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ually, the Wildcats prob

(2014-11-27 22:43:57) 下一個
ATLANTA -- Kentucky couldve cut the nets down at halftime. Mikko Koivu Black Friday Jersey . Actually, the Wildcats probably wouldve been good skipping the ceremony altogether. A South Regional title is fine, but what matters to this bunch of future NBA stars is breaking out the scissors in the Big Easy. Top-seeded Kentucky advanced to the Final Four for the second year in a row with a 82-70 blitzing of Baylor, setting up a Bluegrass showdown with rival Louisville in the national semifinals Saturday at New Orleans. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 19 points, Anthony Davis added 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Terrence Jones dazzled in all the overlooked areas to lead the Wildcats (36-2) on Sunday. For all the hoopla sure to surround the next game in its basketball-crazed state, Kentucky wont consider the season a success unless it wins two more games -- culminating in a national title. "Im not satisfied yet," Kidd-Gilchrist said. This group sure has the look of a champion, shaking off an early blow by the Bears (30-8) -- a very good team with a daring fashion sense that was simply no match for coach John Caliparis latest group of Fab Freshmen. Kentucky took control with an early 16-0 run and led by 20 at halftime. "This team is better than I thought," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "This is the best team we faced all year ... probably in a couple of years." Two years ago, Baylor lost to eventual national champion Duke in another regional final. "Duke was a good team," Drew said, "but Kentucky is better." The Wildcats beat Louisville 69-62 on New Years Eve, but now theyll meet with the highest stakes ever. Kidd-Gilchrist shrugged when someone asked about playing the Cardinals. "Im just worried about us," he said. "Thats it. I dont worry about anybody else." Calipari, in his third season at Kentucky, just keeps recruiting the best high school players in the land, moulds them into a top team, then sends most of em on to the NBA. Then he starts the whole process over again. "There are some opinions that will never change," Calipari said. "All Im trying to do is coach these young people. Im trying to do the best job for these kids and their families." Two years ago, John Wall led Kentucky to the regional final. Last season, Brandon Knight helped guide the Wildcats to the Final Four. Now, with those guys in the NBA and Kidd-Gilchrist and Davis stopping off for what could be their only season in Lexington, Big Blue has a shot at what those last two teams failed to do -- bringing Kentucky its first national title since 1998. But for all the talk about Caliparis one-and-done tactics, hes getting plenty of contributions from those who hung around beyond their freshmen year. Take Jones, a sophomore forward who passed up the draft. He scored just one point in the opening half, but his fingerprints were all over Kentuckys dominating performance: nine rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals and -- most in the first 10 minutes. "I was just trying to be aggressive early," Jones said. "That allowed me to get in great position for rebounds and to lead the fast break." Then theres Darius Miller, one of only two seniors on the roster. He gave up his starting role to Kidd-Gilchrist in this one -- Kentucky essentially has six starters -- but added four points, two assists and two steals in the first-half blowout. At one point, Kidd-Gilchrist had as many points as Baylors entire team: 17 apiece. Kentucky led 42-22 at the break and Baylor never got any closer than 10 points the rest of the way. "Its kind of hard to play us," Davis said. "Were very long and very athletic. It makes it tough on the other team." The Wildcats left New Orleans earlier this month disappointed with a loss in the Southeastern Conference championship game. That ones long forgotten. A national championship has been the goal all along. "Its a great feeling to be part of something special," Davis said. Quincy Acy led Baylor with 22 points, and Pierre Jackson added 21. Not enough. Not nearly enough. "Theyre a great team," Acy said. "Theyve got some good some good dudes down there." With Baylors Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III cheering on the Bears from the stands, Acy tried to send a message early on that Baylor would not be intimidated by the Wildcats. Jones was in the clear and going in for a fastbreak layup when the 235-pound Acy came up from behind, took a whack at the ball but mainly just crashed into the Kentucky player, sending him flying into the Baylor cheerleaders along the baseline. Jones was OK, and the officials doled out a flagrant foul on Acy after looking at the replay. Jones made one of the free throws, Kentucky missed a jumper and the Bears, seemingly inspired by Acys bravado, ripped off an 8-0 run that led Calipari to call a quick timeout. He already had yanked Doron Lamb from the game for trying to make the highlight reels rather than taking a layup. The sophomore guard passed up a clear path to the basket, instead opting for a lob pass to the trailing Davis. The big man missed the dunk, hanging on the rim as Baylor grabbed the rebound and took off the other way for a basket. After Quincy Miller hit an uncontested 3-pointer from the top of the lane to give Baylor a 10-5 lead, Calipari lashed into his young team. "I told them weve got to step on the gas here," he said. Boy, did they respond. Sixteen consecutive points, an NBA-like display of defensive dominance and easy baskets that sent the Georgia Dome, and the predominantly blue-clad crowd, into a frenzy. Cat-Lanta, indeed. Too bad RGIII couldnt suit up for the Bears, who couldnt wear the neon-green home uniforms they had specially made for the tournament. As the lower-seeded team, they switched to another special uniform, this one black and camouflage with neon trim. Turns out, blue was the dominant colour. Jones displayed his all-around game, coming up with three steals and swatting away a shot by 5-foot-10 Pierre Jackson like this was a game between men and boys. Kentucky fed off his defence, running the court at every opportunity for layup after layup. Kidd-Gilchrist had three of them, along with a slam by Davis. Miller hit a jumper and freshman Kyle Wiltjer knocked down a 3-pointer, pumping his fist and smiling as he trotted back down the court. There were plenty of smiles from the folks in blue, though Kentucky did get a scare early in the second half when Davis went down with an injured left knee. The 6-foot-10 freshman was driving to the basket when he banged knees with Baylors Perry Jones III, going down hard along the baseline. A hush fell over the massive stadium as Davis, writhing in pain, grabbed at his knee. Finally, he limped to the bench, but it was clear the injury wasnt too serious when the trainers kept flexing the leg, then rubbed it with an ointment to ease the pain. After just a few minutes, Davis got up and headed to the scorers table, checking back into the game. The Kentucky fans broke into a huge cheer of relief. Theres still work to do in the Big Easy. Semyon Varlamov Black Friday Jersey . The World Group first round series will now continue Monday with Spain leading 1-0. Earlier Sunday, Czech Klara Zakopalova led the second singles match against Maria Torro-Flor 6-3, 2-0. Henrik Lundqvist Black Friday Jersey . Barrichello is thrilled to be racing in front of his Brazilian fans for the first time since joining IndyCar, but admits he still is adapting to the series and wont be racing among the leaders on Sunday.AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A quick stroll across the manicured landscape of Augusta National afforded a glimpse of why this Masters is so hard to figure out. On the putting green in a quiet moment of practice was 20-year-old Jordan Spieth, one of a record 24 newcomers who has every reason to believe he can win. On the golf course for the final day of practice was Webb Simpson, a former U.S. Open champion and one of 21 players who have captured the last 24 majors. And under the oak tree outside the clubhouse was Miguel Angel Jimenez, the 50-year-old Spaniard trying to make sense of it all. He recalled his first Masters in 1995, when Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal shared secrets to Augusta National, such as keeping the ball in the right spots on the green and "to realize here that the target is not the hole." "The more you play, the more you like, no?" Jimenez said as he leaned against his golf bag, looking relaxed as ever behind his aviator sunglasses. But as he considered the rookies -- Spieth and Patrick Reed, Harris English and Jimmy Walker -- he dismissed the notion that experience was required for a green jacket. "There are 24 guys here for the first time," he said. "But theres a reason they are here, no?" Nowhere to be found, of course, was Tiger Woods. Out of golf until the summer because of back surgery, out of the Masters for the first time in his career, the show goes on. "Well, we miss Tiger, as does the entire golf world," Masters chairman Billy Payne said. "He is always a threat to make a run and do well and win here at Augusta National. ... Nevertheless, this is the Masters. This is what we hope is the best tournament in the world, one of the greatest sporting events. And I think we will have a very impressive audience and have another great champion to crown this year." The course closed for practice Wednesday afternoon, and a stream of fans made their way over to the Par 3 Tournament, where occasional cheers broke the silence. It was a precursor of what was sure to follow over the next four days at a major that rarely fails to deliver drama. Even without Woods. "Its probably the most anticipated week of the year," Rory McIlroy said..Henrik Sedin Black Friday Jersey. . "Its been eight months since weve had a major. Its Augusta. ... Theres a lot of guys that seem like once they drive up Magnolia Lane here, something lights up inside them." That could be Phil Mickelson, who last year won the British Open at age 42 and now has a chance to join Woods and Arnold Palmer with a fourth green jacket. It could be Adam Scott, trying to join Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the only back-to-back winners. Considering how this year has gone, it could be anybody. Jason Day, Sergio Garcia and former Masters champion Zach Johnson are the only players from the top 10 who have won anywhere in the world. Only one of the last seven winners on the PGA Tour was ranked in the top 75. "I think if youre outside the top 50 in the world this week, youve got a great chance," U.S. Open champion Justin Rose said with a laugh. Rose, however, falls on the side of experience -- knowing where to miss, knowing where you cant afford to miss, where the hole locations tend to be on the contoured greens and using the slope to get the ball close. "Always you can have the unknowns," he said. "But I would say 15 guys are pretty strong favourites." Woods has become a polarizing figure in golf, especially at the Masters. Since he last won a green jacket in 2005, only once has Woods finished out of the top six. Thats what made him so compelling at Augusta. He always seems to be there. And thats why this Masters seems to lack definition. No one is dominating golf at the moment. Walker has the most PGA Tour wins (three) this season, but this is his first Masters. Scott had a chance to go to No. 1 in the world three weeks ago at Bay Hill, but he lost a three-shot lead in the final round to Matt Every, who had never won in his career. Never has there been this much chatter about Masters rookies. Then again, there has never been this many. And theyre not bashful about their chances. "Doesnt matter if youve played here once or if youve played here 50 times," Reed said. "When it comes down to it, its just going to be that whoever is playing the best is going to walk away with the trophy." So maybe its not that hard to figure out, after all. ' ' '
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