Rob Dillingham had 21 second-half points. )Vicky Graff Photo)
Just when you wanted to believe and go all-in with Kentucky, the Cats folded at LSU.
Kentucky had a combined16-0 scoring run to end the first half and start the second half to take a 42-27 lead with 19 minutes, 11 seconds to play. After that, it was all LSU and the Tigers hit a miraculous shot at the buzzer to beat Kentucky 75-74.
Kentucky had played itself back into a higher NCAA Tournament seed possibility with wins last week over Ole Miss and at then No. 13 Auburn. The Cats were back in great position to earn the double bye at the SEC Tournament. Kentucky even could have visualized a scenario where it could have won the SEC regular-season title.
Now the path the rest of the season is a lot more treacherous starting with a home game Saturday against SEC leader Alabama — which came from behind at home to beat Florida in overtime — and then games at Mississippi State and Tennessee the final week of regular-season play. Those are three really difficult games awaiting UK.
“They have to figure out how to get themselves lifted up again,” UK Radio Network analyst Jack Givens said. “This one is going to hurt. Kentucky has to figure out how to bounce back. Kentucky has a tough one coming up (Saturday against Alabama). It hurts to lose on a last shot like this but there is no time to waste with a really good Alabama team coming in.”
Givens correctly noted it was not hard to figure out what changed the second half.
“It was obvious what the (LSU) scouting report was and what the discussion was at halftime and that was to get physical (with Kentucky). They didn’t do it in the first half and it showed. The second half they went for 50-50 balls. Even on the last tip they came up with the loose ball,” Givens said.
LSU had four offensive rebounds and three second chance points in the first half. The second half it had eight offensive boards and 10 second half points.
The first half UK had seven turnovers, LSU had 11. The second half UK had six turnovers, LSU had three.
Kentucky went 12-for-12 at the foul line but did not shoot a free throw in the first half. LSU missed nine of 25 free throws but got to the line 16 times in the second half and was in the bonus with about 13 minutes to play.
LSU had 27 points in the first half and went long stretches without scoring. The second half LSU had 48 points, including 22 points in the paint and 11 at the foul line, and seemed to get in the lane at will.
“The first half I thought Kentucky was good defensively, but the second half was not as good,” Givens said. “The biggest part is to rebound the basketball. It’s very deflating when you force the miss and then they get it. That’s just been a problem for Kentucky and was again here tonight.”
Kentucky just never seemed to have the same energy and focus, especially on defense, against LSU that it had against Auburn. The Cats certainly had to figure the game was not over even with the 15-point lead because in the last two games LSU wipe out a 20-point lead against Florida to get within four points with two minutes to play and came from 16 points down to win at South Carolina.
Kentucky coach John Calipari shuffled his lineup looking for toughness, defense and offense from someone other than Antonio Reeves (25 points) and Rob Dillingham (23) but never found it.
Now all the questions about UK that the Cats seemed to have answered last week are back and Calipari has to go back to work to re-energize his team before Saturday’s game with Alabama.
9 Responses
If Dillingham and Sheppard had started this game with Reeves, Thiero, and Onyenso…we would have won. Calipari insists on playing his pets at the expense of the team. We aren’t passing the ball like we did in December. We stopped rebounding and defending in the second half. A healthy Mitchell would have been the difference.
Wagner has missed his last 11 three point attempts and still starts. Cal is the only coach in the country that would be bringing Sheppard and Dillingham off the bench.
But we all know Cal’s goal is to get players to the NBA, not win games at UK.
We lost to another team with less talent that probably won’t make the tourney…. No big deal right? We’re 4-5 in our last 9. No big deal, right? The Great Cal has already spoken “We’re made for March.”
Last night is exactly why I can’t join the happy train after Auburn win.
I’m afraid all the Auburn win did was insure we’ll have Cal around longer than we should.
Cal has gone all in with his “ made for March “ statement. You talk about unleashing the hounds – that statement will absolutely bury him with an early exit – and that looks even more likely with more difficult/lower seeding. Sad.
This team looks like a lock for a 12 loss season. Knoxville could be as brutal as it gets but Bama says not so quick. You gotta get out of here first. The super frosh have been anything but in the late going. Edwards got 19 minutes and 0 rebounds. Sheppard looked like he lacked confidence and only took 1 three. Mr. Wagner goes O-fer. Bradshaw and his buddy Z seem quite content cheer leading from the bench. Are these 2 both wasted scholarships or missed coaching opportunities or maybe a combo of each? Bradshaw still looks like Skal 2.0 and wouldn’t be surprised of he takes the trans train out of town EOS.
The sun will shine again and it’s a big L. Lets move on.
the only one that needs to move on is the fraud. The BBN should show him the door.
Cal and this team is a head scratcher that’s for sure.
It’s not surprising that this team and the fraud are headscratchers.
Nearly all of the fraud’s teams at UK have been headscratchers.
The teams change year to year, as we all so painfully realize, but the fraud is the common link.
The fraud is responsible for all the head-scratching.