| | by Chris Maynard ([email protected]) The latest edition of "Thursday Treasures" moves into the second National Semifinal of the 1997 NCAA Tournament, the reigning national champion Kentucky Wildcats versus the |
- surprising Minnesota Golden Gophers.
After frigid shooting performances during Arizona's 66-58 victory against North Carolina, would things heat up between the Wildcats and Golden Gophers?
Game Nuggets: Here are some interesting numbers heading into this game.
Talk about a contrast in terms of program histories in the NCAA Tournament.
While Minnesota was appearing in its first Final Four, Kentucky was appearing in its 12th Final Four (third all-time) in addition to boasting this tournament resume:
- 74 tournament wins (1st all-time).
- 38 tournament appearances (1st).
- 107 games (1st).
- 6 national championships (2nd).
This disparity in Final Four experience would be apparent early in the Minnesota-Kentucky game.
Kentucky Game Nuggets: Here are some key things to know about the Wildcats.
- In reaching the Final Four, Kentucky (the No. 1 seed in the West) faced the highest seed in all of its tournament games: No. 16 Montana, No. 8 Iowa, No. 4 St. Joseph's and No. 2 Utah.
- Kentucky's toughest tournament test came in the second round, a 75-69 victory against the Hawkeyes.
- Prior to the Elite Eight game against Utah, reserve guard Cameron Mills was leading the team in tournament scoring, after scoring just 6 points during Kentucky's 1995-1996 national championship team.
- Seeking back-to-back titles, this Kentucky team was much different than the Dazzlin' Dozen from a year before. Antoine Walker, Tony Delk, Mark Pope and Walter McCarthy were all gone from the 1996 title team, Jeff Sheppard was redshirting and Derek Anderson was out with injury, though Anderson would hit two technical free throws @48:21 during the Minnesota game.
- While Ron Mercer was an All-American in 1996/1997, the only returning starter from the 1996 title team was senior guard Anthony Epps. Mercer came off the bench as a freshman on the 1996 title team, as did starting point guard Wayne Turner.
- Kentucky was appearing in its 3rd Final Four in 5 years.
Minnesota Game Nuggets: Here is what you need to know about the Golden Gophers.
- Prior to the Minnesota-Kentucky game, Packer noted how Indiana head coach Bobby Knight had called Minnesota "the best Big Ten team to reach the Final Four in quite a long time."
- Minnesota's road to the Final Four was not as easy as Kentucky's. The Golden Gophers survived a double-overtime scare against Clemson in the Sweet Sixteen. Ironically, Clemson knocked off Kentucky at the RCA Dome in the first game of the 1996/1997 season.
- Minnesota only lost three times in the 1996/1997 regular season. One of those losses occurred at Alabama, another common opponent of Kentucky. The Wildcats beat Alabama by 14 on the road in February, 1997.
- Minnesota overcame a 10-point second-half deficit against UCLA in a great Elite game, with bench players Quincy Lewis, Charles Thomas and Miles Tarver having great performances. Tarver would have 9 rebounds in the Final Four while Lewis and Thomas would struggle big time.
- Minnesota head coach Clem Haskins was a Kentucky native who played in college at Western Kentucky. In 1967, he was the third overall pick of the Chicago Bulls. The next time the Bulls would have the third pick, Chicago would select North Carolina's Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA Draft.
A Bargain Find: Here's a quick summary of the game.
Minnesota started off quite shaky, turning the ball over 4 times in its first four possessions. Kentucky led by as much as 10 points in the first half, but Minnesota was able to hang around despite a terrible half, trailing by only five at the break. Minnesota came out with a surge in the second, and had a chance to tie the game at 45 when Courtney James was called for a questionable charge @47:47. Haskins went ballistic, throwing off his coat and earning a technical foul, with the foul shots shot by injured Kentucky star Derek Anderson. Kentucky would jump out to an eight-point lead following the technical before Minnesota went on a 11-3 run (including a 4:30 scoring drought for Kentucky), including a 52-51 lead as Bobby Jackson proved huge. Kentucky would rally behind 5 big points from Nazr Mohammed and pull away for a 78-69 victory as Minnesota's dream season came to an end.
Medal Winners: Awarding the top performers for both teams.
Kentucky Gold: Ron Mercer. While only shooting 7-for-21 from the field, Mercer finished with a team-high 19 points, including big buckets in the second half that helped stave off the rallying Golden Gophers.
Minnesota Gold: Bobby Jackson. Scoring a team-high 23 points, Jackson was the one player who didn't seem intimidated by the big stage.
Kentucky Silver: Anthony Epps. While also struggling from the field, Epps was a "winner," as Packer pointed out, having a strong overall game with 13 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.
Minnesota Silver: John Thomas. The senior center had 10 points and 8 boards, and helped rally the Gophers out of halftime in his final college game.
Kentucky Bronze: Nazr Mohammed. Coming off the bench, Mohammed had all 5 of his points during a key stretch in the second half that allowed Kentucky to hang on and advance to the title game.
Minnesota Bronze: Courtney James: The sophomore forward played a tough game with an efficient 8 points and 6 boards.
Kentucky Offensive Charms: Here are some nice plays by the Wildcats.
- @2:43 to @2:53, and @5:46 to @5:56, Kentucky's Anthony Epps shows his beautiful three point shooting stroke.
- @2:59 to @3:09, Ron Mercer scores on a beautiful spin move and floater on a 2-on-1 UK break. The replay of this gorgeous finish can be seen @3:23 to @3:40.
- @7:11 to @7:21, Kentucky senior Jared Prickett, fresh off the bench, uses a beautiful spin move to the baseline to make a layup.
- @8:47 to @8:57, Cameron Mills continues his hot shooting in the tournament by hitting a gorgeous three on his first attempt in the game.
- @13:09 to @13:19, Prickett scores off a nice offensive rebound and stick back.
- @17:12 to @17:22, and @19:32 to @19:42, Kentucky's Scott Padgett shows his beautiful stroke with two three pointers.
- @21:25 to @21:35, Mercer cans a corner jumper as Kentucky hits its sixth-straight bucket.
- @39:36 to @39:46, Mercer dunks the ball following a terrible turnover from Jacobson.
- @43:26 to @43:36, Mercer hits a big three for Kentucky as the Wildcats stave off the rallying Golden Gophers.
- @47:31 to @47:41, and @50:04 to @50:14, Mercer scores off a curl and then hits a tough fade.
- @1:01:09 to @1:01:19, Nazr Mohammed hits a nice hook to give Kentucky a 60-54 lead.
- @1:06:33 to @1:06:43, Padgett hits a big three to give Kentucky a 65-56 lead.
- @1:10:00 to @1:10:10, Mills cans a three-pointer for a 68-57 UK lead.
- @1:15:33 to @1:15:43, Mohammad scores a huge and-one.
Minnesota Offensive Charms: Here are some strong plays by the Golden Gophers.
Defensive Diamonds: Here are some stellar defensive plays, often from the Kentucky press.
Passing Pearls: Here are some nice dimes dropped throughout this game.
Coaching Charms: Here are some great coaching adjustments throughout the game.
Awesome Announcing: Here are some great insights from Billy Packer and Jim Nantz.
Cream of the Crop: While not having his best game, Mercer was the most explosive player on the floor, seemingly appearing to be a sure-thing at the next level, though Jackson would have a much better pro career.
- @6:10 to @6:20, Bobby Jackson uses a nice pump fake from the three-point line to get into the lane and make a much-needed layup for the Golden Gophers.
- @10:23 to @10:33, Jackson masterfully steps into a three-point shot, which hits nothing but net.
- @15:11 to @15:21, Sam Jacobson hits an incredible one-handed, high-arching floater over the outstretched hands of two Kentucky players, drawing an and-one.
- @21:07 to @21:17, and @21:36 to @21:46, Minnesota scores off the Kentucky press, with a nice layup from Jackson and a dunk from Courtney James, respectively.
- @30:31 to @30:41, Jackson draws a foul following an explosive drive to the basket.
- @31:49 to @31:59, and @34:21 to @34:31, Jacobson shows off his unbelievable scoring abilities, hitting a nice pull-up and beautiful fade, respectively.
- @37:44 to @37:54, Minnesota opens up the second half with a long, drawn-out possession that results in a Harris three.
- @38:12 to @38:22, John Thomas provides a spark early in the second half, with an offensive board and put back.
- @44:07 to @44:17, James tips in a miss to cut the Kentucky lead to 45-43.
- @51:52 to @52:01, Jacobson hits a shot that only Jacobson can hit, a high-arching jumper that temporarily quells the Kentucky run.
- @54:07 to @54:17, Jackson hits a "dipsy-do" reverse layup that is definitely the play of the game.
- @1:10:52 to @1:11:02, Charles Thomas hits a tough fadeaway on the block.
- @1:16:04 to @1:16:14, James notches a beautiful tip in.
Defensive Diamonds: Here are some stellar defensive plays, often from the Kentucky press.
- @7:23 to @7:33, Kentucky's vaunted press forces a Quincy Lewis double dribble.
- @17:20 to @17:30, the Kentucky press leads to a Ron Mercer floater.
- @33:11 to @33:21, an opportune Kentucky trap forces a steal from Bobby Jackson.
- @39:11 to @39:21, Kentucky's Jamaal Magloire swats a Jackson layup into the stands.
- @1:00:25 to @1:00:35, Epps steals the ball off the press and feeds Prickett for a gorgeous layup.
Passing Pearls: Here are some nice dimes dropped throughout this game.
- @12:51 to @13:01, Minnesota point guard Eric Harris breaks the Kentucky press, feeding Trevor Winter for a two-hand slam.
- @24:01 to @24:11, Lewis comes off a curl and hits John Thomas for a dunk, Minnesota's fifth dunk of the first half.
Coaching Charms: Here are some great coaching adjustments throughout the game.
- Early in the first half, with his Golden Gophers struggling to find footing, Clem Haskins throws the kitchen sink at Kentucky, going with 2-1-2 and 1-3-1 half-court defenses and then going to a full-court press himself.
- See the "Defensive Diamonds," specifically the Kentucky turnovers forced off the press, for an idea of how much havoc Pitino's pressure caused during this era of college basketball.
Awesome Announcing: Here are some great insights from Billy Packer and Jim Nantz.
- @5:15 to @5:35, Packer notes how this game is taking on the feel of the beginning of the Arizona-North Carolina game, especially with the up-and-down flow.
- @9:28 to @9:38, Packer notes how Kentucky is forcing the tempo of this game, just like victorious Arizona did in the first Final Four game.
- @23:07 to @23:40, Nantz and Packer call out the "woeful shooting" that is taking place thus far at the Final Four.
- @37:10 to @37:20, Nantz makes a great point with Minnesota trailing 36-31 at the half, saying that the Golden Gophers couldn't play any worse.
Cream of the Crop: While not having his best game, Mercer was the most explosive player on the floor, seemingly appearing to be a sure-thing at the next level, though Jackson would have a much better pro career.
Defensive Diamonds: Here are some stellar defensive plays, often from the Kentucky press.
Passing Pearls: Here are some nice dimes dropped throughout this game.
Coaching Charms: Here are some great coaching adjustments throughout the game.
Awesome Announcing: Here are some great insights from Billy Packer and Jim Nantz.
Cream of the Crop: While not having his best game, Mercer was the most explosive player on the floor, seemingly appearing to be a sure-thing at the next level, though Jackson would have a much better pro career.
- @7:23 to @7:33, Kentucky's vaunted press forces a Quincy Lewis double dribble.
- @17:20 to @17:30, the Kentucky press leads to a Ron Mercer floater.
- @33:11 to @33:21, an opportune Kentucky trap forces a steal from Bobby Jackson.
- @39:11 to @39:21, Kentucky's Jamaal Magloire swats a Jackson layup into the stands.
- @1:00:25 to @1:00:35, Epps steals the ball off the press and feeds Prickett for a gorgeous layup.
Passing Pearls: Here are some nice dimes dropped throughout this game.
- @12:51 to @13:01, Minnesota point guard Eric Harris breaks the Kentucky press, feeding Trevor Winter for a two-hand slam.
- @24:01 to @24:11, Lewis comes off a curl and hits John Thomas for a dunk, Minnesota's fifth dunk of the first half.
Coaching Charms: Here are some great coaching adjustments throughout the game.
- Early in the first half, with his Golden Gophers struggling to find footing, Clem Haskins throws the kitchen sink at Kentucky, going with 2-1-2 and 1-3-1 half-court defenses and then going to a full-court press himself.
- See the "Defensive Diamonds," specifically the Kentucky turnovers forced off the press, for an idea of how much havoc Pitino's pressure caused during this era of college basketball.
Awesome Announcing: Here are some great insights from Billy Packer and Jim Nantz.
- @5:15 to @5:35, Packer notes how this game is taking on the feel of the beginning of the Arizona-North Carolina game, especially with the up-and-down flow.
- @9:28 to @9:38, Packer notes how Kentucky is forcing the tempo of this game, just like victorious Arizona did in the first Final Four game.
- @23:07 to @23:40, Nantz and Packer call out the "woeful shooting" that is taking place thus far at the Final Four.
- @37:10 to @37:20, Nantz makes a great point with Minnesota trailing 36-31 at the half, saying that the Golden Gophers couldn't play any worse.
Cream of the Crop: While not having his best game, Mercer was the most explosive player on the floor, seemingly appearing to be a sure-thing at the next level, though Jackson would have a much better pro career.
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