It wasn't an opportune time for Jabari Parker to be a bit off, but his status is secure.
Rick Pitino and John Calipari wouldn't have been at the UIC Pavillion otherwise Thursday night to witness another major Division I rescuing Simeon from a potential disaster.
Simeon looked for Kendrick Nunn to lift it out of its early doldrums, and the 6-foot-1 junior delivered with 19 points as the No. 1 Wolverines trailed Young for most of the first half before pulling away for a 62-55 victory before an estimated crowd of 6,000 that also included Derrick Rose and Kentucky's Anthony Davis.
A tough night for Parker still meant 15 points, six rebounds and five blocks. Steve Taylor added 16 points for Simeon (8-0), and 6-10 sophomore Jahlil Okafor (20 points, 7 rebounds) was outstanding in defeat for Young (4-2).
"(Nunn) was hot so we wanted to make sure we got him the ball," Simeon coach Robert Smith said. "He kind of carried us tonight, which is good for this team if we can just reach down and it's Kendrick this day, it's been Jabari, it's been Stevie."
"Stevie made some big plays down the stretch, which we need, because everybody's going to be keying in on Jabari."
The Wolverines appeared ready to pull away when the Marquete-bound Taylor opened the second half with a 3-pointer and Nunn followed with five straight points, but Okafor kept the Dolphins in it until the end.
Simeon (8-0) led by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter, but Young pulled within three on two free throws by Paul White with 1 minute, 28 seconds left.
Then Jaylon Tate fed Taylor for a layup, and Taylor split added two free throws to make it 56-50 with 48.6 seconds left.
Player of the game: Kendrick Nunn, Simeon, 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists.
Key performers: Simeon — Steve Taylor, 16 points. Jabari Parker, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks. Young — Jahlil Okafor, 20 points, 7 rebounds.
Rick Pitino and John Calipari wouldn't have been at the UIC Pavillion otherwise Thursday night to witness another major Division I rescuing Simeon from a potential disaster.
A tough night for Parker still meant 15 points, six rebounds and five blocks. Steve Taylor added 16 points for Simeon (8-0), and 6-10 sophomore Jahlil Okafor (20 points, 7 rebounds) was outstanding in defeat for Young (4-2).
"(Nunn) was hot so we wanted to make sure we got him the ball," Simeon coach Robert Smith said. "He kind of carried us tonight, which is good for this team if we can just reach down and it's Kendrick this day, it's been Jabari, it's been Stevie."
"Stevie made some big plays down the stretch, which we need, because everybody's going to be keying in on Jabari."
The Wolverines appeared ready to pull away when the Marquete-bound Taylor opened the second half with a 3-pointer and Nunn followed with five straight points, but Okafor kept the Dolphins in it until the end.
Simeon (8-0) led by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter, but Young pulled within three on two free throws by Paul White with 1 minute, 28 seconds left.
Then Jaylon Tate fed Taylor for a layup, and Taylor split added two free throws to make it 56-50 with 48.6 seconds left.
Player of the game: Kendrick Nunn, Simeon, 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists.
Key performers: Simeon — Steve Taylor, 16 points. Jabari Parker, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks. Young — Jahlil Okafor, 20 points, 7 rebounds.
