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Neither was a five-star recruit. Neither is the team’s leading scorer. Neither is being mentioned as an NBA first-round draft pick.
However, unsung Adou Thiero and Ugonna Onyenso played huge roles in Saturday night’s 70-59 upset win over No. 13 Auburn and could play pivotal roles in how Kentucky fares in NCAA Tournament play.
Thiero played a career-high 33 minutes and had 14 points, only his third double-figure scoring game of the season. He also went 6-for-6 at the foul line. He had two three-point plays in the first half where he had the strength to finish through contact that helped UK keep separation over the Tigers.
Onyenso played even more than Thiero as he put in a career-high 36 minutes and clearly has become the top option at center over Aaron Bradshaw and Zvonimir Ivisic, who are both frequently mentioned as potential first-round draft picks. Onyenso led the Wildcats with 11 rebounds, his third double-figure rebounding game of the season, and seven came on the defensive board. He also had seven points on 3-for-3 shooting and two blocks.
“Today Ugo and Adou were unbelievable. Both of them played great,” said Kentucky coach John Calipari.
The Kentucky coach had been wanting his team to play more physically and rebound better. Onyenso and Thiero are made for that.
With Tre Mitchell out with a back injury, Thiero knew he had to deliver more and didn’t let getting bumped around a couple of times that didn’t do wonders for his back issues take him out of the game.
“I tried to do my best,” Thiero said.
Former UK All-American said Onyenso has been the key to UK’s defensive improvement in wins over Ole Miss — where he had 10 blocks — and Auburn.
“Back in the day defense started in the paint and what that big guy could do to erase mistakes by folks on the perimeter. I knew Rick Robey and Mike Phillips would be there if I made a mistake,” Givens said on the UK Radio Network. “Ugonna only had two blocks but he had seven defensive rebounds and I wish people could see how many times his presence on the court affects the game. He changes a lot of shots.”
13 Responses
Goose is right. Watching on TV you just don’t get the whole feel for what’s going on. When you are at a game you can see the timidity of players going against a physically dominant opponent. I saw it at Rupp against Florida. Florida’s Samuel is a beast. He really altered Tre Mitchell’s game.
Ugo has made a difference, but we need to do more pick and rolls with him going to the basket for a throw down. We do it a few times and stop. Thiero is a difference maker too, but how long can he go on his gimpy back? Mitchell has a shoulder issue and may not get back to 100% this season. Wagner is playing with a gimpy ankle and I give him credit for that, but not sure how much he is helping us. Sheppard and Reeves will scrap and can hold their own, but Sheppard is not shooting enough and Reeves is shooting too much pretty much because he has to. Dilly tries to mix it up, but fouls too much. The fate of our season lies in Edwards, Bradshaw, and Z. Will they toughen up and contribute? Edwards has shown a flash lately but nothing consistent. Bradshaw and Z don’t have the bulk. Burks will scrap, but Calipari won’t play him for more than a couple of minutes. If we were in November, I would say that we still had time to come together. Being that we are in the middle of February, with the injuries that we have, I am not sure that can happen. It still looks like another double digit loss season under Calipari with nothing to show for it other than a few squealing Calipari lovers.
Yesterday was this team’s high watermark for this season, and getting that win was a huge accomplishment for this team. Auburn is an Elite 8 type of team (2 seed). However, a single game (win or loss) does not define a team. Every team has a few games each year when they blow the doors off the building and a few games each year when they lay a broken egg.
This was one of those blowouts. UK has had 3 (Game 1, Game 22, and yesterday’s Game 25) this season. There have been 2 eggs (Game 8 and Game 18). Notice I do not include the Tennessee loss (Game 21) or the Kansas loss (Game 3) in the egg basket, and I do not include wins over Marshall or Miami FL in the blowout group.
This team remains a 2nd round-exit type of team, yesterday notwithstanding. Finish the season 5-1 or 6-0, and perhaps the team will legitimately rise into a Sweet 16 grouping.
Edwards said he felt he may have turned the corner last game but apparently not the case yet so still concerned with him. I am not sure Bradshaw is more than a cheerleader and a body to buy some rest for others. Z seems like a great kid with very good offensive skills but shy from contact on D and does not take advantage of his height.
Our players came to play. Our coach made zero adjustments during the game outside of playing zone for one possession.
We still got scored on under the basket on an in bounds play and another for a corner 3.
We still have zero in bounds plays ourselves.
This fraud coach has to ride the players coat tails. Always has and always will!
Never heard so much negativity in my life. I fill sorry for you guys. Just give credit were it’s due.
I did! Our players came to play.
Cal is still Cal!
So by your own words 1996 it’s the players that cause wins and losses not Cal. Just remeber that after our next "L". Such Hypocrisy! ! ! ! ROFLMAO! ! ! !
We are a talented team…SO————Bradshaw -EXTRA SOFT…Wagner OVERRATED…Ivisic/Burks-NO IDEA THEY DONT PLAY ENOUGH…and lastly…Our Coach is NO X AND O’S Master…..What a shame…
Jo Jo did you ever thought you were perfect. If so I never heard your name on the floor doing great things. Never attack our players. Maybe your the soft one.
79, look in the mirror and you will see that you have 2 mouths. You blurt out praises for Calipari with one and puke out damnation to the Calipari haters with the other. Why not just state your opinion and let it stand for what it is? You Calipari lovers think you have to attack the haters. All that does is make us hate Calipari and his "lovers" more.
I hate to admit it but Bradshaw and Big Z really kill the chemistry when they are out there on the court. Coming onto the team later in the year was a big part of this it seems like they needed to be there during the tune up games to get tuned up. Big Z is ok on offense but he is such a liability on the defensive end that it hurts having him on the court. Bradshaw is the worst 7 footer top 5 freshman I have ever seen. He is the type of player who needs 3-4 years of college. Big Z needs 2-3 years of college and there is no getting around it. I think Dillingham has been in a lil slump. He’s been playing sloppy. His offense is just so good it’s hard to not play him. Edward’s had his best game in a Ketucky uniform. His most complete game. He was actually pretty good on defense. If he can put his offense and defense both together he will be a very dangerous player but I also think he’s a typical 2-3 year college player. For these players thinking everyone is a one and done player is insane to me.
If are basketball players were to come back next year, really try and get better this summer, we would have a good shot at winning the SEC conference next year! They might be NBA ready but they are not good enough yet to win the SEC Conference! They really need more than one year!
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