UK Athletics Photo
For every step the Kentucky basketball team takes, it seems like they then take two steps back. At least that’s how it felt when the Wildcats were blown out on the road by No. 7 Alabama, 78-52.
Kentucky saw another slow start on the road, quickly trailing 8-0. While the Wildcats clawed back to a 20-19 deficit with 4:57 left in the first half, Alabama quickly countered with a 15-5 run to end the period leading 35-24.
Kentucky just simply couldn’t hang on for those last five minutes and that trend carried over into the second half.
Alabama’s shots began to fall, their defensive energy picked up and Kentucky simply had no answer in the final 20 minutes of action. The Crimson Tide out-scored Kentucky 43-28 and didn’t waste any time putting the game out of reach.
In one of their biggest games of the season, Oscar Tshiebwe, Jacob Toppin and Cason Wallace were no where to be found. The trio combined to score just nine points on 3-30 shooting while committing five turnovers.
It was easy to direct the blame at Sahvir Wheeler early on this season, but he and Antonio Reeves were the team’s only life on offense. The duo combined for 35 points and shot a collective 14-29 from the field.
Quite frankly, Kentucky did nothing well on Saturday. They shot a miserable 28% from the field, 25% from deep and 62% from the free throw line. They were absent in the fast break, couldn’t finish at the rim and continued to take long, contested shots despite that being the team’s biggest weakness.
After blowing out a bad Louisville team and a narrow win over a good LSU team, Kentucky appeared to be on the right track to solving their early season issues that caused the Wildcats to drop from No. 4 to completely out of the Associated Press poll.
Now, after suffering their worst loss of the season, Kentucky returns to Lexington with more questions on where they go from here.
The Wildcats fall to 10-5 and will have a quick turnaround as they prepare to host South Carolina on Tuesday at Rupp Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7PM ET on ESPN2.
9 Responses
I don’t see this team even making a tournament.
Agree. Sad how far the ‘Cats have fallen. I’ve been a fan for over 50 years and this is the most depressed I’ve ever been, including the Gillespie years. Time for Cal to go.
This team is playing with that outcome now. If I am the NCAA selection committee, I can find a large number of teams more worthy of an at large bid than this team based on the first 15 games.
Oh wait, I keep forgetting. Calipari is a magician with treaks up his sleave that no basketball benny could ever imagine.
Relax everyone, Calipari will usher this group to a deep run in March.
Yes, a deep run to the NBA tryouts and the green room in June.
Why all the hand wringing?
One and done for sure. Time for him to go. Bring back Pitino!
And, what happened to the "most impressive" win of the year that occurred a few days ago?
Missouri is a mid-pack SEC team this year and they had their way with this team.
Alabama is a legitimate contender for a trip to the final four, and they not just had their way with this team, they left them on the side of the court as road kill on their way to the next stop.
This team shrinks away from any team that takes the game to them on either end of the court. This team has forgotten how to play defense.
Ok…is there anyone in BBN who still wants Calipari as our coach?
Yes, Barry, there are quite a few.
However, the opinion of the BBN does not enter into this situation. It is all about Calipari, Barnhart, and a lifetime contract.
you are right about that Professor
Sorry to say, no. It’s time for a change. The team has given up and the head coach has no interest in the “Kentucky Program”. He is “players first” which means indifference to the program and the proud fans.