Bruce Pearl Knew Physical Kentucky Was Just Better Than His Team

Vicky Graff Photo

Not everyone liked what Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said about Kentucky’s “physical” play after the Wildcats beat his team Saturday night.

However, I thought that was the best compliment Pearl could have given UK since for most of the season a lack of physicality has been a big issue for the Cats.

“They were more physical. There were a couple plays that I’m going to send into the league. They were real physical. But that’s what happens when kids get challenged about not playing hard, well then they go play hard, they play physically,” Pearl said.

Kentucky did that and did not let the Tigers push them around at any time in the game. The UK defense limited Auburn to 31 percent shooting.

“I give Kentucky more credit for that. I would give their defense more credit for that. Yes, we missed open shots. No, we didn’t make many tough shots. I thought we could have gotten better looks. We’ve been getting better looks. If you look at the South Carolina game (when Auburn scored 101 points), two completely different games,” Pearl said.

“Offensive efficiency numbers in the South Carolina game were record breaking, we basically came down and scored every time. We put the ball wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted, did whatever we wanted. Kentucky disrupted us. Their length at the rim obviously disrupted us. Their ball pressure disrupted us. They had a good scout.

“I really think you just go ‘alright, Kentucky guards like this, they can beat anybody.’ But we know that. Where are they ranked? They’re a nationally ranked team. They’re a three or four seed in the NCAA Tournament. They played well and we didn’t, that’s why we got beat.”

Agreed. Kentucky was just better and Pearl knew it.

 “This was not a demoralizing game. That’s a good team that played a really good game that played a really good game,” Pearl said when asked if this was a demoralizing loss for his team. “What’s demoralizing about a loss to Kentucky when they play well” I can’t even begin to answer that. Do I look demoralized to you? Anybody think I’m demoralized?”

Pearl had called UK still the “gold standard” of SEC basketball on Friday and also noted then that UK had played better on the road than in Rupp Arena where it has lost four games this season. The Auburn coach also knew Kentucky could be better defensively than it had been.

“Kentucky can guard and they can turn it up when they want to. They outplayed us tonight; they played really well. We knew their guards were excellent, and late in the game, when it came down to just getting decent shots and keeping us at bay, they were able to do that,” Pearl said.

“(Antonio) Reeves has killed us every year. Big guard, able to make shots. We held them to 70, they average 90. We played hard and obviously made some plays defensively. Their ball pressure disrupted us. Our point guards didn’t have an assist and just one basket. Their ball pressure from their guards really wouldn’t allow us to get the ball into places on the floor that we kind of needed to be able to execute our offense or get the ball inside.”

Wait. Pearl was not finishing praising Kentucky.

“They stopped running ball screens and that was probably a good idea because we were just hitting them in the ball screen, double-teaming them in the ball screen and they just started doing their other things instead. Spreading the floor and spacing out and attacking us one one-on-one,” Pearl said.

“Reeves kinda took over. (Adou) Thiero really stepped up in a big, big way and outplayed us at his position. If you told me we’re gonna hold Kentucky to only four 3-pointers, I’d say we would beat ‘em. So give Kentucky credit for finding other ways to win.

“They had an injury to one of their kids (Tre Mitchell) and they did a really good job of finding a way to win another way.”

Bottom line, he knew the best team won Saturday night.

“While I’m disappointed in the outcome, when somebody outplays you and is better than you, hats off to them. That’s why we didn’t win,” Pearl said.