Sunday, February 2, 2025

UConn Beats 1978 Kentucky (game) and 2025 Marquette (Real-life) and Best Defender (Mitchell)

After watching UConn overcome the greatest defender in college basketball today, Stevie Mitchell and the 25 turnovers forced by his Marquette team, I decided the next All-Time Sweet 16 game would be UConn's 2023 team against Kentucky's 1978 team. These are two of the greatest teams ever, not just over one year but multiple years. More on the UConn-Marquette clash at this CBS 247 site.

Starting with Bill Russell centers were the best defenders in basketball for years, but starting with the 3-point line's introduction, defensive value shifted from guarding the line to guarding space and forcing turnovers, and we show in the piece.

As for the Value Add Basketball Game, some de ja vu. UConn had an early stretch of 14 points in 5 trips down the court with Joey Calcaterra hitting two 3-pointers, and Jordan Hawkins hitting a 3 and then being fouled on a 3-pointer and hitting all three free throws. At that point UConn had a 39-27 lead. Unbelievably, UConn in the game turned the ball over 22 times (vs. the 25 against Marquette in the actual game) and scored the exact same 77 points.

However, all-time great Point Guard Kyle Macy took over, drawing fouls on Tristen Newton on three straight trips to give him 4 fouls with 17 minutes (28 possessions) to play and make UConn switch defenders. Macy scored a game-high 23 points and then put Kentucky on the verge of the comeback.

With 2:44 (5 possessions) to play Jack Givens hit a there to pull Kentucky within 71-66 and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but Rick Robey grabbed the rebound and was fouled, and hit one of two to make it 71-67. Macy then came up with a steal and hit a 3-pointer to make it 71-70.

However, they could get no closer, as 2023 UConn won 77-74 to advance to our all-time Elite 8. The other team already in the Elite 8 is the last undefeated team, the 1976 Indiana team. Below is the bracket followed by pictures of the scoresheet and set up for our UConn-Kentucky game.

We ranked UConn as the 2nd greatest dynasty in history and this Kentucky team as tied fir the 25th greatest dynasty in history in this post.








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