Vicky Graff Photo
If Kentucky basketball fans were already excited about coach John Calipari’s team, then they really are super excited today after the way the Cats dismantled No. 8 Miami 95-73 Tuesday night in Rupp Arena.
That’s the Miami team that went to the Final Four last season and has mainly junior and senior players.
Kentucky opened the second half on a 21-6 run in just over five minutes — and did it without star freshman D.J. Wagner who was injured in the first half and did not return.
In the first eight minutes UK outscored Miami 31-10 and made 12 of 14 shots, including four of five from 3. Reed Sheppard had 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting, including 3-for-3 from 3. He also had two rebounds and one assist in the spurt and easily was the start of the game for the Cats as he finished with 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting (5-for-9 on 3), five rebounds four assists, three steals and one block in 30 minutes.
But the Cats had four other players — Antonio Reeves 18, Tre Mitchell 14, Rob Dillingham 12 and Justin Edwards 11 — in double figures.
“Kentucky just has so many playmakers,” said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas. “They have guys who can go get their own but they have not had to because their ball movement has been so good.
“They are attacking the paint, drawing help and then playing off that. They are just making high IQ basketball decisions. The ability to get into the lane is killing Miami.
“It has just been beautiful basketball by Kentucky. The unselfishness has been impressive. The way Kentucky has executed John Calipari’s game plan has been spectacular.”
He’s right. It was beautiful basketball at a fast pace. Kentucky had 12 assists on its first 15 baskets in the second half and made 15 of its first 18 shots, including six of seven from 3, in that brilliant start to the second half.
“The ball is moving faster than the help can move. Kentucky is just cutting up the Canes in the second half,” Bilas said during UK’s run.
Calipari obviously was pleased with the way his team played. How could he not be? Kentucky had a 23-7 advantage in fast break points and 48-32 margin in points in the paint. Kentucky held Miami, the nation’s best 3-point shooting team, to 5-for-19 — 26 percent — from 3.
Former UK All-American Jack Givens marveled at how UK played. Calipari praised the UK Radio Network analyst for taking time to watch practice to understand what the game plan was supposed to be and Givens said the Cats “did exactly what they were supposed to defensively” based on the scouting report.
“You can see confidence in their faces,” Givens said. “It’s obviously a good way to play. Confidence is over the top but they are having a lot of fun. Winning games and winning the way they do is fun.”
And it is as much fun for fans as it is for Calipari and his players.
12 Responses
Well, hush my mouth. Has the real form of Ky BB been resurrected from the ashes?? C’mon home fans, that’s what they said to me, you don’t have to love him, just sit a while and see, try, try, try to understand, Cal might really be a Magic Man!!!!!
John Welch brought the new offense with him. Calipari is a magic recruiter.
I think Tyler Ulis may have something to it too. They play there best defense of the season last night
I am with you on that 79!
Cry me a river lol
IMO They way they are playing today is based on how Cal recruited. The talent level and BB IQ of the guards is off the charts. The numbers are scary(for other teams). We couldn’t play this way the last few years because this level of talent wasn’t there. As impressive as the offense was the defense was even more impressive! They talked, rotated and helped each other. Anytime you hold an experienced team that made the Final Four last year and was the Nations leading 3 point shooting team(coming into this game) at 46% to 26% that is DEFENSE. And that is why we won the game. They were more connected on the defensive end than I have seen all year(and they can only get better).
I am sure there are those who will not give Cal the credit he is due(see post above). But this is all him. When we lose it’s his fault so when we win it’s to his credit. That simple.
Can’t wait to see them in person Saturday! ! Go Cats!
Wait a minute. Wasn’t Calipari the guy who recruited all of these "bad" teams that we had? I believe he was the one who was coaching them too. Wasn’t it Calipari who continued to play Andrew Harrison and cost us the game against Wisconsin in 2015 because he didn’t want to take away Andrew’s heart? If Tyler Ulis had closed out that game we would already have No. 9. Calipari publicly admitted that he was all about getting his pets into the NBA instead of winning championships for UK. He has cost us at least 2, if not 3, national titles. I won’t get off of his back until he wins 3 more titles and then I will have to think about it because that would mean he could have and should have been doing that all along.
This is a team others will not want to "make" play fast. The faster the play, the better they are. I really like how they are always looking for who is open.
A few questions:
Does this team have the highest Bb IQ of any Cal team?
Is this his best passing team?
Is this his most unselfish team?
Is this his best 3 pt. shooting team?
Is this his best team at understanding "possession" of the bb?
Yes, Yes, Yes. To everything. Not sure what the numbers say but the eye test and resent memory say yes.
Bottom line, this team is just fun to watch (and play from the reactions of the players). Kentucky definitely upped their defense exponentially last night.
Thanks Larry.
Let’s not disect why , just enjoy it.