Despite lot of things that Kentucky did not do well, UK still had chances to win at Arkansas

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Kentucky and Sahvir Wheeler could not slow down JD Notae, who had 30 points Saturday. (SEC Photo)

If you are a Kentucky basketball fan, don’t push the panic button because UK lost 75-73 at Arkansas Saturday. Coach John Calipari is not.

He noted after the game how UK had two rusty players — TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler — who had missed the two previous games. He had other players who didn’t play well — Kellan Grady and Davion Mintz were a combined 1-for-5 from the field after carrying UK the two previous games and Jacob Toppi had no rebounds, scored only two points, and didn’t play his normal lockdown defense.

“And we had our chances to win. We could have won the game anyway,” Calipari said.

He was right and didn’t even mention the 15-0 run Arkansas had to open the game after UK scored the game’s first basket.

Calipari was thrilled Kentucky was down only six points (34-28) at halftime after being dominated most of the first half — except for Oscar Tshiebwe. Calipari said he laughed when he told his players “let’s just play and see what happens.”

What happened was Wheeler, who could not make a shot in the half-court set offense in the first half, got the Cats running and he started making some shots, including a banked 3-pointer. Keion Brooks (14 points, five rebounds, two seals)  made some plays and Tshiebwe continued to dominate inside — he finished with 30 points on 13-for-21 shooting along with 14 rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal. He also did not have a turnover.

Kentucky had some costly mistakes late in the game. Wheeler tried a lob pass to Brooks that was too high.

“We didn’t have to do that. We were doing fine. We were shooting 60 percent in the second half. Why did you do that. So there were things like that we did to hurt ourselves,” Calipari said.

What about the offensive foul call on Brooks with UK down one point with about a minute to play? He was called for pushing off to get a bass on an inbounds play after a UK timeout?

“Let me go watch the tape,” Calipari said. “I’m not sure you should make that (call). And it was the game, that play. It might have been the right call. We’ll see.”

He also had no problem with the open 3-pointer Brooks took and missed in the final minute.

“I just wish he could have shot it straight. I’m trying to get these guys to forget about missing and making,” Calipari said. “Just think about shooting the ball straight. You can’t have two thoughts at one time.”

Give Calipari credit for not blaming the loss on that call.

Instead, he was more worried about “some stinking thinking going on” where others want to place blame and have him take out players when they miss shots.

“That’s just not true. It was a good shot for him (Brooks). I wish he would have made it but it was a good shot for him,” Calipari said.

He also wishes Grady could have done more. He was sensational in the wins over Alabama and LSU. Against Arkansas, he reverted to the problem he had in the loss at Tennessee when he could not get a shot — or UK could not free him to get a shot for him.

Grady did make a huge 3 late in the game but that was it.

“He and Davion both, they just stood on the perimeter,” Calipari said. “Their guys are long enough to play it. You have got to move. And it doesn’t matter where you move, just move.”

Calipari said probably the only time Grady did move was late in the game when he raced to the corner and got a “wide-open shot” that was actually well defended because Grady had to make it drifting to his left.

“You have to run harder than they are. They worked harder. He couldn’t get a shot off. It is what it is,” the UK coach said.

Calipari said the non-aggressive start makes it difficult to overcome.

“You’re not the tough guy and it’s hard but they’ll be fine,” Calipari said. “Let’s recognize that we all could have done better. I could have done better.”

20 Responses

  1. This is not a time to panic or give up on this team. This is a time for this team to gain the mindset required to succeed in the post season.

    I still like this team’s chances in the tournament, and only see one team that arguably has played better basketball over the last 2 months, Gonzaga. Did anyone watch Gonzaga lose last night to St. Mary’s? I am not convinced that Gonzaga is as strong as their record suggests.

    Kentucky should get a 2 seed, and I am not sure any SEC team will get a 1 seed. I hope the NCAA puts UK close so the BBN can show up in great numbers in the regional, and I look forward to this team’s run to the final four.

  2. Panic is the last thing I am doing with this team. The best is yet to come as long as the injury bug stays away. This Sec conference has some special teams this year that can play ball. Once I believe these guys are completely healthy and back in the groove I see this team in the final 4..

  3. Good point professor, the only thing is I wish Doug Show wouldn’t havemade that call on Brooks with a minute to play. If you watch the play the Arkansas defender had his arms wrap around Brooks to keep from Brooks getting free prior before Brooks push off that call should have been a no call. But we our chances and l we will be fine.

    1. It would be nice if Cal actually had an inbounds play to run.
      He’s equally as bad at coaching against inbounds plays.

  4. Be ok? Don’t look now, but we are in real danger of finishing 3rd or 4th in our own conference.
    We have no chemistry at all. The 2 guards who had not played the last 2 games took a combined 25 shots! Wheeler doesn’t get that teams are leaving him open for a reason. Ty still doesn’t have the toughness to compete on either end of the floor.
    Mintz took 2 shots and didn’t score. Grady took 3 shots and scored 3 points. Toppin only scored 2 points.
    A number of teams have figured out how to stop Grady. Why can’t our coach come up with a way to stop one player?
    We still have to play at Florida…a toss up at best.
    What are we doing in practice? Playing games on our phones? The past 3 games we have fallen behind by double digits to start the games. This sounds like a coach who just rolls the balls out on the floor.
    We won’t be the SEC regular season champ. It’s hard to see how we will win the SEC tourney. We will end up with a 4 seed in the Dance and not make it to the second weekend.
    I can hardly think that BBN sees anything OK about any of that. Oh that’s right, they will say none of this is going to happen…and then it does.

  5. I think Cal has missed an opportunity to develop our bench. Oscar played 39 minutes yesterday and was gassed at the end. It showed with Williams scoring 10 of Arkansas last 12 points.
    TyTy also played 35 minutes in his first game back. Cal’s short leash for certain players will lead to an early exit from the NCAAT.
    Cal has a player in Oscar that is doing something this season that hasn’t been done in 40 years plus. I don’t think this is enough to overcome Cal’s coaching deficiencies.

      1. Again move on if you are depress over a loss that this team what has accomplished so far. You and champ99 are asking for too much think they should be undefeated and so on. 7 of top 10 teams got beat and guys are whining over a loss as usual. Get a life guys move on.

        1. I hate it when people bitch regardless we win or lose. Some people think they can coach or play the game better while sitting on there potatoe couch.

  6. I love how people say oh this seed or that seed ..blah blah blah whine whine whine. Hey whether it’s a 1 seed or any seed your not playing, the team on the court are the ones responsible for seeding.

  7. That basketball game looked like a free for all. Ty Ty was not his usual self Saturday IMO. The Hogs look like a pretty good team, but still UK came from 13 down twice, had a chance to win it before a packed house, and before a bunch of rabid fans. Tough venue for any team, and I say that influenced some of the calls, or lack thereof. UK played good defense and went up by four late, but then gave Arkansas enough easy baskets in last 3 to 4 min to seal the deal. I thought some missed free throws hurt UK’s cause too.

    Oscar is getting mugged with the double and triple teams near the basket but is still a scoring machine when they get him the ball. He proved it time and again Saturday. There was not near enough whistles for pf’s against No 34 from my seat either. UK shooters were not taking or scoring near enough from three point range Saturday, credit Arkansas. At times open shots were not taken looked like to me. Hit a few of those and it opens the flood gate brings confidence.

    Hey, I have no problem blaming the officials. As for the officials, Shows never gives UK a break when the chips are down, never has, Cats79 got it right. I like this UK team a lot, they just need to get healthy for tourney time and arrive ready to get the job done. I think Hopkins needs to play a lot more. That young man is a warrior. UK will make some of these teams pay come SEC tournament time, just watch and see. BBN needs to stay behind them and have their backs. They could go all the way to a national championship. This is a very good UK basketball team. This loss hurt, but it may have been the wake up call they need for a the season’s stretch run. Go Cats!!!!

  8. I am sure Sahvir doesn’t read these posts, but I will say it again. If Wheeler continues to look to be a scorer instead of a facilitator, Mintz, Grady, and Toppin will continue to have off games. When Wheeler looks to score, he takes shots that he hits at a very low clip. He also keeps the ball in his hands for 20 seconds and then when he can’t get a shot, he either forces a wild shot or a wild pass. Wheeler is also turning down the level of his defense so he doesn’t get into foul trouble and tries not to get clocked on screens. Wheeler needs to stay in front of his man instead of the Ole defense he showed at Fayetteville. Wheeler is the key to this team’s success, but it requires him to take on a role that will not give him a shot at the NBA and he seems unwilling to accept that role.

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