UK Athletics Photo
Maybe there will not be a better example all season of the depth on coach John Calipari’s team this season.
The Cats got a win they really needed by outlasting North Carolina 87-83 Saturday in Atlanta,
Kentucky got to 87 points even though leading scorer Rob Dillingham had only 17 points and was just 6-for-16 from the field, including 1-for-6 from 3-point range.
However, three other Cats — D.J. Wagner (14), Aaron Bradshaw (12) and Reed Sheppard (11) all scored in double figures. But four other players — Antonio Reeves (9), Justin Edwards (8), Tre Mitchell (8) and Adou Thiero (7) — combined for 32 points. Seven players made a 3-point shot.
That scoring balance is hard to defend and beat. But the other stat lines were just as balanced. UK out rebounded North Carolina by 10 because it had five players with four or more rebounds led by Edwards, Wagner and Sheppard with six each. Reeves had a team-high five assists but seven other players had an assist.
Playing time? Calipari managed it magnificently as eight players had 10 or more minutes and only two players — Wagner (35) and Mitchell (33) — played more than 25 minutes.
Kentucky really didn’t have a star of the game because it had a team full of productive players who all contributed in some way whether it was Aaron Bradshaw making huge free throws late in the game for the first time in his career or Ugonna Onyenso blocking three shots in 10 minutes in his season debut.
I thought UK Radio Network analyst Jack “Goose” Givens described perfectly after the game what this win meant not only now but perhaps for the rest of the season.
“Kentucky as a team grew up in this one,” Givens said. “They had to make plays down the stretch. They had three freshmen guards (Wagner, Dillingham and Sheppard) in there at the end and they made plays they needed to make to win a game like this.
“When they slowed it down late in the game I think they will learn that slowing it down sometimes leads to higher percentage shots. You don’t have to go 120 miles per hour every play. This team just learned a lot tonight.”
Yes they did and Kentucky fans learned that this team could indeed be as good by March as the fans are hoping it will be because this was a quality win in a tournament-like setting that resonates not only with the NCAA Tournament selection committee but also does wonders for a young team’s confidence.
10 Responses
I am not sure that we "grew up", but we did play a more complete game than we did against Kansas. We still have a few guys who are taking too many shots and most of them are heavily guarded shots when a better shot was waiting two passes away. Our pick and roll defense needs a lot of work, but we competed and didn’t fold when Carolina made their runs. When we pass to get an open shot, we look fabulous. When we dribble one on one and force a shot, often a wild one, we look beatable. They can watch the tape and see this. I still think egos, immaturity, and NBA hopes could be a problem for this team. Is there another UNCW performance lurking down the schedule? Most likely, Yes, but hopefully there will only be one or two more of those type of games in their future. When Ugo gets in playing shape, this will be a tough out at tourney time.
Our only problem as I see it is, there are way to many easy layups that is because someone is completely out of place or slow to get in front of their man.
Offensively we’re good. defensively the bar needs to be a bit higher. Should be an easy fix.
‘With you thomas and I hope the D will get better
Kentucky is playing their best it showed in their game against carolina
It sure did Ella
I agree with everything you said Larry. The Cats did have 9 total blocks. The rebounding is way better. No giveme’s inside. The scary thing for other teams is the fact they "Will" get better. Go Cats!!!
Too much driving into the trees to shoot instead of a couple of extra passes to find good percentage shots. That is nothing more than " look at me Mr NBA Scout." That stuff just isn’t going away with a bunch of 18 year old wanna be legends in their own minds. Today’s kids. Reed Shepperd being the exception.
Dude …… you need to Chill. We are NOT even into Conference play yet.
Mr. Hensley …… why the Serious “Tude”.
Dude …… Chill
Mr. Hensley is spot on with his assessment of this team. Once we get into SEC play, even you will notice it. An article was online this weekend that shared the NIL money payments to the team. Ridiculous amounts of money and quite a difference among the payouts. Egos and jealousy could become a problem now that this has be made public. Being NBA wannabes is bad enough, but when they see a couple of kids are getting hundreds of thousands of dollars more than they are…that could stir up several Serious Tudes…Dude.
I think they all make enough Barry to be happy