A Tale of Two Runs (3 minutes & 26 seconds)
The Kentucky/Mississippi State game lasted 40 minutes, as all regulation college basketball games do. The two most crucial runs of the game lasted only a total of 3 minutes and 26 seconds. Mississippi State’s most important run lasted 59 seconds. In that 59 seconds, I began to get the uneasy feeling in my stomach that I had when Kentucky played West Virginia in the Elite 8 two years ago. Kentucky’s run lasted 2 minutes and 27 seconds and gave me a feeling in my stomach that I haven’t had since the mid-90′s. I will attempt to break down the key moments of both crucial runs in the second half below.
The Mississippi State 59-second Run:
At the 7:18 mark in the second half, Kentucky had just cut Mississippi State’s lead down to 2 points on a Terrence Jones basket. Over the next 59 seconds, Mississippi State was able to rebuild their lead back up to 7 points thanks to the following series of events:
- (6:55) On the ensuing offensive possession Mississippi State clanked a 3 pointer off the rim, but Kentucky allowed two MSU players to get the inside position on the rebound. One of those two players just happened to be Arnett Moultrie who dunked the ball as it came off the rim. The play was a huge momentum shift after Kentucky had just cut the lead to the smallest it had been since the first half.
- (6:40) Lamb takes a quick 3 (and misses) from the top of the key with 23 seconds remaining on the shot clock. The possession included a total of just 2 passes.
- (6:28) Dee Bost nails a contested three over Anthony Davis, while the primary defender (Kidd-Gilchrist) gets caught up on a screen, to push the lead back out to 7, prompting a Calipari timeout and an eruption from the crowd. Bost’s shot felt like it could be the “nail in the coffin” type of shot…
The Kentucky 2:27 Run:
- (6:19) Darius Miller forces another quick contested three pointer with 27 seconds remaining on the shot clock. Perhaps as a make-up call for the Anthony Davis technical awarded earlier in the half, Mississippi State was called for a foul on the Miller shot. After the media timeout, Miller calmly sank all three of his free throws to cut the MSU lead back down to 4 points (60-56)
- (6:05) Darius Miller comes up with a huge steal on the next Mississippi State possession
- (5:44) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist powers through the lane on a double-team and finds a way to put the ball off the glass for a huge bucket, cutting the lead to 2 points (60-58).
- (5:11) Mississippi State scores inside as Anthony Davis narrowly misses blocking the lay-up attempt. Mississippi State builds the lead back up to 4 points (62-58).
- (4:47) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist penetrates the zone at the top of the key, freeing Darius Miller of his defender just outside of the three point line. Miller knocks down the 3-pointer, cutting the lead to 1 point. (62-61).
- (4:39) Marquis Teague is shown on the bench proudly clapping and cheering his teammates on as he watches with 4 fouls.
- (4:17) Anthony Davis alters a Dee Bost drive, toeing the inbound line to save the ball and then throwing it to the hands of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to save the change in possession for Kentucky.
(4:11) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist runs the length of the floor following the Davis inbound save. Kidd-Gilchrist misses the initial drive, but out-muscles two Mississippi State defenders to grab his own rebound. Kidd-Gilchrist is fouled as he goes right back up with another shot, nailing the basket but missing the free throw that would have made it a 3-point play. The basket did give Kentucky it’s first lead (63-62).
(3:52) Mississippi State’s Lewis is called for a foul on the following offensive possession for Mississippi State while trying to battle Davis for an offensive rebound. The media timeout was then called and Kentucky took a one point lead into the final break, never to relinquish it again.
@AllyTuckerKSR Follow me, everything is alright. I’ll be the one to tuck you in at night (just kidding, that’s creepy).
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