Teams have been able to clog the paint against UK because of the Cats' lack of 3-point shooting. (Vicky Graff Photo)
It won’t exactly be Cat-lanta today when Kentucky plays Georgia Tech like UK coach John Calipari hoped it would be. Kentucky plays Georgia Tech tonight hoping to end a two-game losing skid.
“I didn’t expect it to be with no fans,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said about facing Tech in Atlanta. “I like Atlanta. “It is a great town. We are excited to be there.”
Georgia Tech’s defense could be just what the struggling UK offense needs. Tech lost 123-120 in four overtimes to Georgia State and 83-73 to Mercer.
“Georgia Tech last year had us on the ropes,” Calipari recalled. “We ended up going up right before half. Then we had a two-minute swing in the second half that gave us the lead and we hung on.”
Kentucky beat Georgia Tech 67-53 last year in Rupp Arena behind 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from Ashton Hagans.
“They play a funky zone (defense). They play it high and wide,” Calipari said.
The UK coach said teams have hurt Georgia Tech making 3-point shots, something Kentucky has not done. The Cats are hitting 19 percent from 3-point range in three games.
“I would expect them to play 40 minutes of zone and think at some point we are not going to make shots,” Calipari said.
The Kentucky coach has been pleased with his team’s defense but says that will be tested, too.
“They also have guards that can get by you on the bounce. That is going to be the challenge,” Calipari said. “In this game if you can’t stay in front (of your man), it’s a hard deal
“They are a team probably averaging 20 to 24 3’s a game. If they make 15 out of 24, we will go home (with a loss).”
Georgia Tech is actually averaging 28 3’s per game but has shot only 27 percent from 3-point range.
“We have to get better. I worry about my team figuring it out,” Calipari said. “Early in the season you win or you learn. I may grieve as I am learning. I learned a lot about our team the first two games.”
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