The first time Indiana played Kentucky,Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had the defensive assignment on Jordan Hulls.
The combination of a seven-inch height advantage and length at the point of attack made it difficult for Hulls to feed Cody Zeller in the post. Hulls did manage to score 11 points and hit 3-of-6 3-pointers but Kidd-Gilchrist also forced him into five turnovers.
When the Kentucky freshman was asked Thursday if he was concerned at all about Hulls' quick release and ability to hunt 3-point shots off of high ball screens, Kidd-Gilchrist just shook his head.
"I haven't watched no film on him," Kidd-Gilchrist said. "I just play defense. I'm not worried about him. I'm just worried about us. I'm not worried about Indiana at all."
In Kidd-Gilchrist's defense, none of the Kentucky players watch game film. They haven't done it all year and they're not about to start now. Assistant coach John Robic breaks down the opposing teams tapes and gives the players detailed scouting reports.
But there was an underlying theme on the Kentucky (34-2) side heading into today's Sweet 16 rematch against Indiana (27-8): the Wildcats aren't worried.
Freshman center Anthony Davis was asked if it gives him extra motivation playing against a good freshman center like Zeller, who leads his team in scoring and rebounding. He said not so much.
"I just go out there and play," Davis said. "It doesn't matter who I'm facing. I just go out there and do what I have to do to make my team win. I'm pretty sure he's going to do the same. We just have to go out there and play."
Kidd-Gilchrist said he doesn't look at the game in terms of revenge for Indiana's 73-72 victory in December. He said he never really thought about it when the brackets were released either. He said it never crossed his mind.
"It's just another game, another game on the calendar," Kidd-Gilchrist said. "I'm not a big fan of Indiana basketball. I didn't know much about Indiana before (I came here)."
Indiana may not have Kentucky attention, but many believe the Hoosiers could be a dangerous team at this point in the tournament.
Count New Mexico coach Steve Alford in that company. Alford stood in the Portland, Ore. airport Sunday and conveyed that very point.
"They can make shots and you have to guard every player in their lineup," Alford said. "Teams that can consistently make shots can get hot this time of the year."
The first time they played, when Christian Watford hit the shot that was heard around the college basketball world, the Hoosiers hit just 43.1 percent from the field and committed 18 turnovers. But having Assembly Hall as a sixth man carried them through in a 73-72 victory.
IU will need to be much more proficient shooting this time against a Wildcats team that has won 26 of 27 games since losing to the Hoosiers Dec. 10 in Bloomington.
"I think the ability to score multiple ways is really the biggest differentiator when you get to this point," said CBS television analyst Clark Kellogg, who will call the IU-Kentucky game along with Jim Nantz Friday night.
"I think the teams that stagnate are the teams that have trouble scoring. You have to be able to score, and if you can shoot it, that can cover up a lot of holes. And there are not a lot of teams in the country that are as good at shooting the basketball as Indiana."
IU ranks sixth in the nation in field goal percentage at 49.1 percent. The Hoosiers are second in the nation in 3-point shooting at 43.7 percent. The first time the teams played, IU made 9-of-15 3-pointers including a stretch where it hit seven in a row. The Hoosiers average 6.4 3-pointers per game.
Kentucky coach John Calipari didn't remember how many 3-pointers the Hoosiers hit the first time they played but he did recall the final one that went in.
"I know they made one really good shot at the end of the game because I've seen it on a commercial about every 15 minutes," Calipari said. "Look, if they take 20 3s (tonight) and they make 11 or 12, it's going to be a hard game for us. That's just how it is.
-southbendtribune
