As Many Predicted, Kentucky's Julius Randle Headed to the Allure, that is the Lottery of the NBA Draft

Kentucky’s Julius Randle declares for NBA draft

NCAAB

Contributions from +Sports Illustrated
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+Kentucky Wildcats star Julius Randle has announced that he will be leaving school after one year and entering the +NBA draft.

It had been widely assumed that the Wildcats’ leading scorer would be headed for the professional ranks after just one season in the NCAA, but the forward confirmed the move on his Twitter account Tuesday and discussed his decision at a press conference shortly afterwards.

Julius Randle led Kentucky to the national championship game as a freshman. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

UConn's Veterans Outlast Tough, Physical Title Game, top Kentucky

Veteran UConn beats Kentucky's youngsters for School's Fourth NCAA title

ARLINGTON, TEXAS —

Shabazz Napier scored 22 points and +UConn won its second NCAA title in four years, beating all those +Kentucky Wildcats Athletics freshmen 60-54 in the championship game Monday night.

Napier is among three UConn seniors who were part of the Huskies' 2011 title. That trio stayed after coach Jim Calhoun's retirement even when the Huskies were ineligible for the NCAA tournament last season.

They came back strong in coach Kevin Ollie's second season, and the Huskies (32-8) went all the way to their fourth overall title.

Kentucky (29-11), with five freshmen starters, never led in the championship game.

The Wildcats missed 11 of 24 free throws, while the Huskies were perfect on 10 tries.

The beginning of the game was marked by missed shots and turnovers, neither team seeming interested in taking control. That changed with little more than four minutes off the clock, when Napier stole the ball and was fouled, and UConn came out of a timeout on a 7-0 run that took less than two minutes.

From there, the Huskies built the lead to 17-8 before a Kentucky timeout, again got it up to 24-12 on a Napier 3 pointer with 8:33 to play in the half, then made it 30-15 with six minutes to go in the half.

However, Kentucky maintained its composure, began making baskets and outscored UConn 16-5 to end the half and trim the lead to just 35-31 at intermission.

During an on-air interview at halftime, Calipari said his team opened nervous, and that he stressed to his young squad that its late run kept the game well within reach.

“We could have been down 20. We have a chance to win this,” the Kentucky coach said he told his players.

Indeed, his team looked like it received the message, Aaron Harrison hitting a 3-pointer in the opening seconds of the second half to make it a one-point game.

Kentucky would climb within one on several other occasions, but would never take the lead in the game.

A thunderous dunk by Kentucky’s James Young looked like it could be the play that would finally kick the Wildcats into high gear, his throw-down over a pair of Connecticut defenders drawing Amida Brimah’s fourth foul and, with the free throw, making the score 48-42.

The energized ’Cats would draw within one at 48-47, but back-to-back 3’s by Napier and Niels Giffey quickly made it a seven-point game again.

Five Factors that Decided Outcome of UConn's Title

Eighth-seeded Kentucky vs. seventh-seeded UConn was the highest seed total to play for the title since they started putting numbers by the names back in 1979. The Wildcats, who missed March Madness last year, entered the game having not lost a tournament game since the 2011 semifinal against UConn — winning it all in 2012 and missing the tournament last season.

It's Kentucky going for its ninth national title and second in three years, with an almost completely rebuilt roster from 2012. It's the way coach John Calipari does it, like it or not, and it hasn't all been easy sailing. The team that was ranked first in the preseason poll fell out of it completely for the start of March Madness.

Only then, did the Wildcats start playing to their potential.

Kentucky reached the brink of an NCAA title with five freshman starters, including the cool right hand of Aaron Harrison and his decisive 3-pointers in three straight games.

Connecticut got to Monday night's championship game behind a pair of starters with Final Four experience, and a strong dose of defense.

''There's a lot of different ways to play this game and there's a lot of different ways to teach it and coach it and play it,'' Calipari said before the game. ''My whole thing is I'm coaching the hand that's dealt.''

Calipari's hand contained plenty of aces, and now he will once again face the annual question of how many will still be there after the NBA draft. Julius Randle, who played for the title in the Dallas area he calls home, seems the most likely to make the jump.

Aaron Harrison certainly received a lot of attention after last-second 3s to beat Michigan and Wisconsin and another late shot from long range that put the Wildcats in front of defending national champion Louisville.

Seniors Napier and Giffey also had roles on the Huskies' national title team in 2011.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW COLLEGE HOOPS FINAL - UCONN vs KENTUCKY

What you need to know for the Kentucky vs. UConn national championship game

By SCOTT GLEESON 8 hours ago

ARLINGTON, Texas – Bracket experts, media analysts and office pool juggernauts certainly didn’t expect these two teams to be in the national championship game. The players and coaches at Kentucky and UConn aren’t surprised much, go figure.

“I don’t think we were a No. 8 seed and I don’t think Connecticut was a No. 7 seed,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said.

These teams have had their inconsistencies, but their routes to Monday’s title game highlight the unexpectedness of the NCAA tournament and the maturation of two fiery teams. This game will come down to Xs and Os, sure, but the key to understanding these teams is simple: Resiliency and togetherness have got them here.

“I know we are fighters,” UConn coach Kevin Ollie said. “Dark times is what promotes you.”

Game Time: 9:10 p.m. ET

Location: Arlington, Texas

TV: CBS

Analysis: Who has the edge? Here’s a video breakdown and key factors for UConn and Kentucky.

How the Wildcats (29-10, 12-6) got here: Beat Kansas State, Wichita State, Louisville, Michigan, Wisconsin.

How the Huskies (21-8, 12-6) got here: Beat Saint Joseph’s, Villanova, Iowa State, Michigan State, Florida.

BACKCOURT

Key Kentucky players: Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, James Young

Key UConn players: Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright, Niels Giffey

Advantage goes to: UConn. Napier and Boatright are arguably the best backcourt tandem in the country, and they undoubtedly have been the best in this NCAA tournament. Napier has ability to take over games offensively, but it was the duo’s defense that made the difference in the Huskies’ victory against top-ranked Florida. They held SEC Player of the Year Scottie Wilbekin to four points — which caused the Gators to completely unravel offensively. If they can put a similar defensive lockdown on Andrew and Aaron Harrison — forcing turnovers and bad shots— that can be the ultimate edge. Young, who paced Kentucky with 17 points against Wisconsin, could be the X-Factor. His length and athleticism will be tough for even Napier and Boatright to guard. And Aaron Harrison obviously wins the clutch award for his back-to-back game-winners, but Napier has been the definition of clutch this season. Giffey is a big-time glue guy to keep an eye on for Connecticut.

FRONTCOURT

Key Kentucky players: Julius Randle, Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress

Key UConn players: Phillip Nolan, DeAndre Daniels, Amida Brimah

Advantage goes to: Kentucky. For all of the love Aaron Harrison and James Young have been getting for their backcourt heroics, it’s important to remember Kentucky wouldn’t be positioned to win if it weren’t for Randle, the Wildcats’ most consistent offensive force all season. His pitbull-like aggressiveness could be tough for Connecticut to handle. Daniels was the Huskies’ best player against Florida, finishing with a double-double (20 points and 10 rebounds). He’ll need a similar performance to keep UConn in the mix. Nolan and Brimah both had four fouls against Florida, and they’ll need to stay out of foul trouble against an athletically gifted, deep Kentucky frontcourt that got huge contributions from Johnson and Poythress vs. Wisconsin.

BENCH

Advantage goes to: Kentucky. The Wildcats got a much-needed boost from Marcus Lee in the win against Michigan, but the freshman wasn’t as effective in 10 minutes against Wisconsin. Poythress is a great sixth man who plays starter minutes, doing the little things to help win games — evidenced by his eight points and seven boards in 29 minutes vs. Wisconsin. Terrence Samuel had some big buckets for UConn against Florida, but the Huskies aren’t particularly deep. That could be an area that gets exposed.

COACHING

Advantage goes to: Ollie. Surprised by that answer? Calipari has a ring and has done perhaps his best coaching job in getting this initially undisciplined team to the title game. But Ollie’s leadership is the reason this Connecticut team has defied even bigger odds in beating national title favorites Florida and Michigan State en route to the championship game. He’s instilled the same chip-on-the-shoulder mentality he had as a player within his players.

“A lot of it has come from coach,” Boatright said of the team’s extra gear. “He played 13 years in the NBA, and he’s worked extremely hard for everything that he has. He’d be the first one to tell you that he wasn’t the most talented player. He just worked extremely hard and took a lot of pride in himself, and he instills that in us every day.”

(Graphics by Tim McGarry.)