Kentucky vs. North Carolina score, takeaways: Wildcats rout Tar Heels for an easy win in CBS Sports Classic

No. 21 Kentucky handed UNC an embarrassing loss Saturday in Las Vegas to win the CBS Sports Classic

No. 21 Kentucky made a bold statement about its national relevance with a 98-69 win over North Carolina on Saturday in the CBS Sports Classic as the Wildcats (8-2) notched their first win over a power conference opponent this season in emphatic fashion. UK shot 66.7% from the floor in the second half and 54.2% for the game as point guard Sahvir Wheeler poured in a game-high 26 points and dished out eight assists.

Armando Bacot led the Tar Heels (8-3) with 22 points on 8 of 13 shooting, but he didn't get much help on the perimeter. The Tar Heels made just 1 of 13 attempts from 3-point range after entering ranked seventh nationally in 3-point shooting at 40.9% for the season.

UNC staged a rally late in the first half to cut its halftime deficit to 40-29 after it trailed by 18, but Kentucky quickly squashed any thoughts of a comeback in the second half as Wheeler took over the game with his shifty ball-handling and ability penetrate off the dribble. He fell just one point short of matching his career high, which he set while playing for Georgia last season.

Transfer party

Kentucky loaded up on veterans via the transfer portal during the off season, snagging four players who had proven productive at their previous stops to bolster a roster that struggled under the weight of youth last season. Iowa transfer CJ Fredrick, a 3-point marksman, is likely out for the season with a hamstring injury, but the other three new transfers thrived Saturday. Wheeler, Oscar Tshiebwe (West Virginia) and Kellan Grady (Davidson) combined to score 60 points. 

Grady's 18 points on just eight attempts from the floor marked his most-productive outing since the second game of the season. Tshiebwe also collected a team-high 12 rebounds to go with his 16 points, despite playing just 22 minutes after sitting the final 12:37 of the first half with two fouls. It was his eighth double-double in 10 games this season.

Outside shooting reversal

There was a glaring statistical difference between those teams entering the game. Kentucky ranked 291st in 3-point percentage at 30.2%. UNC, by contrast, was hitting 40.9% of its 3-point attempts, which was seventh nationally. But the roles were reversed Saturday, as Kentucky was 8 of 15 mark from 3-point range and UNC just 1 of 13.

UK's hot shooting from the outside -- and from the floor in general -- underscored North Carolina's defensive issues. After allowing 83.8 points per game in their first five games, the Tar Heels had allowed just 58 points per game over their last five contests entering Saturday. That stretch included a 72-51 win over Michigan.

But whatever strides the Tar Heels made defensively in recent weeks were seemingly erased in their worst defensive showing yet against the Wildcats.

Rebounding woes

Kentucky entered with the nation's best offensive rebounding percentage, according to KenPom.com. But North Carolina ranked second nationally in limiting opponents on the offensive glass. That made for a fascinating matchup on the glass, which the Wildcats dominated. Kentucky pulled down 17 offensive boards and converted them into a 15-6 edge in second-chance points. Tshiebwe is one of the nation's top rebounders, but he got help on the offensive glass as Wheeler, TyTy Washington, Jacob Toppin and Keion Brooks each pulled down two offensive rebounds apiece.

In essence, UNC failed in both 3-point shooting and defensive rebounding, which were the two statistical categories in which it was elite entering the game. With not even serviceable defense to fall back upon, the Tar Heels wilted.

[Dec 18, 2021 at 7:44 pm ET · David Cobb]

Dominant effort

Final: No. 21 Kentucky 98, North Carolina 69

Kentucky just outright dominates a UNC team that has some serious defensive flaws to figure out. The Tar Heels could not stop Sahvir Wheeler off the dribble. They won't go 1 for 13 from outside very often, but even if they'd been hitting shots from the outside, they weren't going to win this game playing defense like that. Big win for the Wildcats, who finally have a victory against a quality foe after feasting on overmatched teams to this point.

[Dec 18, 2021 at 7:24 pm ET · David Cobb]

Defensive relapse

UNC appeared to be making some progress in recent games after a terrible defensive start to the season. But as Kentucky continues torching the Tar Heels in this second half, it's clear they still have a lot of work to do in that realm. Kentucky has turned it over just six times and has been lights out from the field in the second half.

[Dec 18, 2021 at 7:17 pm ET · David Cobb]

Transfer party

Transfers Sahvir Wheeler, Kellan Grady and Oscar Tshiebwe are leading the way for the Wildcats with a combined 53 points as UK leads it 80-52 at the u8 timeout. This is an absolutely beatdown. Throw in a combined 11 points from Davion Mintz and Jacob Toppin, who were incoming transfers last season, and you've got a transfer party for the Wildcats.

[Dec 18, 2021 at 7:08 pm ET · David Cobb]

Wheeler's world

Sahvir Wheeler is up to 24 points, and Kentucky leads it 67-46 at the u12 timeout. On the positive front for UNC, the Tar Heels finally have a 3-point make courtesy of Brady Manek. Tar Heels now 1 of 9 from beyond the arc. UK's 16-8 edge in points off turnovers and 11-6 lead in second-chance points stand out.

[Dec 18, 2021 at 6:54 pm ET · David Cobb]

Unstoppable Wheeler

Sahvir Wheeler. Ladies and gentlemen, he is unstoppable. The smallest guy on the floor has 20 points and is 10 of 13 from the floor. Kentucky leads it 53-35 at the first timeout of the second half. Wildcats outscoring UNC 13-6 so far in the half as UNC remains without a single make from beyond the arc.

[Dec 18, 2021 at 6:49 pm ET · David Cobb]

Splash

Kellan Grady splashes one in from the corner on UK's first possession, and then Wheeler ties his season-high with a bucket on the next possession. Kentucky right back at it to start the second half. Wheeler has just been so dang crafty.

[Dec 18, 2021 at 6:40 pm ET · David Cobb]

PG battle

Sahvir Wheeler's season-high is 16 points, and that came back in the season-opener against Duke. Took him 15 shots to reach that mark. He's at. 14 points on 10 shots so far in this one. He 100% won the point guard battle in the first half as UNC sophomore Caleb Love struggled, going 0 for 5 without an assist. Love's been much-improved this season, but that's a rough half.

[Dec 18, 2021 at 6:34 pm ET · David Cobb]

Interesting case study in foul management

Armando Bacot played 17 minutes, despite picking up his second foul with 7:34 left in the first half. Oscar Tshiebwe picked up his second with 12:37 left and sat the rest of the half. Hubert Davis had little choice but to leave Bacot in, and he was able to feast without Tshiebwe in to defend him. So UNC wins that gamble. If Davis had sat Bacot, Kentucky might be winning by 20 right now.

[Dec 18, 2021 at 6:28 pm ET · David Cobb]

Tar Heels run?

UNC trying to put together a run here before the half. Armando Bacot is up to 17 points. Good grief. No answer for him with Tshiebwe on the bench. Hubert Davis is gambling by playing Bacot with two, but he doesn't have much choice.