Kentuycky blog A Sea of Blue has been talking recently about how the Kentucky Wildcats had been playing pretty basketball in the last few games. Tonight, they decided that was just too girly for them, I guess, and decided to get real ugly.

This was an interesting game tonight. Alabama played a zone, just as everyone else has done against the ’Cats, and it was a very effective zone, too. Kentucky struggled a lot in the post-up game, as the Tide were very diligent in double-teaming DeMarcus Cousins every time he touched the basketball. Cuz did a lot of passing out of the post, but he also turned the ball over quite a bit doing it, showing that, as good as he is, he has plenty of improvement left to make.

In the end, though, the Wildcats did just enough to win by a not-too-scary margin of 11 points.

Freshman guard John Wall scored 22 points and pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds as No. 3 Kentucky rolled past visiting Alabama, 66-55, at Rupp Arena in Lexington Tuesday night.

DeMarcus Cousins also posted a double-double with 16 points and 13 boards for the Wildcats (23-1, 8-1 SEC), who have won four straight since suffering their lone loss of the season, a 68-62 setback at South Carolina on January 26.

Cousins, a Mobile, Ala. native, posted his seventh straight double-double to extend his Kentucky freshman record to 15 on the season.

Kentucky remains in first place in the Southeastern Conference East Division, one game ahead of Vanderbilt, which beat Tennessee on Tuesday.

Tony Mitchell had 13 points and seven rebounds to pace the Crimson Tide (13-11, 3-7), who have lost four in a row and seven of nine overall. Alabama also got 11 points and six boards from JaMychal Green.

The Crimson Tide jumped out to an 11-4 lead in the first four minutes, but Wall hit a three-pointer and Eric Bledsoe made two free throws for a 17-13 Kentucky advantage.

Alabama quickly tied the game before a Patrick Patterson dunk and a Cousins bucket gave the Wildcats the lead for good. Kentucky recovered from its early struggles and led 31-24 at halftime.

Following the break, DeAndre Liggins knocked down a trey to stretch Kentucky's margin to 42-28. The Tide whittled their deficit to 61-55 on an Anthony Brock shot from beyond the arc with about a minute to go, but the Wildcats held on down the stretch.

Patterson had nine points, while Liggins added eight with seven rebounds...Senario Hillman scored 10 points for Alabama...Kentucky improved to 15-0 at home.