UNCW’s Siddle: UK nemesis as player and coach

• Myron Medcalf, ESPN Personnel WriterDec 2, 2023, 08:39 PM ET

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  • Covers college basketball
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2011
  • Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato

UNC Wilmington head coach Takayo Siddle guided his team to an 80-73 upset over No. 12 Kentucky on Saturday, a really familiar sensation for him.Sixteen years earlier

, Siddle scored eight points as a guard at Gardner Webb when his group upset Kentucky in Rupp Arena during the 2007-08 season.Siddle and Gardner Webb’s triumph over Kentucky was the school’s very first over a ranked team. UNC Wilmington’s roadway win over Kentucky protected its first over a ranked team.Before Saturday’s match, Siddle told ESPN he didn’t harp on the feat at Rupp Arena as a

player when he spoke to his group. But he did use it as inspiration. “One thing I told the guys about when we pulled it off [in 2007]

is that it’s going to be truly loud in there and, as we continue to respond, it’s going to get really peaceful in there and everybody is going to begin leaving early and that’s what took place,”Siddle informed ESPN after the win.”That’s when I had a déjà vu minute.” Versus Kentucky in 2007, the Wildcats, coached by Billy Gillispie, hadn’t lost a regular-season

game to a mid-major program in 6 years before they was up to Gardner Webb. On Saturday, Siddle’s team was an 18.5-point underdog, per ESPN BET.Kentucky’s loss capped a weekend filled with upsets amongst top 25 groups. On Saturday, No. 3 Marquette lost 75-64 at Wisconsin and No. 7 Duke suffered a

72-68 defeat at Georgia Tech. Also, Villanova lost its third Huge 5 game of the season in a 57-55 loss to Drexel at home.Per ESPN Stats & Details, Saturday was the first time in The Associated Press poll age that Duke, Kentucky and Villanova all lost to unranked opponents on the exact same day when they were all

ranked.Kentucky’s problem extended a wild 24 hr in college basketball. On Friday, Northwestern beat No. 1 Purdue 92-88 in overtime and No. 4 UConn suffered a 69-65 loss at Kansas. With its 82-55 win over Colgate on Saturday, No. 2 Arizona will likely be the No. 1 group when The Associated Press Top 25 survey is released on Monday.But UNC Wilmington’s success stood out in the middle of the chaos.On Thursday, UNC Wilmington lost at East Carolina 74-66. Siddle stated the loss humbled his team and helped it prepare for Saturday’s game.John Calipari’s squad lost control early. UNC Wilmington had a 38-24 edge after Nolan Hodge hit a 3-pointer with 2:55 to play in the very first half.Five minutes into the second

half, nevertheless, Kentucky took the lead, but Shykeim Phillips(13 points, six rebounds, four assists )made clutch plays and Trazarien White kept scoring(27 points, 10 rebounds )to help seal the win down the stretch for UNC Wilmington. Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard led his team with 25 points.Siddle stated White and Phillips helped his

team keep its composure as Kentucky resisted in the second half.”I thought our upperclassmen, Phillips and White, they have actually remained in huge moments with me a lot,”Siddle stated.”I thought they did a really great job relaxing everyone down and making certain we performed as a group.”After the game, Siddle said he reflected on the moment he attained as a player while he celebrated as a head coach. He said his group remembered his pregame message about the possibility of an upset.”They do not wish to hear about my splendor days, “he said.”It was so long ago. My primary message was ‘It can happen, however you simply got ta think it can happen.’ “