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Eight days ago Kentucky basketball was trending in the wrong direction. The Wildcats were struggling to win, didn’t appear to have much chemistry on the court and couldn’t match up with quality opponents. But following the team’s 76-67 defeat of Texas A&M on Saturday, Kentucky has quickly turned things around with three straight wins over tough opponents.
What if you added in that the loathed Doug Shows would lead Saturday’s officiating crew and the Wildcats would see several tough calls not go their way?
That would be one way to put that the odds wouldn’t exactly favor the Wildcats – even on their home court.
However, Kentucky beat those odds behind heavy contributions from Antonio Reeves and Jacob Toppin.
Saturday’s game was close from start to finish and whenever the Wildcats needed a score, Reeves and Toppin were there to answer the call. The two combined to score 40 of the team’s 76 points, making 15-29 of their shot attempts.
“Antonio made unbelievable baskets down the stretch when we needed them,” said head coach John Calipari following the win.
Calipari also hit on how “gritty” Jacob Toppin is.
Not necessarily by physicality, either, but more so playing mentally tough and not letting missed shots impact his effort on defense or on the glass.
The duo’s performance was a testament to how well-balanced this Kentucky team is. Whether it’s a career-night from Tshiebwe or big-time scoring from Kentucky’s wings, the Wildcats can deliver blows in multiple ways.
Texas A&M didn’t come in to Saturday’s game ranked inside the AP Top-25, but they were more than a respectable opponent. The Aggies had won seven straight, including a blowout of then-No. 20 Missouri. Yet Kentucky was able to pass the test and hand Texas A&M their first loss in conference play.
Following the team’s win over former No. 5 Tennessee last weekend, many wondered if that victory would save Kentucky’s season. While it’s only been a week, all signs are pointing in the right direction for the Wildcats as they continue to put quality wins on their resume.
Kentucky will next face a road test at the Vanderbilt Commodores on Tuesday before hosting the No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks next Saturday. Tip-off in Nashville on Tuesday is set for 9 PM ET.
9 Responses
Great win by our cats and I thought Texas A-m was trying to out physical us. But our cats didn’t back down and kept fighting. The one area I’m concern is our shooting percentage is low we miss lot of up near goal misses and had wide open looks shots that was in basket and out. Go cats
Texas A&M is hardly one of the beasts of the midway this year. They will be fighting to stay off the bubble in early March.
Let’s keep the quality of play in perspective.
Win over UT was UK’s strongest game of the year. These last 2 wins are not even close.
I agree that this team is playing better than it had been, but frankly it would be hard for any UK team to continue playing as poorly as it did for several weeks.
Let’s look closely at Mighty Texas A&M.
They entered yesterday’s game 13-5, 5-0. Their most impressive win had been at #41 Florida by 3 points, and their most embarrassing losses had been to #182 Murray State at a neutral site by 9 and to #199 Wofford by 5 at home.
Texas A&M’s remaining schedule of 12 games includes 7 probable losses at Auburn, at Arkansas, Auburn at home, at Missouri, at Tennessee, and to Alabama at home. ,If that comes to pass, as it probably will, then mighty Texas A&M will finish 18-13, 10-8. They are not likely to even make the NCAA field if this is how their season ends.
I am amazed that UK fans look at yesterday’s performance as evidence of anything significant. Texas A&M’s might was an image produced by media hype, not reality or analysis of their record. Similarly, talk of UK’s "magical turnaround" at the hands of Calipari is also a product of similar hype, driven primarily by a misplaced sense of hope that Calipari will be able to return any UK team to another Final Four.
Do you want a similar analysis for mighty Georgia?
What about the next mighty opponent, Vanderbilt? UK will probably be favored over Vandy by 1 or 2 points. Whoo Hoo!!!!!!!!
These kind of games should be certain wins, by comfortable margins. Not just this year, but every year against teams that play at the quality of these teams. The games that matter are games that should be truly competitive for a national contender. This year’s schedule for UK includes Gonzaga, UCLA, Tennessee, Michigan State (maybe), and upcoming foe Kansas. UK is 1-3 so far in those games, and we shall see on Saturday if they can improve that to 2-3 after their 0-3 start, or fall to 1-4 proving once again that the UT win was lightning in the bottle. Other games on UK’s schedule in this category include 2 games against Arkansas and one game against Auburn and Tennessee. With Kansas, there are 5 future opportunities for this team to shine on anything close to a national platform. The other 7 games are games that true contenders should win, including at Vandy on Tuesday.
So, will this team finish their last 12 games 7-5, 8-4, 9-3, 10-2, 11-1, or 12-0 from this point forward? That is what matters because 21-10 or worse for this schedule is unacceptable for any UK team if UK’s traditions mean anything to anybody any longer, and 24-7 or better could provide a reasonable foundation for March Madness on the basis that this team has truly "turned around." 22-9 or 23-8 are further confirmations of the mediocrity that Calipari has taken this program to over the last several years.
Finally, Calipari’s recent comments about fair-weather fans wanting to jump back on his bandwagon. I don’t see any reason to want to be on Calipari’s bandwagon.
Professor you made good points, but the game has changed as far regardless how or what the opponent has done. There’s just too much parody in the landscape of college basketball that anybody can be beat at any given night.
A&M decided to shut down Oscar and hoped the rest of the team would not step up. Look for more teams to do this until our 3 point shooting improves.
parody vs parity.
There is no more parity in the game today than has been there any prior year. Anyone who takes time to study this issue will reach this conclusion, yet every year, by mid to late January, the cry goes out that this year there is so much parity.
That is a diversion from the issue here, and it is the quality of play by our team. It is mediocre is the standard truly is hanging final four banners and having an opportunity to compete for the championship.
Getting to the tournament does not satisfy that criteria. Losing in the Sweet 16 or earlier is clearly falling well short of where the "gold standard" should be.
Calipari has systematically taken this program from the top into mediocrity. If you live in luke warm waters, like UK now does, perhaps the surroundings may appear to have so much parity.
The top 6 teams will compete for the championship this year, just as they have in 18 of the previous 20 tournaments. They are in the top 6 because of the quality of their play throughout the season. It is not easy to reside in that territory, but that must be the goal.
UK is currently #32. That is round of 32 exit time with it more likely to fall in round 1 than advance to the sweet 16.
Dream on Calipari defenders. He will NEVER sniff a final four again.
It’s funny Gonzaga, Kansas and Houston got beat by low tiers teams over this weekend and you saying parity doesn’t play a part. Your numbers doest reflect what is going on today’s standards. The old school numbers are out of date
Carry on with your beliefs about parity, but the facts are clear and indisputable. The distribution of the quality of teams, top to bottom is the same this year as it has been for years. There is no more parity this year than in any other year. The difference is where UK ranks in that distribution. It is too low to be competitive on the national stage. Of the 3 teams you mention, only Houston is among that elite group this season. Gonzaga isn’t in that group this year, and Kansas is wanting to be, but can’t quite break through.
The top teams this year are Houston, Tennessee, Alabama, UCLA, UConn, and Purdue. This is who will compete for the championship this year. UK is not even close.
But, that’s ok, UK will be in the tournament and have a chance.
I agree that IF UK wins their next 2 games, then the 5 game record is sufficient to begin talking about turnarounds, but that talk is premature now.
I’ll leave at it is, I respect what your saying and i enjoy reading your comments sir