The Visor

Number one ranked Kentucky falls to South Carolina in surprising upset

January 28, 2010

Evan Luse

Perhaps President Obama should try his hand at fortune telling. Earlier this week the avid basketball fan called the Kentucky men’s basketball team and warned them that being ranked number one was a heavy burden to bear and they should “keep their focus.” They didn’t listen.

The Kentucky Wildcats (19-1) fell to the South Carolina Gamecocks (12-8) on Tuesday night by a final score of 68-62. The somewhat overlooked Gamecocks walked tall against the storm of the nation’s top team as they were led by 5’9” senior Devan Downey. Downey was nearly uncontainable as he scored 30 points, and ultimately had the last laugh over Kentucky youngsters John Wall (19 points) and DeMarcus Cousins (27 points, 12 rebounds). Downey’s partner in crime, Brandis Raley-Ross, finished the game with a season high 17 points and helped to foster a backcourt that generated great defensive pressure that created 15 Wildcat turnovers.

The Wildcats seemed to be in control halfway through the second half leading 47-40 until Downey took over. Downey got an and-one and stoked two free throws to tie the game up. At this point the upset looked possible.

“It’s been my thinking all year,” South Carolina coach Darrin Horn said in an ESPN interview. “If it’s close, we’ve got No. 2 [Downey] and we’ve got a shot.”

Downey stepped up to plate and nailed a clutch three-pointer with four minutes left and from there the Gamecocks were able to scrap for the win. The Wildcats had a shot to salvage their undefeated record when Wall completed a three-point play with 40 seconds left but they couldn’t close. Cousins was certainly upset at the outcome but not completely discouraged.

“No. 1 was all good, but No. 1 is not a championship,” Cousins said. “And we’re playing for a championship.”

Whether it was Obama’s phone call, poor execution, the lack of rebounding, or young talent crumbling under the pressure of being No. 1, the Wildcats loss was nothing less than stunning. Downey insisted he knew it was coming, as America could hear him screaming “I told you so!” as the South Carolina faithful stormed the court.

In college basketball its almost impossible to stay undefeated, but when March rolls around the Wildcats have a great chance to be the last team standing—maybe they should ask the President if he has time to make a call to Kansas and Texas, it couldn’t hurt.

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