Santa had already come and gone, but it was Nick Richards that was dolling out the blue-and-white Christmas gifts a few days ahead of the new year. Playing in arguably the biggest game of his time at Kentucky, the misunderstood junior gave Wildcat fans the best possible gift: a career-night against the program’s most-hated rival.
Richards finished the 78-70 overtime win with 13 points – seven of them coming in the extra period – and 10 rebounds on 4-6 shooting from the field while knocking down five important free throws throughout the afternoon. He did all of this while playing the final 14 minutes of action – plus the five minutes in overtime – with four fouls.