Rematch Is a Rout as Kentucky Rolls

Derek Anderson scored a career-high 25 points as No. 8 Kentucky turned the rematch of last April’s NCAA championship game into an 87-53 rout of No. 12 Syracuse at the Great Alaska Shootout at Anchorage, Alaska.

“It wasn’t a rematch at all. It was a made-for-TV game,” Pitino said. “We’re two totally different basketball teams, and we’re both going to grow. It was just our night tonight.”

Jamaal Magloire had 16 points for Kentucky (1-1), who handed Syracuse its worst loss in 33 years and the worst loss ever under Coach Jim Boeheim.

“They’re one of the four or five best teams in the country. We’re not there yet,” Boeheim said.

Otis Hill had 17 points and a game-high 16 rebounds for the Orangemen (1-1). Syracuse forward Todd Burgan, playing while appealing a seven-game suspension imposed for violating student conduct rules, scored three points.

Magloire, Jared Prickett and Ron Mercer each pulled down eight rebounds for Kentucky.

“Obviously they weren’t happy with their first game,” Boeheim said. “They came back ready to play. We didn’t.”

Pitino said his squad refused to get outworked and Kentucky’s suffocating defense and crisp passing had the Orangemen on their heels from the outset. Kentucky’s full-court press forced Syracuse into 13 turnovers in the first half and the Wildcats’ defense continually had the Orangemen making poor shot selections.

Leading by 22 points at halftime, the Wildcats pushed their lead to 38 points late in the second half, long after most of the starters had been pulled by Kentucky Coach Rick Pitino.

When the two teams met last April, Kentucky won the national championship, 76-67.

Kentucky took the lead for good three minutes into the game on Nazr Mohammed’s layup, which ignited a 21-7 run over the next six minutes that put the Wildcats in control.

The Orangemen closed to 32-24 with four minutes left in the half before Anderson made consecutive three-point baskets and Allen Edwards and Mercer made jumpers in a 10-0 run.

Anderson made four of his six three-point attempts and finished the first half with 17 points.

Syracuse made only one of 11 three-point attempts and shot 30% from the field.