Vicky Graff Photo
Since Reed Sheppard has always thrived on being in big-game situations it was no surprise the Kentucky freshman guard played well in Tuesday’s 89-84 loss to Kansas in Chicago.
Sheppard had a career-high 16 points on 4-for-5 shooting, including 3-for-4 from 3, along with four steals and one assist in only 16 minutes of play.
“Coming in was just to have fun and enjoy playing. I think we were doing that in the first half. We were flying,” Sheppard said after the game. “Then Kansas went on a little run and Kansas is a good team, has really good players, some of the best players in the nation.
“So this was a good game for us, I think. We’ll build from it and just continue to get better and work and practice and keep competing and keep fighting and just keep getting better for the next games like this.
Kentucky coach John Calipari said he thought Sheppard “was good” and so did most UK fans who wondered maybe why he did not play more. However, two first-half fouls limited some of his playing time.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas was impressed by everything Sheppard did.
“He is a very alert defender. He just makes good decisions. There are just certain guys who help things run better. They can move the ball, they are willing passers,” Bilas said. “He can make open shots and is a very good help defender and he can play the point. He has athleticism. He’s just really good.”
Sheppard had a chance to tie the game on UK’s last possession but his forced, contested 3-pointer was way off.
“Coach drew up a good play, we were trying to either get a corner 3 or Antonio to get a good shot at it. Coach drew up a good play and Kansas guarded it well,” Sheppard said.
“We just had to give it Tre and then Tre made a good play happen and I missed the shot. That’s part of it.”
Yes, it is but Sheppard is going to be a huge part of Kentucky’s success this season. Just ask ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale.
He posted on X that Kentucky has “many 5 star Diaper Dandies but I said it once & will say it again REED SHEPPARD will be a major Wildcat STAR.”
20 Responses
Sheppard needs to be the starting point guard and should get 30 minutes a game for us to have the best chance to win. Dillingham should start at the 2 spot, Reeves the 3, Thiero the 4, and Mitchell the 5. Wagner and Edwards should not see more than 10 minutes of PT until they show that they can contribute more than the guy ahead of them.
100% agree
Dang, all that should happen after one bad performance against the number #1 team in the country huh?! Lol. Let’s not leave out, it was only their third & first “highly contested” collegiate game. Hmm I wonder if you had that same energy towards Rob when he stunk it up while Dj & Edwards carried the team during the trip in Canada? Bill Self will tell you himself, you don’t bench two TOP 10 DRAFT PROSPECTS after their first bad game lol. PS, I do agree with you that they both played horrible!!!! I’m just not ready to go into panic mode or start messing with these young men mental so early in season. #bbn #9
Rdot3423, Barry always thinks he’s the coach!!
Wagner was 1 for 12 Starting lineup must change.
I love it when I make the Calipari lovers squeal!
I don’t hear anyone squealing lol, just observing that you don’t belong here, prolly belong on the Tards board. No need to bench anyone after one bad game, they’ll be fine. I love the fact they’re coming off the bench. They’ll still get more minutes if they stay out of foul trouble, and provides a major spark/burst of energy coming off the bench. Wouldn’t change a thing… those guys will be fine
This was a loss I can live with… It’s been several yrs since I’ve had the opportunity to feel this way.
People have off night’s, especially Freshman.
All I’m saying is PLEASE to the Power’s That Be in the NCAA Tournament to make sure there’s a rematch in March… I would love to see Onyenso
on Dickenson in March… If Kentucky and Kansas make the F4 in March they’ve got to have a rematch… Let’s see if Self is all smiles then…😂
There’s a reason Cal was smiling after the game,
he’s looking forward to some front court help..😉
Agreed. Told my pops before game we would lose by a few but will help in long run
Agree with you Aaron
This was a loss I can live with… It’s been several yrs since I’ve had the opportunity to feel this way.
People have off night’s, especially Freshman.
All I’m saying is PLEASE to the Power’s That Be in the NCAA Tournament to make sure there’s a rematch in March. I would love to see Onyenso
on Dickenson in March. If Kentucky and Kansas make the F4 in March they’ve got to have a rematch… Let’s see if Self is all smiles then…😂
There’s a reason Cal was smiling after the game,
he’s looking forward to some front court help..😉
This was a loss I can live with… It’s been several yrs since I’ve had the opportunity to feel this way.
People have off night’s, especially Freshman.
All I’m saying is PLEASE to the Power’s That Be in the NCAA Tournament to make sure there’s a rematch in March. I would love to see Onyenso take on Dickenson in March. If Kentucky and Kansas make the F4 in March they’ve got to have a rematch… Let’s see if Self is all smiles then…😂
There’s a reason Cal was smiling after the game,
he’s looking forward to some front court help..😉
Was nice to see players smiling during the game too
Reed is a home grown Kentucky kid I’m sure glad he came to BIG BLUE NATION !!! But where else would he would have went,
Reed had a lot of options Kyle
We lost not because of DJ or Edwards. We lost because we got man handled in paint. We have one big healthy will be a different game. We will more than likely see them again
Yes, we were undersized and got pushed around some, but with that being said Wagner and Edwards were a combined 1 for 18. Even being undersized and manhandled, if half of those shots had been taken by anyone else on the team…anyone, we would have won that game. Bill Self, Tom Izzo, or any other coach would not have left 2 players who were hurting the team like they did in the game. This isn’t high school where if you are the principal’s son you get to play no matter how many other kids are better than you. Sure Sutton and Tubby played their sons when they weren’t good enough and the program suffered for it. The same happened when Brandon Boston was here and now its Wagner and Edwards. This won’t be the only game that we lose because of them. They will be the difference between this team having 5 or 6 losses and one that ends up with double digit losses…a trademark of too many Calipari teams.
Every player has nights when they just can’t shoot very good. That’s when you let the one’s that are shooting good do the shooting. Wagner and Edwards need to realize that from now on and just do their best to contribute on defense when they’re not having a good shooting night. That also goes for all the other players.Some nights you have it and some nights you don’t. Don’t force shots like they did when you’re not hitting. They had a 14 point lead and then they started making unwise shots, like coming down and just shooting without working the ball around until someone had a good shot to take. Anyway, I think this team can go as far as they want to as long as they play smart from now on.
Really excited about this Kentucky Team! Not a selfish bone in anyone’s body, they can all shoot the rock ! Just Love the way they all communicate with each other and their will to win ! Gonna be a GREAT season, looking forward to Phoenix!! #9 I Believe this team has the juice to be be National Champions 🏆 #BBN #KENTUCKYBASKETBALL
A lot of BB to go yet partners. It will be hard for old Cal to screw this up ( although he will give it his best ) because of the talent level. Barring any unfortunate injuries Cal might get this team to an Elite Eight before blowing it. But blow it he will.