Vicky Graff Photo
Knowing Reed Sheppard would shoot just 2-4 from the field in Saturday’s game at Florida, would you have thought that he would be the game’s most valuable player or Kentucky would even stand a chance of winning?
Kentucky went to a very good Florida team and won their first true road game of the season, 87-85, in large part to Sheppard’s play down the stretch.
While Aaron Bradshaw did nail a clutch three-pointer to put Kentucky up 79-76 with less than a minute and a half to go, it was Sheppard who stepped up multiple times in the game’s last few possessions to seal the victory.
Sheppard went to the free throw line three times in the final 19 seconds, each time with his team only leading by two.
Not only did the freshman guard go six for six during those three trips, but he also was able to bring the ball up the court each time and successfully force Florida into fouling him without committing a turnover.
Sheppard finished the game with 14 points, making nine of his 11 free throw attempts. He also grabbed five rebounds and assisted on two baskets.
It seems like every game that Sheppard shows us just how valuable he is to this Kentucky team.
He always seems to know where his teammates are on the floor. He consistently makes momentum-swinging shots. He’s almost always in the right spot at the right time. And now he’s shown he can step to the free throw line under an immense out of pressure and lift his team to victory.
This Kentucky team is full of highly talented players at every position. They’re incredibly deep and any player can shoulder a majority of the load on any given night. But Sheppard’s ability to make everyone better and be a leader for his team is a trait that simply can’t be taught.
Following the win, Kentucky improves to 11-2 on the season and will return home to host Missouri on Tuesday night at Rupp Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM ET with television coverage on ESPN.
28 Responses
Another solid game, but he proved he is human with that last foul.
I watch the replay never touched the guy
Exactly- I ageee – It was not a foul
He didn’t touch him
He really didn’t foul. Bad call, still he should’ve put himself into that situation, there are always bad calls!!
You can always depend on Reed coming through
But it was called a foul. Reed should not have been anywhere near the guy, but he does far more good than bad.
Coaching last minute not Calipari strung suit.
"Coaching …" — period — is not Calipari’s strong suit !
Nevertheless … Go ‘Cats ! ! !
100% truth
You must have been watching another game, Cal did all the right things to make sure Reed got the ball at the last minute of the game. Geeze!!
Absolutely correct 💯 , Cal is the best coach in the country these are kids y’all and to go through what they do some are only 17 to 18 Go Cals Cats
Wasn’t a foul and yes, he should have been nowhere near the guy. Shepherd is one of the best freshman I have ever seen on any team. Not saying he’s the best. One of the best. In my opinion Reeves is the best player on this team at this point, but Mitchell is the heart and soul.
Our freshman are amazing no doubt but we shouldn’t discount what the two super seniors bring. Without them we would be a good team. With those two I believe they can win it all.
Also missing Adou. He is a VERY important piece of our team.
I agree Ace but Coach Cal brings the elite talent. 801 wins. He’s doing okay. I’ll take it.
Agreed Ace but Coach Cal brings in the elite talent. 801 wins… He’s doing ok. I’ll take it!
He did touch the guy so it was a foul. He’s just programmed to play D. Again with a 4 point lead it’s mute to even get near the guy. Maybe yell potato to his face. A much needed win if you want the conference. KP looking for walk in at UL. Spread the message to all throughout the state. Here’s our chance for more local talent to rise up!
The mugging of Reeves on the drive near the end of the game was a foul…no call on that but they call the last block by Sheppard a foul? Horrible. If the refs would have called the whole game in the same manner as they did the Sheppard "foul" we would still be watching the game. Probably still in the first half! Hahaha
Reed Sheppard seems to get an inordinate amount of credit for Kentucky’s success so far. Wagner seems like the piece that makes the team go
Calipari is running a NBA puppy mill. I want guys at UK that will play 2 years minimum. WOW, even have a few get degrees. They haven’t done crap in over 10 years. Bring Patino back
I guess without Cal the NBA wouldn’t have any players to draft. News flash….the League drafts the best players. That says something about Coach Cal and his player development. Also he’s in the coaching hall of Fame and has 801 wins. How many do you have?
Try recruiting average players and hold your breath until they get to a final 4. Then y’all can moan about how Calipari can’t recruit good players. If you don’t teach, don’t tell the teacher how to teach, or the truck driver how to drive. Don’t tell a welder how to weld or a pilot how to fly. And oh yea, don’t tell a coach how to coach.
Just one question ❓ Why does Cal heap praise on a guy and then sit him on the bench the very next game?
Eg, Jordan Burks 🤔
Time after time after time.
Pitino would take those players and win 🏆 championships. Let Cal run for Governor 😮
For a LOT of BBN Fans it is the Final Results and NOT the HOW of many assorted ways to coach. My viewpoint (and I suspect that of many other BBN Fans) is that the UK Coach’s Primary job is to win games and hang Championship banners in Rupp Arena.
WINNING Championships is not an easy task regardless of how well you can recruit (or coach). The two types of "One and Done" Scenios involved are working against each other.
Having truly talented One and Done recruits helps improve the odds of beating a lot of the more experienced but less talented teams (but it is no guarantee).
The NCAA Tournament Format (unlike the NBA’S best 4 out of 7 format) of One (loss) and your Done (go home) reduces the odds of the most talented team winning the Championship because winning 6 straight tournament games "usually" includes both elements of matchups and luck.
Few will doubt that UK has had the most cumulative talent in the past 15 recruiting cycles but all of that talent has "only" produced one National Championship for UK (12 years ago). Therein lies the perception of underachievement for UK Teams by many UK fans (and non-UK fans) since less talented teams have won just as many (ONE) National Championships in the past 14 years as UK has won.
The number of NBA draftees "should" be the byproduct of UK TEAM success and not the Primary Goal of the UK’s Head Basketball Coach.
Nice breakdown "Stillwaitingon#9". His comment about "Generational wealth" said it all. We need more recruits like Reed who are not concerned about wealth. And yes he’s hired to win championships. Period.
His assistant are all way overpaid. It’s published in the Herald Leader. He’s lucky the G League has become what it is. The young tikesters over at On3 go nuts when I need to remind them how many reside in the G league compared to the NBA. Comments like "tripping over nickels" is out of line. And they get all hot & bothered when you mention the G. We love basketball and we’d love to have a G in Lexington or Lou. Right Dan? As Darrell Griffith once said "It’s basketball". And for the record, I want him to win, but he’s created this format so it is what is. Watered down if you ask me. And the announcers are in his back pocket. It’s crazy what these guys come up with anymore. Watch out for the small teams that are senior ladden. They will always be giant killers. One aspect they do have is a deep bench. Hopefully he can pull the right strings.
Hey Ron. I need to remind you that we are KENTUCKY. There’s a boat load of coaches that can use that for their recruiting. And most people especially over at On3 thought Reed would be an average player. Fans are not to knowledgeable eh?
Thank you for that reminder but Cal hasn’t always coached at UK. He’s been at UMass and Memphis also. The numbers don’t lie regardless of what you think of his coaching. Coach K was recruiting at Duke. Coach Self at Kansas. It’s the coach that recruits, not the school. Using your logic UK could save millions if they would just hire some dude down at 7/11 to recruit and coach. 801 wins…Hall of Famer. You can’t argue with the numbers.
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