To Quote a Kentuckian, “Bitch, You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man.” Okay, Make that Paraphrase (Go Heels!)

Deon Thompson has helped top-ranked North Carolina get off to a good start despite playing without injured star Tyler Hansbrough. Now, just as the reigning national player of the year appears close to returning, the Tar Heels could be losing another key contributor inside.

Fast Facts

In a battle of the winningest programs in college basketball history, UNC improved to 21-10 all-time against Kentucky.

The Wildcats fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2001-02 and have now lost four straight games dating back to last season.

The Tar Heels led by double figures barely 4 minutes into the game and never looked back.

– ESPN research and The Associated Press

Thompson scored a career-high 20 points to help North Carolina beat Kentucky 77-58 on Tuesday night, his second straight confidence-building performance in Hansbrough's absence to start the season. But freshman 7-footer Tyler Zeller suffered a wrist injury late in the game that had coach Roy Williams sounding pessimistic. …

The game drew actress and noted Kentucky fan Ashley Judd, who made good on a pledge to attend the game during a campaign stop in Chapel Hill last month to support President-elect Barack Obama. Judd had promised to sit among the light blue-clad students for the game if the state — which hadn't cast its electoral votes for a Democrat since 1976 — voted for Obama.

She joined the rowdy student section behind the basket near the UNC bench at the start of the second half, drawing plenty of attention from students snapping pictures with cell-phone cameras. She also gave a wave to former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards — the 2004 Democratic vide-presidential nominee and 2008 presidential candidate — and his wife, Elizabeth, in the stands a few sections over, provoking one of the most awkward moments in the history of the Smith Center—John Edwards holding his wife's purse and heels while she beat the flirt out of a husband-wooing, Kentucky harlot.

It was to be the lopsided victory of the night.