La Familia buries The Ville as Kentucky's alumni team moves on from the rivalry series

It's awful silent across the pond tonight, Big Blue Nation. After an embarrassing blowout loss in game two that had Louisville fans posting Montrezl Harrell highlights all through the night on Monday, Kentucky's La Familia responded on their home floor with a decisive game three victory. The blue and white will officially move on in TBT, eliminating their biggest rivals in the process.

A barrage of stories have emerged from both this series and game specifically. La Familia's roster woes were one thing, with Archie Goodwin joining the team at the last second for the elimination game, but as tempers flared in the aforementioned game two, it was clear that this ultimate contest would be the talking point of either side for the foreseeable future.

With a final score of 63-57, the former Cats clawed back from an early deficit to take a second-half lead that (mostly) grew as the game went on. Goodwin and honorary Wildcat Darryl Morsell and led the way with 22 and 20 points respectively, while Willie Cauley-Stein brought up the rear with a redemptive 10 points of his own.

Harrell still managed to score 18, but his (rather flashy, celebratory) efforts weren't enought to elevate the former Cardinals when it was all said and done. La Familia is on to the second round.

La Familia's Second-Round Cushion

The alumni Cats will get a break as they wait on Boeheim's Army (Syracuse) and Hall In (Seton Hall) to resolve their own first-round series. That second game isn't even until tomorrow, and the next series is put off until Sunday; with players like Cauley-Stein nursing an injury and Goodwin still settling in, it'll be a crucial period of rest and preperation for Jon Hood's squad.

Even in their shorthanded state, La Familia looked like a team ready to fight from here on out tonight. You can tell me I'm out of my mind - I'll always be a little more excited after a win over Louisville - but if Morsell and Goodwin keep playing like this, and long-ball threat Sean McNeil catches fire, who can't this team beat?

I don't think any of us are all that familiar with the legacies of Syracuse or Seton Hall, but I like this current group as much as any La Familia team ever. It's hard to underrate a composite warrior's spirit.

We'll keep you posted on the rest of the bracket as it develops, but for now, BBN, let's just be thankful that we'll have a little more blue and white basketball this summer. Hoops never sleep in Lexington, and Memorial Coliseum will get to keep the offseason lights on a little while longer.

Today's best reads

• La Familia's roster woes may put a stopper in their winning momentum against The Ville
• Archie Goodwin could not have returned to Kentucky's La Familia at a more crucial time
• Rivalry tempers flare as La Familia suffers a blowout loss to The Ville in TBT's game 2
• La Familia overcome their shorthanded roster to teach The Ville a game one lesson in TBT
• Kentucky's La Familia alumni team can't catch a break ahead of feud with The Ville

This article was originally published on wildcatbluenation.com as La Familia buries The Ville as Kentucky's alumni team moves on from the rivalry series.