The first block of the night came innocently enough, a short-armed swipe at Arkansas guard Rickey Scott’s layup with 7:55 left in the first half that was almost goaltending. It was one of Davis’ least impressive blocks of the season, but a block is a block, especially when it’s the 83rd of the season.
The second block of the night was more like all those that came before it, a full-extension swat of Arkansas guard BJ Young’s drive with 4:52 left in the first half.
Record set.
Davis was taken out of the game to a round of applause for breaking UK’s single-season blocks record.
“It was a great night,” Davis said.
Fittingly enough, minutes after being put back in, Davis ended the first half with a buzzer-beating block. He ended up with a 19-game total of 89 blocks.
“My teammates were talking about that already,” Davis said. “They were saying, ‘we’re not even halfway through the season and you broke the blocks record.’ It’s a great accomplishment, especially for a freshman.”
Said Terrence Jones, “It’s going to be a high record once the season’s over.”
Jones had five blocks himself for the night and — as usual — couldn’t eclipse the Block King (who did more than just block shots, scoring a career-high 27 points with 14 rebounds).
The freshman is a safety valve for UK under the goal, erasing mistakes and allowing UK’s top-notch defense to extend itself without worrying about getting beat. Even if Davis doesn’t actually block a shot, he often alters it or forces a tougher one.
“We know we can go out and pressure the ball,” Marquis Teague said. “If we get beat, he’s there to help us and clean it up for us.”
Jones said Davis’ instincts and ability to wait for an opponent to shoot — a skill that’s half natural and half acquired — make him a “special” player.
Opponents are finding out just how special. His reputation now precedes him, and he usually lives up to it. During the game, Arkansas guard Mardracus Wade said he heard Davis tell his teammates, “bring them in here. I’m going to block everything.”
Davis was pretty much spot on.
If there’s one thing basketball players don’t like to do, it’s get stuffed. Davis’ penchant for doing just that is intimidating.
“When they come to the hole and they got to shoot the ball,” Davis said, “it’s definitely on their mind: Where’s Anthony Davis?”
Usually, it seems like he’s everywhere.
Opponents couldn’t hide from him on the court.
The record books couldn’t hide from him either.
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Anthony Davis SHOULD stay all 4 years…Get a Degree, Date College Girls, Become the King Of Kentucky, Break all kinds of Kentucky Basketball and NCAA Basketball Records and do what hasn’t been done since Kareem Abdul Jabar. Anthony would Graduate with an NBA Body and Skills unmatched by Most if not All Basketball Players Worldwide. Historic, Legacy, Honor, Respect, Tradition, Admiration, Anthony Davis could be a better Player and A BETTER MAN if he STAYED and PLAYED. Good Things Are Worth Waiting For…GREAT THINGS ARE WORTH FIGHTING AND SACRIFICING FOR ! Anthony Davis, John Wooden would ask, ” Do you have Greatness “, ” Can You Visualize Basketball Immortality ” ? A.D., I see this opportunity for you and it is a Rare Opportunity, the timing in your Life is HERE…Do you have the Desire and Instincts to Act on this Glorious Opportunity…Or will you settle to become, just another 1st round, possibly #1 NBA Draft Pick, you do know there is one of those EVERY YEAR…But a Player like You, Anthony Davis, has an opportunity to do what only comes around every 50 years, ( Pistol Pete, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem, Bill Russell, Bill Walton, Michael Jordan)…The beautiful thing Anthony, is You and ONLY YOU can choose your Path. But Remember, Rarely does the OPPORTUNITY FOR GREATNESS ever exist, for ANYONE !!! Gallery721.com
this is the year u k is going to be one of the best teams in the ncaa. cal owes a lot of it to anthony davis .. he can block shots like one of the best i have ever seen.. i agree with larry he should stay 4 years at uk and break all kinds of records .. love uk basketball because all the team is doing really good this year … go cats !!!!