John Calipari (Vicky Graff Photo)
Marshall coach Dan D’Antoni didn’t sugar coat what happened to his team in Rupp Arena Friday night.
“We got our butt beat. (Kentucky) played really well,” said D’Antoni.
Kentucky scored 69 points in the first half, the high in John Calipari’s UK tenure, and won 118-82 with its highest point total under Calipari — the previous record was 115 in 2016. UK’s 45 field goals and 16 3-pointers were the second-most of the Calipari era.
Want more numbers about the scoring explosion going on with UK basketball?
— UK has scored at least 81 points in all six games this season, the first time that has happened to open a season since 1970-71.
— Kentucky had six players score in double figures, the first time that has happened since Nov. 12, 2021 against Robert Morris.
— For the fourth game this season UK had at least five players score in double figures.
“They passed the ball and they shot it. They played better basketball than we played. I hadn’t seen Cal do that,” D’Antoni said.
Don’t feel bad Coach. No one has seen that, especially the last few years.
“I’ll give him his dues. He came into the modern times. Passing that ball, throwing it around, and shooting 3’s. Who was that? I didn’t know that was Calipari,” the Marshall coach joked.
He’s right, though. This is not the same Calipari. He’s embracing a fast, fun style of basketball with the ball zipping from player to player and then players shooting confidently and making shots.
“You should be proud of that team. They’re a good ball club and (Cal) has done a real good job with them. They played really, really well,” he said.
The Marshall coach did point out his team had just returned from “vacation” where it played in the Cayman Islands, got one night’s sleep and then got on a bus to Lexington.
“We use Kentucky to see what we need to do. They showed us. You have to give them credit for that, they let us know ‘this is what we have to do.’ I have a better handle on my team,” he said.
15 Responses
Better late than never.
He has always been in modern times. He has the studs again. This year he doesn’t have to scream GO. This team goes on its own. Cal has never gave up on a team like "the fans" have. Cal will prove who the true "frauds" are this year. Go Cats!!!
So true. Fair weather fans
Fantastic response! The Cal haters don’t even deserve to enjoy this ride!
Last year’s offense consisted if throwing the ball in to Oscar. Oscar would hold it until someone stole the ball from him. That’s not a "modern" offense.
Jimmy is spot on and true blue blood.
And you can thank me for the attire. Wearing a cheap pullover top with your gut hanging out is not Kentucky basketball. And be glad Sheppards parents allowed him to go to UK. The fans have spoken. If you follow the draft and the G League you find out how broken down a lot of these players go through, while their bodies develop. It’s a fact he has to live with. He shouldn’t push players off for the draft/money. Be glad your NiL is here. Maybe we’ll get back to UK tradition on SR nite w/o transfers to fill the void.
Constant turn over of roster every year is not going to be successful, some players are going to have to stay a few years if we want to win sec!
So you want him to recruit players that aren’t any good and has no chance of playing in the NBA?
Yippy!!! Miami will beat us by 15 or more and we will go back to feeding into Cals professional NBA rhetoric. I absolutely can’t coach so let them run!
Well, let us enjoy the return of traditional Ky Basketball. Who care if your opponent scores 90 if you score 105. This crap, defense, defense, defense ain’t nothing but big-legged sumo court wrestling. Let the kids play. If you got the horses, and Ky obviously does this year, turn em loose and let him run. Now that is exciting BB.
Love coach Cal,Love this bb team.can’t wait to see what we are like with our big guys down low!! Go Big Blue!! #bestcoach #bestprogram #bestteam
this team is fun Gary
Looks like you’ve got
them going in the right
direction. Pass that ball around and let em fly.
The Cats will look different when the bigs are inserted. Not a bad thing though it will balance the offense/defense.
The thing about this recruiting class is all the guys respect each other therefore play well together.
I want Kansas again in the Tournament. And I want the older fans to get more excited and make more noise.
Go Cats!
🏀🏀🏀