Wall Leads No. 4 Kentucky Past Miami, Ohio 72-70

Kentucky coach John Calipari looked up at the clock after Miami of Ohio tied the fourth-ranked Wildcats with six seconds left and wondered if he should call timeout.

Kentucky's John Wall drives past Miami of Ohio's Kenny Hayes during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

(AP)

John Wall didn't give him a chance.

The heralded Kentucky freshman quickly grabbed the inbounds pass, raced by his coach in a blur and pulled up from 15 feet.

Before Calipari could collect his thoughts, Wall's jumper was through the net to give the Wildcats a 72-70 win Monday night and Kentucky's newest superstar was running down the floor pounding his chest in joy.

"John Wall catching it and going, I loved it," Calipari said.

How could he not?

Wall finished with 19 points and five rebounds in his highly anticipated debut as the Wildcats (2-0) escaped the RedHawks (0-2).

Considered the top high school player in the country when he signed with the Wildcats last spring, Wall was forced to sit out Kentucky's season-opening win over Morehead State last week as part of an NCAA suspension for accepting improper benefits from his AAU coach.

He proved to be worth the wait. Wall's heroics prevented Miami from joining Gardner-Webb and Virginia Military Institute as November giant killers at Rupp Arena.

Urged by Calipari to "go make a play," Wall responded with the kind of heroics expected when he signed with the Wildcats last spring.

"I was kind of nervous," Wall admitted.

He didn't look it. Wall zoomed down the left side of the floor and — seeing four RedHawks packing the lane — opted for the jumper he'd been working on with assistant coach Rod Strickland.

"When it hit the bottom of the net, it was a relief, a great feeling," Wall said.

One that replaced the anxiety that permeated the arena after the RedHawks took an 18-point lead in the first half. The only person who didn't seem to panic was Calipari, who said he wanted his talented but inexperienced team to be tested early in the year.