Gamecocks take down #1!
Top-ranked Kentucky found out its got some growing up to do. And college basketball will most likely find a new No. 1. Devan Downey scored 30 points and South Carolina sent Kentucky to its first loss of the season 68-62 on Tuesday night. The Wildcats (19-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) moved atop the rankings this week for the first time since 2003. They were cautioned by no less a fan than President Barack Obama earlier Tuesday to keep their focus and play with the same passion that brought them to the top. The president or Kentucky didnt count on Downey, the SECs leading scorer to break the 30-point mark for the fourth time in six league games for South Carolina (12-8, 3-3). This is what happens when you have young guys who think were are going to win at the last minutes of the game, Kentucky coach John Calipari said. It has been Wildcat youngsters such as John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins that have fueled the programs best start in 44 years. South Carolina showed theres still a place for a couple of smart, savvy senior guards such as Downey and Brandis Raley-Ross. Raley-Ross had 17 points, the most hes scored in an SEC game this season as South Carolina won its third straight over Kentucky. Those guys are very talented, Downey said of the Wildcats. But theyre also freshmen and this was a hostile environment. The president said as much earlier Tuesday when he called to congratulate the Wildcats on raising more than million to help earthquake victims in Haiti, reminding …
I was right in the middle of it. I loved every moment of it.