Post by elonfirefighter on Nov 8, 2007 10:43:26 GMT -5
Gardner-Webb shocks Wildcats
Flittner's 22 points help hand Kentucky rare loss to mid-major team
Associated Press
AP PhotoKentucky's Joe Crawford (32) shoots in front of Gardner-Webb's Auryn McMillan during the first half in Lexington, Ky., on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007.
Recap: Kentucky vs. Gardner-Webb
Conference Carolinas | Hoops preview
Virginia Tech | Hoops preview
It's too soon to open season, coaches say
LEXINGTON, Ky. --Coach Billy Gillispie's second game at Kentucky turned out to be the first shocker of the college basketball season.
Grayson Flittner scored 22 points to help Gardner-Webb beat the No. 20 Wildcats 84-68 Wednesday night in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.
The Wildcats hadn't lost a regular-season game to a mid-major since falling to Western Kentucky on Nov. 15, 2001, in that season's opener. They lost to Alabama-Birmingham in 2004 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Kentucky's last home loss to an unranked nonconference foe was Dec. 3, 2005, against North Carolina.
The tournament had been set up to send four top programs - No. 3 Memphis, Connecticut, Oklahoma and Kentucky to New York next week to play in the semifinals.
However, instead of the Wildcats, Gardner-Webb, which finished 9-21 last season and tied for seventh in the Atlantic Sun Conference, will play the winner of Thursday night's game between Buffalo and Connecticut.
Gillispie opened his tenure as Kentucky coach Tuesday night with a 67-40 victory over Central Arkansas. The former Texas A&M coach took over the Wildcats after Tubby Smith left for Minnesota.
Ramel Bradley led Kentucky with 24 points, including going 14-for-14 from the free throw line.
Gillispie was far more animated Tuesday night. In this one, he just knelt on the sideline and shook his head. Afterward, he walked down the sideline to shake hands with each of the Gardner-Webb players.
Although the Rupp Arena fans mildly applauded their support when the final horn sounded, the boo-birds came out early when the game appeared to be slipping away from Kentucky's grasp.
As it turned out, the Wildcats never had control of this game, trailing 14-0 four minutes in, missing its first four shots and turning the ball over four times during that span.
The Bulldogs took a 26-10 lead midway through the half on a 3-pointer by Flittner.
Kentucky cut the deficit to seven less than three minutes later on a long jumper by Joe Crawford but would get no closer.
Crawford, a senior guard and regular starter last year, didn't crack the starting lineup for the second straight game under Gillispie despite leading the team with 20 points Tuesday against Central Arkansas.
Gardner-Webb led 38-27 at halftime, and Thomas Sanders began the second half with a three-point play to put the Wildcats deeper into a hole.
BUFFALO 89, OHIO VALLEY 82: Greg Gamble scored 25 points to lead Buffalo.
Buffalo's first points came more than three minutes into the game on two free throws after Ohio Valley's Jacob Borner was whistled for an unusual technical foul. He entered the game with different jersey number (25) than the one listed on the roster (23).
CONNECTICUT 69, MORGAN STATE 65: Jerome Dyson scored 20 points to lead Connecticut to a closer than expected win.
Curtis Kelly added 13 points and nine rebounds, including several key buckets when the game appeared to be slipping away. Jeff Adrien chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 69, ALABAMA A&M 59: Durrell Nevels had 13 points and a career-high 20 rebounds in a consolation game of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.
Notes
BIG EAST: The conference's postseason tournaments will include all members in 2009, the first time all 16 schools will receive invitations since expansion before the 2005-06 season.
WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE: Scoring leader Avery Smith was tossed off the team, a week after his suspension.
The school said Smith would remain on scholarship.
SAN FRANCISCO: Forwards Vince Polakovic and Jay Watkins are ineligible and will miss the Dons' season-opening road trip to Oklahoma for the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.
Flittner's 22 points help hand Kentucky rare loss to mid-major team
Associated Press
AP PhotoKentucky's Joe Crawford (32) shoots in front of Gardner-Webb's Auryn McMillan during the first half in Lexington, Ky., on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007.
Recap: Kentucky vs. Gardner-Webb
Conference Carolinas | Hoops preview
Virginia Tech | Hoops preview
It's too soon to open season, coaches say
LEXINGTON, Ky. --Coach Billy Gillispie's second game at Kentucky turned out to be the first shocker of the college basketball season.
Grayson Flittner scored 22 points to help Gardner-Webb beat the No. 20 Wildcats 84-68 Wednesday night in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.
The Wildcats hadn't lost a regular-season game to a mid-major since falling to Western Kentucky on Nov. 15, 2001, in that season's opener. They lost to Alabama-Birmingham in 2004 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Kentucky's last home loss to an unranked nonconference foe was Dec. 3, 2005, against North Carolina.
The tournament had been set up to send four top programs - No. 3 Memphis, Connecticut, Oklahoma and Kentucky to New York next week to play in the semifinals.
However, instead of the Wildcats, Gardner-Webb, which finished 9-21 last season and tied for seventh in the Atlantic Sun Conference, will play the winner of Thursday night's game between Buffalo and Connecticut.
Gillispie opened his tenure as Kentucky coach Tuesday night with a 67-40 victory over Central Arkansas. The former Texas A&M coach took over the Wildcats after Tubby Smith left for Minnesota.
Ramel Bradley led Kentucky with 24 points, including going 14-for-14 from the free throw line.
Gillispie was far more animated Tuesday night. In this one, he just knelt on the sideline and shook his head. Afterward, he walked down the sideline to shake hands with each of the Gardner-Webb players.
Although the Rupp Arena fans mildly applauded their support when the final horn sounded, the boo-birds came out early when the game appeared to be slipping away from Kentucky's grasp.
As it turned out, the Wildcats never had control of this game, trailing 14-0 four minutes in, missing its first four shots and turning the ball over four times during that span.
The Bulldogs took a 26-10 lead midway through the half on a 3-pointer by Flittner.
Kentucky cut the deficit to seven less than three minutes later on a long jumper by Joe Crawford but would get no closer.
Crawford, a senior guard and regular starter last year, didn't crack the starting lineup for the second straight game under Gillispie despite leading the team with 20 points Tuesday against Central Arkansas.
Gardner-Webb led 38-27 at halftime, and Thomas Sanders began the second half with a three-point play to put the Wildcats deeper into a hole.
BUFFALO 89, OHIO VALLEY 82: Greg Gamble scored 25 points to lead Buffalo.
Buffalo's first points came more than three minutes into the game on two free throws after Ohio Valley's Jacob Borner was whistled for an unusual technical foul. He entered the game with different jersey number (25) than the one listed on the roster (23).
CONNECTICUT 69, MORGAN STATE 65: Jerome Dyson scored 20 points to lead Connecticut to a closer than expected win.
Curtis Kelly added 13 points and nine rebounds, including several key buckets when the game appeared to be slipping away. Jeff Adrien chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 69, ALABAMA A&M 59: Durrell Nevels had 13 points and a career-high 20 rebounds in a consolation game of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.
Notes
BIG EAST: The conference's postseason tournaments will include all members in 2009, the first time all 16 schools will receive invitations since expansion before the 2005-06 season.
WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE: Scoring leader Avery Smith was tossed off the team, a week after his suspension.
The school said Smith would remain on scholarship.
SAN FRANCISCO: Forwards Vince Polakovic and Jay Watkins are ineligible and will miss the Dons' season-opening road trip to Oklahoma for the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.
