What a season for Jabari Smith and his teammates. Thanks to 14 points and 7 rebounds from the star “freshman”, but also 36 cumulative points from the duo Walker Kessler – KD Johnson, the Tigers dominate Kentucky (80-71) after a match of exceptional intensity.
Yet in front at halftime (33-29), the Wildcats gradually lost the thread after the break, the fault of a suffocating defense of the players of Bruce Pearl. Unlucky, John Calipari’s troops lost Tyty Washington, who twisted his ankle in the first half, and the Wildcats subsequently struggled to find consistency on offense.
” It was a blow” confessed the Kentucky coach about the premature exit of his “freshman”. ” But that’s no excuse. We had our chances of winning, but defensively we had moments of absence.“
Thanks to this prestigious victory, the Tigers, second before the meeting, overtook Gonzaga in the AP standings and took first place for the first time in their history.
Wisconsin beaten at home
No eighth consecutive victory for the Badgers, beaten on their floor by Michigan State. Authors of a huge first half (42-26), Tom Izzo’s Spartans slowed down after the break but still won by 12 points (86-74).
Silky shooting freshman Max Christie had 12 points, as did junior Tyson Walker. For the locals, it was the inexhaustible Johnny Davis who was the most prominent (25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 rebounds) despite his clumsiness (8/20).
” If you look at our game as a whole, everyone scored and contributed in one area. It wasn’t always smooth, but we were skilful and careful with the leather.” enjoyed Tom Izzo. ” But the key was the rebound. “He concludes in reference to the crushing victory of his players in the battle for the rebound (39 to 20).
Mixed week for Illinois
The Fighting Illini lost on the floor of Maryland (81-65) last Saturday, handicapped by the absence of “junior” Kofi Cockburn, monstrous this season (21.1 points and 11.8 rebounds).
Yet in control in the last corner (56-52), the former team of Ayo Dosunmu cash a fatal 12-2 in the last minutes. The Terrapins were able to count on 40 points from the duo Fatts Russell – Donta Scott, while the “senior” Alfonzo Plummer scored 18 points for Illinois.
Back on their court yesterday, Brad Underwood’s men, demoted to 24th place in the AP Top 25 after their loss to Maryland, got off to a good start with a snatch victory over Michigan State (56- 55). Still deprived of Kofi Cockburn, the Illini had a 14-point lead at halftime.
Before missing their second half, iNFLicting on their public a big fright until the last moments: not a single point scored during the last five minutes!
More fear than harm in the end for Illinois, which by this success alone takes the lead in the Big 10 conference.
Kansas likes to play with fire
Winners of Kansas State (78-75) then Texas Tech (94-91), the Jayhawks have chained two meetings with Hollywood scenarios.
During the first meeting, Bill Self’s men were trailing by 16 points at halftime (50-34), before triggering a furious comeback (the most important in their history) in the second half, concluded with a shot of Ochai Agbaji’s win 9 seconds from the final buzzer. The “senior” did not intend to lose this match: his coach had lost his father a few hours earlier, and victory was therefore imperative.
” We knew it was a game that mattered to him. We fought after halftime. I’m happy to have won this match for him.” delivered the drafted future.
Facing the Texas Tech Raiders two days later, the Jayhawks put the lid back on with a crazy new scenario: two overtimes, another crazy game from Agbaji who crashed 37 points, his new career high, and a victory of prestige (94-91)!
It takes a lot to bring down this Kansas squad.
UCLA slaps Arizona
This tantalizing duel of the Pac-12 quickly turned in favor of the Californians on their floor: after a convincing first half (40-29), the Bruins stepped on the accelerator after the break, leaving no chance for Wildcats overtaken (75-59).
“With these guys, we like these matches, these big posters. Everyone gave of themselves. ” summarized with satisfaction Johnny Juzang, author of 15 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
