Kentucky Fans: The Gamecocks Got Us Again

South Carolina was the better team. So says SB Nation’s excellent Kentucky blog, A Sea Of Blue, as they examine last night’s disappointing loss to the Gamecocks:

Congratulations to the South Carolina Gamecocks. They absolutely earned this victory by playing this basketball game like the upperclassmen they are. They had a leader, they got him the ball, and he did what leaders do — won the basketball game. I don’t want to hear any whining about officiating, or complaints about how bad Kentucky played. South Carolina won because they were the better team tonight. They did the smart thing and took the air out of the basketball, forcing Kentucky to play a half-court game where they don’t excel as much as when they are running up and down. South Carolina had a game plan which they executed in a superior manner, and it paid off.

Devan Downey was just unstoppable, and he has a special love for beating Kentucky, which he has been able to enjoy for the last four meetings. That’s great for Gamecock fans, but it hurts to have to write yet another lament starring the Gamecocks in the role of the villain.

Kentucky fans have no right to complain. This team may have gotten a unanimous nod from the Associated Press voters, but they have not really been tested much. Nevertheless, Kentucky fans were ecstatic, even gloating. Unfortunately for us, our team tonight was weighed, measured, and found wanting.

Indeed, Kentucky’s coronation proved premature. They’re good, but at least for now, not quite great. Last night was the first time all year they’ve failed a test, but as Sea of Blue mentions, it was also one of the first times this team’s been tested, in general. For in-depth, bullet point analysis of the game and Kentucky’s players last night, click here to head to A Sea Of Blue.