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Really? Seriously? Did this team really just earn a Final Four trip? If you would've told me that this was even possible a month ago I would've just simply laughed at you as would've most Kentucky fans.
Not only did this team play their ass off and EARN a Final Four trip, but they did it with three straight Final Four caliber performances against Final Four caliber teams.
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little too tore up to write much, but I will say this. Yes Aaron Harrison hit some of the biggest shots in UK tournament history and without them we don't make it past the first weekend. However, enough cannot be said about the performance of one Mr. Marcus Lee.
I never, in my wildest dreams would have thought this kid would have came up as big as he did today. He literally kept the Cats in the game in the first half and played some excellent defense to boot. Unbelievable doesn't even come close to describing his performance. Congratulations to the young man...
Here are some of the reactions from Twitter...
(even the ref is scared of Andrew)
@GreggDoyelCBS: Lot louder for UK because there's a lot more UK fans here. On press row we're saying 75-25 or so, Kentucky.
@GreggDoyelCBS: Volume edge for Kentucky fans. Maybe 70-30? Not sure about actual butts in seats. But UK got a much bigger roar out of the locker room.
@YahooForde: Sorry for Cauley-Stein he's hurt. Bright, interesting young man.
@NextCats: It's Aaron Harrison on Michigan sharpshooter Nik Stauskas early.
@GoodmanESPN: GR3 has come to play.
@DanWolken: Calipari not messing around. Quick timeout after the turnover and transition bucket by Michigan, which leads 6-2.
@GreggDoyelCBS: Kentucky is trying to beat Michigan with Dakari Johnson. With predictable results.
@ryanlemond: Cal yanking Dakari out. Screamed "2 mental breakdowns!"
@BDawsonRivals: You'd see Willie Cauley-Stein right now, normally. Johnson struggling at both ends.
@NextCats: Aaron Harrison left Nik Stauskas, who buries the forest three of the game. Michigan up 9-2.
@GottliebShow: Kentucky is all screwed up on ball screen defense-- need to figure it out quick
@NextCats: Marcus Lee is about to check into the game.
@vaughtsviews: Calipari telling his guys just to settle down after another turnover
@rickbozich: That was Marcus Lee's first basket since Feb. 22.
@GoodmanESPN: Marcus Lee can play, folks. Top 50 recruit who could wind up in the NBA someday.
@KYHoopsBuzz: Is Marcus Lee the newest tweak?
@MrsTylerKSR: It's Marcus Lee's world and we're just living in it.
@ryanlemond: Cal is almost laughing after lee 3rd slam
@ryanlemond: Cal asked andrew 3 times when he came out "why you ball stopping?"
@JDrumUK: Randle's a mess right now. Cal sees it and gets him out for some clarity.
@vaughtsviews: Big call there. Andrew, Cal and UK fans thought he was set to take the charge
@vaughtsviews: One thing about this UK team is that it has played from behind so much, it doesn't panic. Body language fine, including Calipari
@JoeCrawford5: Young getting buckets
@Megan_Dills: MARCUS LEE
@GreggDoyelCBS: Marcus Lee coming to a mock draft near you.
@GoodmanESPN: That was one hell of a 20 minutes. Tie game at the break.
@KyleTucker_CJ: Randle bucket before the buzzer and he goes nuts (as do UK's fans). HALFTIME: Michigan 37, Kentucky 37. Classics on classics on classics.
SECOND HALF:
@YahooForde: Kentucky is just waylaying Michigan inside. Wolverines will need to make a lot of threes to counteract the interior mismatch.
@rexchapman: AP!
@KyleTucker_CJ: It sure is starting to feel like this Kentucky team has destiny riding shotgun.
@MedcalfByESPN: Guessing Calipari will play Marcus Lee soon. I'm told he's still changing in the phone booth.
@GoodmanESPN: Kentucky looks baffled against the 1-3-1.
@MattMayKY: Nik Stauskas getting the Michael Jordan treatment today.
@KyleTucker_CJ: Hawkins and Calipari (especially) beside themselves after foul call against Stauskas.
@Megan_Dills: Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
@awireman: Two great plays by Levert...except that they were both fouls.
@KyleTucker_CJ: Mr. Big Shot, Aaron Harrison, gives UK the lead again, 58-55. And takes a charge. Cats' ball, 7:36.
@GreggDoyelCBS: Kentucky has been in three of the best games of the tournament. Maybe top three.
@Enes_Kanter: #GoCats #bbn4life
@rexchapman: STOPS!!!!!
@JoeCrawford5: Randle so strong that refs sometimes don't give him calls he should get.
@ryanlemond: All players & all fans on their feet and loud at this timeout. You fell it coming....
@markcstory: Attendance: 33.551
@vaughtsviews: Two big plays by Randle. Man's follow and block. UK up 60-55
@GoodmanESPN: That's another HUGE shot from Aaron Harrison.
@rickbozich: back to back to back epic games from Kentucky.
@YahooForde: Big answer by Michigan. Kentucky in a third straight donnybrook
@GreggDoyelCBS: Dan Dakich wanders over from court side seat and says, "Do you know how good you gotta be to play in this game?" We're all lucky to be here.
@YahooForde: This is great basketball
@GoodmanESPN: This game has been insane.
@HoopsRecruiting: This game is absurd.
@johnclayiv: For one of few times in tournament, Kentucky couldn't get the rebound.
@UKAthletics: Aaron Harrison hits a 3 with 2.3 seconds left to give UK a 75-72 lead!
@Bigjorts55: That boy is the truth!!!!!! Yes sir big shot
@GreggDoyelCBS: Aaron Harrison tried not to smile after that long 3. Tried. Tried. Tried. Failed. Smiled and ran off court.
@YahooForde: Aaron Harrison has just made four unbelievable shots in four minutes. WOW
@EVargas30: Let go big blue!!!!!
@TreyMambaLyles: #BBN Let's GO!!
@Drerid: Boom!!!
@chadfordinsider: Kentucky in the Final Four. NBA scouts quickly re-evaluating this UK team same way everyone else is. Sometimes it just take time.
@buzzbaker: The job that @UKCoachCalipari did down the stretch-- off the chain!
@DanWolken: Three Final Fours in five years for Calipari. That's pretty good.
@ericcrawford: Wichita State, Louisville, Michigan - each took a major play in the final minute, #UK earned its way to Dallas.
@KAzubuike7: Wow what a game! Final Four Kentucky!! #BBN
@dreamsmooth: Turnt!!!!!!!! They did that shit!!!
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