Kentucky looked young, discombobulated at times and mostly just inexperienced in a loss to last season's veteran-laden Michigan State squad. Then it went all the way to the title game five months later.
A year later, Kentucky's roster is different — more fortified, and spilling over with talent – and these Wildcats look practically unbeatable. This is such a deep team, it's hard to imagine Kentucky losing a game unless seven or eight different players have an off night. Sure, the two-platoon system may run into trouble; fouls could be a problem. Egos could be another issue. But for now, Kentucky looks like it has the talent to be a national title contender once again. That doesn't mean the Cats will get there. But right now, we know they could.
STAR WATCH: It's hard to pick just one for the Wildcats. It's hard to even pick one platoon. So, a few quick notes about a variety of guys: Marcus Lee and Karl-Anthony Towns each had four blocks. Both Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein grabbed 10 rebounds. Ten different players scored at least a basket, with two in double digits. One last quick shoutout — to Andrew Harrison, who was an efficient 3-for-5 from the field for 10 points, and led the team with four assists.
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AND-1: By halftime, Kentucky had blocked eight Kansas shots. The Jayhawks only made eight shots the entire half.