South Carolina Dominates--77-59

For the Cats, This One Hurts

Prior to the game, The State, Columbia’s newspaper deemed the game the biggest in years. It proved to be so big for the Gamecocks that South Carolina sold out their gym, the Colonial Life Arena, for just the third time ever.

The game began with a quick Devan Downey layup. Followed by two straight turnovers made by Kentucky—the tone was set.

South Carolina went on a roll in the first half leading by 18, 44-26.

In just the first half, South Carolina had blocked 8 Kentucky shots. They finished the game with 16.

The Cats struggled with holding onto the ball again Wednesday night. Maybe it was the tempo of play; quick and speedy, as dictated by the Cocks from the start but it was an obvious sloppy night. Kentucky and turnover tend to be synonymous with one another this season. In just the first 13 minutes of play the Wildcats had turned the ball over 10 times and finished the game with a grand total of 20.

The loss was embarrassing for Kentucky and after the game, dumbstruck South Carolina star Devan Downey, who led the Cocks with 21 points and 5 rebounds said after the game, ““I’m just speechless,”

Speechless is the way to describe the Wildcats too.

Following their most complete performance against Tennessee Saturday, this was definitiley a step in the wrong direction.

When asked on his teams play Coach Gillispie said after the game; “"We didn't take it personal enough."

And now, the Cats have fell back down in the standings and suffered a blow to their tournament resume. Kentucky now is in a three way tie for second with Tennessee and Florida with three games to play. The Cats come home to host LSU Saturday, in another must-win and resume builder. There is a need for a rebound especially with such a devastating and humiliating loss so fresh in memory.