Vicky Graff Photo
Court storming? Not at Mississippi State.
Kentucky made sure of that with its 91-89 win Tuesday night even though Mississippi State had prematurely asked fans to stay off the court after the game when it had the second-half lead.
The Bulldogs used a 9-4 run to open the second half to take a 52-39 lead before Kentucky came roaring back.
“They just picked their pace up,” Mississippi State coach Chris Jans said. “They played with more pace offensively, they were more determined and we had some breakdowns giving up angles up front without the ball screen.
“When they came, for whatever reason, we were not as aggressive. They flipped the script on us.”
This win not only enhanced Kentucky’s chances to earn a double bye in the SEC Tournament but could also elevate UK’s NCAA Tournament seeding, especially if UK beats Arkansas and Vanderbilt in Rupp Arena in its next two games.
“To walk out of here, that is not a first- or second-round (NCAA) game. You see that in the third round. That’s who you’re playing, they’re that good,” Calipari said. “They’re in the 20s in the NET, they beat Tennessee here and beat Auburn here.
“This was a big-time win. We’re going to celebrate this one. To beat these guys and how they’re playing right now, big-time.”
Calipari has been stressing that his team is “built for March” and postseason success and with road wins at Auburn and Mississippi State along with the home rout of Alabama in the last four games, it looks that way. But the UK coach also said the Bulldogs are built for March.
“They are built with a couple of breakdown guys and physical guys,” Calipari said. “They are good. This was an unbelievable road win. This was our fifth road win in the league.
“I think most years we have a winning record on the road. I think part of it is that it is a little easier because you are not supposed to win. Were we underdogs (yes by four points)? Does that surprise you?”
Kentucky’s topsy turvy season that includes four home losses has taken a toll on Calipari.
“We have got to take a day off. I am under the weather,” Calipari said on his postgame radio show. “I am okay but it wears on you.”
10 Responses
I thought we play more aggressive in the second half and play our game as well. Its good to see the luck was on our side for a change.
You got that right brother. Sometimes it feels like the basketball gods hate us but not tonight, Go Big Blue 💙!
To play devil’s advocate, had they waited until the end of the game to post the message about storming the court (if Kentucky lost), it would have been too late and had no chance of stopping the court storming. I am not sure the message would have worked anyways, but kudos to MsSt for being proactive.
I heard last night that Lunardi said if we beat MSU he would put us on the 4 line. So that was a huge win! ! Now to protect Rupp and beat UT. No telling where we would move up to if we can do that! Woo Hoo! ! I still have tickets to Phoenix! I hope I will be using them. If not Robbie’s here we come! ! They have the best Bloody Mary in the Keys! ! 🙂
UkFMLY, I like our chances to win out the last 3 regular season games as well
I wonder where the professor is
I wonder where the professor is? All the cal haters have shut up now for some reason. I also think there are better coaches than
Cal out there but I’m still gonna support him and the team as long as he is at UK. It just makes me mad when as soon as we lose everyone starts saying how horrible we are and Cal needs to be fired and all that. Let him finish the season before you judge.
Cal a great coach,he the right guy for the job at hand an after all if is a high pressure job,all these folks get upset for losing to a cupcake team an folks lets be real the years of our Big Blue Cats walking through the Sec is over the coaches are better then you have better players coming in so it’s alot to take in an hell i get mad an upset to when the lose but at the end of the day I’m always a BBFan an always will be, this team can win it all,go big blue
MissSt wins at HOME against Tennessee and Auburn,,, 😂. Since they can’t take their referees to the NCAA Tourney I don’t expect them to win one game !!!… if they get in to begin with.
Well this kind of brought my mood way down because of the end of this article, I have a bad feeling that Coach Cal is going to be hanging them up once this season or next season is over. You can tell how much this job has aged him. He is obviously exhausted. I think it’s getting close to being that time sadly 😭😭😭