Vicky Graff Photo
The Basketball Benny lineup of Cason Wallace, Antonio Reeves, CJ Fredrick, Jacob Toppin and Oscar Tshiebwe was credited with Kentucky’s recent resurgence.
Analytics showed that lineup had been the most efficient of any lineup in the country and seemed to give Kentucky a path to more success — or at least it did until the Cats lost 77-68 to Kansas Saturday.
Immediately after the game ended (or even during the second half), social media caught fire wondering why freshman Chris Livingston only played one minute the second half after having eight points, two rebounds and one blocked shot in the first half.
His eight first-half points were more than he had scored in any game since Dec. 21. So why didn’t he play the second half after committing a foul one minute into the half and being pulled by coach John Calipari?
“Chris Livingston should have played more in the second half and the reason is, he could offensive rebound,” Calipari said after the game. “He can go get balls.”
Why didn’t he play then?
“The problem was they weren’t playing him and it was crowding the court for Oscar (Tshiebwe). And that’s why, I told him when I took him out, ‘I’m only taking you out because they’re not playing you and they’re crowding the court and we need Oscar to get the ball,’” Calipari said.
Once Reeves came out, he never went back into the game. Fredrick went 1-for-8 from the field and played 32 minutes. Toppin had only four rebounds and played 32 minutes.
“The only thing that I said was that Chris could have gotten us some more rebounds and gone and done some things,” Calipari said. “He’d gotten points. He went to the rim. He got, you know, got to the basket, which is what we talked to him about.”
On his postgame radio show, Calipari explained more about why Livingston did not come back into the game.
“In the second half, we were going to go at Oscar. They weren’t playing Chris. His man was immediately running to Oscar and that’s why — I talked to him and said, ‘Chris, the only reason I took you out is they’re not playing you and I’ve got to free up this court for Oscar,’” Calipari told Tom Leach.
“We got back in it and three points and one point and two points. But, we didn’t get any offensive rebounds because Chris wasn’t in. That’s the trade-off. So, in hindsight I say, let’s play him more and let’s figure out where we put him if they’re trying not to play him.
“But I tell you what, he fought. He’s been practicing. He’s got a great attitude and I was happy with how he played.”
First, Livingston did not have an offensive rebound in the 17 minutes he did play so he may not have helped the offensive rebounding. Second, why not try Livingston some at power forward in Toppin’s spot if he wanted him back in the game.
However, Kentucky was down just two points with five minutes to play, so it’s not like UK still did not have chances to win. It was just another of those “what if” moments in this topsy turvy UK season.
9 Responses
Does Calipari ever read what he says in these interviews? He took Livingston out because they weren’t guarding him? If Chris was unguarded, why didn’t he get the ball every time for an easy score? Its because Calipari’s clock eating offense doesn’t allow for that. It is geared to produce a shot for a guard. This is just another example of how the game has passed him by. If this keeps up, there will be a picture of Kentucky basketball on milk cartons soon.
Barry, Cal thinking during games must be some were else, he has done this way too often.
Livingston didn’t play because they weren’t guarding him? You mean the way they leave Wheeler open from outside always? Yet wheeler played how many useless minutes? The offense died the moment Wheeler went in the game and it never recovered. Not only did the offense die, but KU instantly went at wheeler with pick and rolls. Wheeler or Big O are equally bad on pick and rolls but together they are instant offense for whoever UK is playing. BTW, they did guard Livingston. He was killing them to start the game and they adjusted. This is simply Cal wanting to be right when he is woefully wrong. I am not anti wheeler. I am anti, "this guy is killing UK when he is on the floor" Wouldn’t matter what the name is on the back. I would love to see him play well but teams are too smart and his deficiencies are too easy to game plan for.
I think you can color Livingston gone, the next in a long line of talented players forced to ride Calipari’s bench when other less productive players get the playing time because Calipari "loves" them so much.
Seems like Livingston made Kansas pay for dropping off him in the first half.
Wasn’t he UK’s leading scorer at the half with 8 points on 4-5 shooting?
Gee, what a mistake Calipari made by allowing a player like Livingston to play in that first half.
A lot came in transition but still no reason not to play him at all the second half … especially when defense was a big issue for everyone
Where are all of the Calipari lovers now???
I honestly have never seen a worse coach than Cal.
How he is in the HOF is bewildering.
He left Umass and Memphis in shambles.
Now he is burning our program to the ground.
He should be in the Hall of Shame, not Fame!
Calipari has ruined Livingston. The kid is a warrior but has no confidence due to Calipari’s never ending messing with his head. I look for him to transfer next year along with Collins and more than likely Onyenso.