Aaron Bradshaw finally played for UK Saturday but the Cats lost. (Vicky Graff Photo)
After the Miami win on Tuesday night fans were checking hotel and airfare for the Final Four in Phoenix. I cannot fault anyone for doing this as I did the same.
Then UNC-Wilmington waltzed into Rupp Arena, stepped on the new floor and gave the Big Blue Nation a reality check with its 80-73 win over the Wildcats.
Even the Rupp Arena crowd could not will Kentucky to take and or keep a lead in this game.
There was a buzz in the air from the tip. Reed Sheppard was finally getting the start and Aaron Bradshaw was making his debut. What could go wrong? Just about everything.
Trazarien White made his own white out this day. White scored 27 points, was 1-for-3 from 3. He was on the floor for 30 minutes with only one turnover. He was that guy tonight, the one that comes into Rupp and has the best game of his life.
On a positive note, Sheppard contributed 25 points (team high), nine rebounds and six assists. It just wasn’t enough to brighten the skies on a gloomy day in Lexington.
Aaron Bradshaw will play this year unlike that other guy that never checked into a game. At least that expectation is over. Bradshaw played 13 minutes contributing three points, two rebounds and one block. Fans need to be patient because he will only get better.
Perhaps this team is better with Wagner and Justin Edwards starting and the spark of Sheppard and Rob Dillingham coming off the bench. That spark cannot negate a slow start.
Fans get a week’s break from basketball as the next game will be in Philadelphia Dec. 9. It will be a homecoming for Wagner, Edwards and Bradshaw. Hopefully, they will show out for their family and friends which I am sure will be in attendance in big numbers.
Chalk this one up to an inexperienced team without their starting point guard and stay close to social media for the football transfer portal which should be the talk of the Big Blue Nation next week.
4 Responses
Yep, last night was butt ugly. I guess the Seahawks forgot to read about how good we were. It looked like we were still rewinding those clips as we were getting our butts kicked. Bradshaw will be a positive addition as he learns the plays and gets in shape. Wagner will be back soon, but I hope he doesn’t revert back to being our leading shot taker. I have no idea what got into Reeves and Dillingham; hopefully it’s a 24 hour thing. Thiero seems to have taken a step back the last 3 games; he needs to get back in the fight again. Edwards is still struggling and probably needs less PT as Bradshaw and Wagner come back. Ugo is not far from being back in the mix.
It seemed like this was the first time the team had ever played together as we forced more and shared less. I fear that Calipari will go back to a 55 shot per game offense but that will help the other teams more than it will help us. We only have 3 more games until SEC play starts, but that is enough time to get back on track. Getting the bigs back will mean better defense and rebounding but slower play with fewer shots. Will we be willing to share the ball with those fewer shots? It’s a fact…when assists go down, turnovers go up and fewer good shots get taken. Hopefully the egos will give way to what’s best for the team.
Short memory required after wins and losses.. this is just learning for march.
💙🏀💙 GO BIG BLUE 💙🏀💙
Miss Tina – realistic summary.
The Blue Blue Kool-Aid goes down easy, then again every now and then the ostrich sometimes gets a baby watermelon stuck in it’s throat.
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