College hoops just aren't what they used to be.
Kentucky suffered its first loss of the season Thursday night when it fell to UCLA, 87-77, in a stunner at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. The Bruins improved to 5-3.
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UCLA was crushed by Kentucky last December by an 83-44 score, and led 41-7 at halftime. This season, however, with some of its top studs gone, it couldn't get the job done. The Bruins outworked the Wildcats and Kentucky had no answers for Thomas Welch, who put up 20 points and went 8-of-11 shooting, while chipping in 10 rebounds.
The Wildcats may be starting to feel their losses from last season. Karl-Anthony Towns (selected No. 1 overall by Timberwolves), Devin Booker (Suns), Aaron Harrison (Hornets) and his twin brother Andrew Harrison (Memphis Grizzlies' D-League affiliate Iowa Energy), Willie Cauley-Stein (Kings), Trey Lyles (Jazz) and Dakari Johnson (Thunder D-League affiliate Oklahoma City Blue) are among those who departed for the NBA Draft at the end of last season.
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Kentucky appeared to be fine to start the season, rattling off seven straight victories to become the No. 1 team, but this loss surely will resonate. It seemed as though Kentucky was going to roll, but their loss sucked the fun out of the college basketball season.
The Kentucky loss wasn't the only key defeat of the past week. No. 2 Maryland (6-1) was handed an 89-81 loss by North Carolina (6-1) on Tuesday.
Kentucky will look to bounce back when it takes on Eastern Kentucky (6-2) next Wednesday at home.
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