Bigger is better

Whew. Now that was a night. The Champions Classic showdowns delivered drama, Marquette hung tough on the road, Syracuse finally got a W against a regional nemesis, Creighton couldn’t stop scoring, and UC Irvine pulled off a huge upset.

Let’s break it all down.

1. ‘Big boy basketball’ carries Kansas past Kentucky

Turns out size does matter. Especially when the other team doesn’t have a center.

Hunter Dickinson’s 27-point, 21-rebound night was not only a rarity vs. Kentucky, it provided No. 1 Kansas with a safety valve on a night when it sorely needed it.

The No. 17 Wildcats nearly ran and shot the Jayhawks out of the United Center on Tuesday night during the Champions Classic. They made 9-of-18 from beyond the arc in the first half, and were practically unguardable with their small — and blazing fast — lineup that turned Tuesday into a track meet with 83 (!) possessions (the D-I average thus far is 71).

Freshman Rob Dillingham was a revelation. Kansas couldn’t match his start-stop speed (not sure anyone can except Dug McDaniel), and he was fearless from the floor, catching fire late in the first half when Kentucky flipped a deficit into a 12-point lead.

Then two things happened: UK coach John Calipari subbed off Dillingham (more on that in a bit), and Dickinson hit two free throws and a last-second 3 before half, a sign of what was to come in the second when Kansas leaned on the big guy again and again.

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