The play, up until the very end, was nothing out of the ordinary for Nerlens Noel. Following a turnover, the freshman forward furiously pursued Florida guard Scottie Wilbekin. Making up ground with his long strides and characteristic hustle in the open court, Noel saved a sure basket with his 106th block of the season. But that’s when things took a turn.
After landing awkwardly around the basket support, Noel lay in visible pain clutching his left knee. He remained on the floor for a few minutes, receiving medical attention from Kentucky’s training staff. Eventually, he was carried off the floor by his teammates in a moving display of camaraderie in the face of awful circumstances.
“We’re all brothers,” said Julius Mays. “Win, lose or draw, we always got each other’s back.”