Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky began its prelude to the upcoming season with exhibition game one of two against Griffons of Missouri Western State Sunday night and Rupp Arena welcomed three former Cats Will Martin, Jon Hood and Perry Stevenson on the visiting coaching staff.
Exhibition games do not provide any insight for the upcoming season but yet they do give players an opportunity to prove they deserve playing time. Coach John Calipari mixes up lineups often playing his position-less basketball and he did again Sunday night in the 56-38 win.
Important for this year is finding the player to back up Oscar Tshiebwe. Oscar being held out tonight to keep resting the knee gave his potential replacement a chance to prove himself.
Things that stood out tonight:
— Freshman guard Cason Wallace does not look like nor play like a freshman. Calipari will be hard pressed to keep him on the bench.
— Lance Ware’s hair is now on Jacob Toppin’s head.
— Jacob Toppin has fine tuned the fadeaway jumper. Should be his go-to shot for the season.
— Damion Collins … I got nothing.
— Freshman 7-footer Ugonna Onyenso is going to get some quality minutes. In one stretch in the first half he had four blocks and three rebounds in nine minutes.
— CJ Frederick is not only a shooter but a maker. It is so warming to see him not only playing but draining 3’s.
— Oscar Tshiebwe did not play. This team plays through Oscar. When Oscar returns all will be okay.
— How bad is the injury to Sahvir Wheeler? Watching Wheeler being helped off the floor and straight to the locker room was unsettling at best after he hit his knee. Calipari said Wheeler twisted the same right knee about 10 days ago and that was why he did not play in the Blue-White Game in Pikeville.
The Cats finally scored 50 points at the four-minute mark. The excitement level was low as it often is during an exhibition game.
A side note: The Rocky Horror Picture Show Cam came close to bringing me out of my seat.
Exhibition number two (the final) is scheduled for Thursday night at 7 against Kentucky State.
