UK Off to Fast Start, UL Hanging Around

1st half report:

By the time the first TV timeout rolled around at 15:56, it felt as if an entire game had already been played. It was 6-1 Wildcats, with 7 fouls already been called, two technical fouls, and the players were acting like they had been watching too many College Football Bowl Games. It started with a foul on Kentucky's Eric Bledsoe 8 seconds in and Bledsoe getting pulled to the bench, clearly upset about the foul. Within 30 seconds, 3 fouls had been called, and before the 19:00 minute mark could hit, two technicals had been called after Kentucky freshman C DeMarcus Cousins appeared to elbow Louisville's Jerod Swopshire in a battle for a loose ball. Cousins was lucky not to be ejected.

From that moment on, everyone knew what type of game it was going to be. Louisville's offense struggled to get going most of the half, finding themselves 0-15 from the field until Samardo Samuels tip with 10:48 left made it a 15-5 Kentucky lead. Louisville finished the half shooting5-29 (17%).

Kentucky was given the opportunity to pull away in the first half, although sloppy play combined with poor shooting themselves, kept Louisville in it. Kentucky was 1-9 from 3pt range and shot only 33% from the field.

Key Performers first half stats:
Kentucky: Wall - 3 pts, 2 assists, 1 steal; Patterson - 12 pts, 1 rbd; Cousins - 8 pts, 12 rbds, 3 assists
Louisville: Samuels - 3 pts, 4 rbds; Sosa - 0 pts, 1 rbd; J. Smith - 5 pts, 4 rbds, 3 steals

Key stat going into 2nd half:
Louisville had a combined 12 personal fouls in the first half with 1 player with 3 fouls and 3 other players with 2 fouls. We'll see if the foul trouble comes back to haunt UL in the second half.

Stay tuned for a post game update!

-Greg