Keion Brooks and Jacob Toppin prove they can not only play together but play very well together

Keion Brooks, left, and Jacob Toppin combined for 31 points and 14 rebounds in Saturday's win. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Today let me be one of the first to apologize to Jacob Toppin and Keion Brooks. I was one of many — even though everyone might not admit it yet — who just didn’t think Kentucky could play both together for long stretches and be at its best. I also was one who thought when one and/or both had big games at the power forward position, Kentucky could be unbeatable.

Saturday the two juniors proved they could do just fine together in the 90-81 win and were huge factors in Kentucky overcoming a 12-point deficit late in the first half.

Brooks went 7-for-12 from the field (he made his only 3-pointer) and scored 18 points. He also had eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks in a season-high 37 minutes.

Toppin was just as good. He was 5-for-9 from the field and had 13 points. He also added six rebounds and three assists in a career-high 39 minutes. He did not have a turnover.

Together the two combined for 31 points on 12-for-21 shoots (2-for-3 from 3), 14 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and two steals in a combined 76 minutes of play.

They had to come up big since starting guards Sahvir Wheeler and TyTy Washington were out with injuries. That moved sixth man Davion Mintz into the starting lineup and he alternated playing point guard with Kellan Grady — who had 25 points on 7-for-9 shooting from 3-point range along with three rebounds, three assists, and one steal. That moved Toppin into the starting lineup and left him and Brooks with no time to rest.

“In past games, when players were injured, people were questioning the depth of this team, and it just shows how good of a team we are. It shows how well not just me, but my teammates are and how we could just step up in big moments and perform,” Toppin said.

“And that’s what we did today with TyTy and Sahvir ( out. That was big for not just everyone to see that we are deep, but it’s big for us to know that we have the players to play when people are either injured or out.”

Calipari said he felt it was Brooks’ defense that changed the game for UK in the first half when Alabama was on the verge of taking total control.

“His aggressive defense and rebounding changed the game for us at that point. Instead of them getting rebounds and baskets where they just drive and shoot a layup, all of a sudden the 3’s they were making which were guarded, they’re not making now,” Calipari said.

The Kentucky coach said he “jumped” Toppin at the shoot around, something he seldom does to a player on game day.

“He was like 2-for-11 (from the field). You can’t go through a shootaround and go 2-for-11 because now your mentality is you’re not making shots in the game,” Calipari said. “So after, he started making shots, and what did he do today? Made shots, made free throws, and I told him, you’re going to have to make some jumpers.

“I didn’t say 3’s. But if you have them, I was happy to see Keion make a 3. But that’s not who he is. He’s a mid-range two-point shooter, and you know what, one of the best in the country.”

Brooks didn’t start the game that way but he sure finished that way.

“What he did today, he started and got absolutely pushed — it wasn’t good. It wasn’t good. But the way he played in the second half, that’s who he is. And that’s all I’m going to accept,” Calipari said.

“Now, the greatest thing for him, he knows now I can start slow and I can sit down for a minute and get myself in the right frame of mind, and I keep telling these guys, you can’t listen to the poison. You can’t listen to it, wherever it’s coming from. Just stay focused on each other.”

And proving that Kentucky can indeed win games with Brooks and Toppin playing extended time together.