Justin Edwards had a career-high 28 points and did not miss a shot. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Maybe Kentucky could have played a better first half than it did against Alabama — but I don’t know how.
Kentucky built a 58-42 lead over Southeastern Conference leader Alabama Saturday thanks to a 20-2 run that included two 9-0 runs which was remarkable considering UK had not had a 9-0 run in SEC play all season.
Coach John Calipari’s team was good in the first half at LSU the previous game but nothing like this against a team many believe could make the Final Four. The Cats were 20-for-31 from the field, 7-for-12 from 3-point range, and 11-for-14 at the foul line.
Antonio Reeves had 15 points on 4-for-6 overall shooting and 5-for-6 shooting at the foul line. But the huge lift came from Justin Edwards who had 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting and was 3-for-3 from 3-point range. He also grabbed four rebounds.
“If Edwards plays like that Kentucky goes to a whole new level,” said CBS analyst Bill Raftery. “He was also positioning himself very well. I have not seen him play this well. He has been solid. His ability to shift to another gear is highly effective in transition.”
Who would have ever thought Kentucky could score 59 points in a half and Rob Dillingham (6) and Reed Sheppard (3) would combine for only nine points and six shots?
Kentucky blocked five shots — three by Zvonimir Ivisic who got to play 10 minutes after being a non-factor since his amazing debut against Georgia forever ago. He also went 2-for-3 from the field and had two rebounds.
Kentucky got seven steals led by — who else — Sheppard and Reeves with two each but three other players also had one steal.
The Cats also took care of the ball as they had only four turnovers.
Kentucky actually scored 59 points in the second half to finish the 117-95 beatdown of Alabama as the Cats scored the second most points ever in a SEC game in Rupp Arena behind the 127 against LSU in 1995.
Despite “cooling” down in the final five minutes, UK shot 63 percent (41 of 65) from the field and 54 percent (13 of 24) from 3. The Cats had 29 points off turnovers.
Edwards finished with a career-best 28 points and became only the third player in school history to take 10 or more shots and not miss a field goal. He was 10-for-10 to put his name in the record book with Rodney Dent (1993) and Kenny Walker (1986).
But he had plenty of help. Reeves finished with 24 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field and 8-for-9 at the foul line along with five assists, two steals, and two rebounds to validate his SEC Player of the Year candidacy.
Dillingham had an easy 16 points on 5-for-9 shooting while Ivisic was a huge surprise with 18 points (7-for-11 shooting), five rebounds, and four blocks in 20 minutes against a relatively soft Alabama defense that did not play bully ball with him.
Thiero had 12 points and while Sheppard had just eight points he stuffed that stat sheet with six rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a team-best 32 minutes.
“Alabama is really good. They are the No. 1 scoring team in the country,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “They are good.”
But not good enough to withstand what Kentucky did Saturday.
13 Responses
The talent this KY team has with nearly any other coach in the country, they are a number 1 seed and cruise into the FF.
Instead we have Cal and will land in the 5-7 seed range with a first weekend flame out!
Why don’t you, prof, Barry and Mike so others just chill out and see how the season unfolds then you can hoot your horns. . So much repeating remarks on this site. Go cats!!!
79, if you don’t like what we post…don’t read it.
Not so fast Cats79. We truth tellers will have more to say later to you truth deniers, but let’s all enjoy the long awaited but very well deserved victory!
Mike you whiners are proving yourselves hypocrites enjoying victories. Cal and the players have been blocking out the noise (that’s the crybabies like you). They play for the Real Fans. So as long as Cal is there you can’t enjoy any win.
The Cats just destroyed Alabama and you are all doom and gloom. I’ve never seen so many pathetic people. Your life must really suck.
Jimmy….doom and gloom really??..celebrate the day and enjoy the weekend. There will be more truth telling coming at you very soon.
Mike, I think Jimmy has run out of Midol and can’t afford to buy anymore. Maybe I will buy him some to ease that monthly pain that he suffers with. He and 79 are not Kentucky lovers, they are Calipari lovers who squeal loudly when anyone posts a viewpoint that they don’t like. Calipari will be gone in a couple of months and maybe they will disappear with him.
Cal won’t be gone! You and your cronies will be miserable old cutes for several more years. You will go no where because this site is the only place you can run your mouth.
I will. You tell the truth like Donald Trump. LOLOLOLOLOLOLO!
I was glad to see Edwards have a great game; especially, since I just posted yesterday that he shouldn’t be getting over 5 minutes a game since he wasn’t contributing in other areas of the game. Edwards looked relaxed tonight. Haven’t seen him play with that much aggressiveness all season. Moved a lot on both ends of the floor. Actually got in more than 1 box of the stat sheet. Had 5 Reb, 2 Assists, and 2 Steals. Looked like he belonged on the floor tonight. Very happy for him.
Very glad UK won tonight. I would like to see Alabama’s stats before they went on that run at the end of the game. I feel like UK either let up or went stone cold on both ends of the floor. No team is going to shoot 63% overall and 54% on threes every night, so this was an exceptional showing. Allowing Alabama to shoot 57% overall is a big concern. You don’t usually win those games.One big improvement was they made most of their layups, something they have not always done and Edwards going 10 for 10 is not going to happen again this year but of those helped a lot in this game.
Yesterday was an offensive explosion, but the defense remained dismal, as it has been all season.
Champions play great at both ends of the floor.
But at least it was a win