2015 NCAA Tournament: #1 Kentucky Wildcats 64, #8 Cincinnati Bearcats 51 – It’s Over

The Cincinnati Bearcats fell to the unbeaten Kentucky Wildcats 64-51 this afternoon in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

We knew coming into this game that it would be a tough road to the Sweet 16 going through the Wildcats. The toughest, even. Kentucky is not only undefeated but has been barely tested all year. With guards as tall as 6’5″ and that only ratcheting up as you move through the lineup to the forwards, the Wildcats do what Cincinnati does, only better. Namely, crash passing and driving lanes and contest every single shot with their long arms.

So it was encouraging that the Bearcats didn’t allow Kentucky to gain a lead until 8:32 to go in the first half. The game plan was simple; reduce possessions. The slower and more methodically UC played offensively, the less fast break points off turnovers they allowed the Wildcats. And it worked! Cincinnati ran with Kentucky for the better part of the first 18 minutes until John Calipari unleashed the wolves, wrestling away a 7 point lead at halftime.

Then the Wildcats and their army of five-star recruits and future NBA players leaned on the outgunning Bearcats. Cincinnati was never able to close the deficit to less than five. UC simply couldn’t out-talent UK. Few teams can, and they came up short today.

That’s really the story of the game. In their usual nature, Cincinnati fought and clawed every second trying to keep pace with the Wildcats. They ran onto the court with the mindset of a team who was the #1 team in the country instead of one who was facing said team. The Bearcats simply didn’t have the horses to win this race.

So goes it sometimes.

There are far worse ways to end the season than being knocked off by the best college basketball team in the last decade. Cincinnati will surely build on this experience as the prepare to make a Final Four run next season. And, yes, they’ll be positioned to make such in a run in the 2016 NCAA Tournament.

The Bearcats lose only Jermaine Sanders to graduation. The core of this team returns including Troy Caupain, Gary Clark, and Octavius Ellis. Plus Mick Cronin should return to the sidelines. There’s no doubt in my mind they can absolutely make their first Final Four in over two decades.

November can’t get here soon enough.