College Hoops Video

North Carolina showed us why they are the favorites to win the 2009 NCAA title tonight, thumping the Kentucky Wildcats 77-58 without Tyler Hansbrough in Chapel Hill. Most thought the game would be a bit closer than it turned out to be before the season started as it pitted the two winningest college basketball programs against each other. Unfortunately for Kentucky fans, UNC improved to 21-10 all-time against the Cats, and with the loss Kentucky fell to 0-2 for the 2008-09 season for the first time since 2001-02.

 

 

Deon Thompson led the way for North Carolina with a career-high 20 points, but North Carolina sufferred a setback with freshman Tyler Zeller suffering a wrist injury in the later portion of the game after getting fould by Kentucky forward, Ramon Harris. North Carolina was able to force Kentucky into 28 turnovers in the game and never trailed the Wildcats after the four minute point of the game. It was debated on whether Coach Roy Williams would play Hansbrough in the game, but he chose not to rush his return since the outcome of the game was never in question. The win was North Carolina’s fifth straight over Kentucky.

 

 

Kentucky followed-up their embarassing loss to VMI with a very anemic performance against the Tar Heels. All-SEC center, Patrick Patterson had a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, but just didn’t prove to be enough to keep the Cats in contention tonight. The WIldcats got behind 15-2 to start the game, and showed signs of what to expect this season without a true point guard on the roster. Kentucky would get no closer than 11 points during the game, and would be down by as many as 21 at one point of the contest. Guard Jodi Meeks also chipped in for 19 points in the game for coach Billy Gillispie, but Kentucky did not have many other highlights during the game.