Amari Williams (Vicky Graff Photo)
By LARRY VAUGHT
Perhaps it was only fitting that this happened.
Midway through the second half, ABC-TV lost the live feed of No. 1 Auburn at Kentucky and posted this message: Auburn at Kentucky is currently experiencing technical difficulties.
Actually, it was not the technical difficulties that doomed Kentucky in the 94-78 loss to No. 1 Auburn, as it got its first win in Rupp Arena since 1988. Auburn just gave Kentucky a butt-whipping and was dominant most of the game. The Tigers used an early 12-0 run and took a 21-8 lead seven minutes into the game, and the Cats never really recovered.
Kentucky got the lead down to six points several times but turnovers, mental mistakes, missed shots and Auburn’s superior athleticism doomed UK.
Here’s how bad things were for Kentucky:
— Kentucky missed its last 10 shots of the first half and 12 of its last 13 shots.
— Kentucky started the second half with six turnovers on its first six possessions as the Cats did not get a shot until almost four minutes were gone in the second half. Kentucky finished the game with 18 turnovers that led to 21 Auburn points.
“The turnovers were just a killer for Kentucky,” UK Radio Network analyst Jack Givens said.
Amari Williams had 13 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists for Kentucky but he also had six turnovers. Point guard Lamont Butler had five turnovers and no assists.
— Kentucky went 11 minutes without a field goal from the 7:21 mark of the first half before finally scoring in the second half.
“Auburn’s switches have taken away Kentucky’s 3’s. Auburn doesn’t just switch but they switch for a purpose. Kentucky has not been able to run any clean offense against this Auburn defense,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said.
— Otega Oweh got his third foul with 5:01 left in the first half and UK down only 38-31 when he tried to go over Auburn center Johnni Broome, the potential national player of the year, for a rebound on a missed free throw.
“Not a smart play by Oweh. The chances of him getting that ball or knocking it away are maybe five percent. Just not a smart player by a usually smart player,” Bilas said.
“He got in foul trouble and I don’t know that you can blame anyone but him for that because he picked up two that were easily avoidable,” Givens said.
Oweh hit the game-winning shot at Oklahoma Wednesday and scored UK’s last 18 points in that game but finished with just four points on 1-for-3 shooting against Auburn.
— Kentucky was 1-for-9 from 3-point range in the first half and just 4-for-17 for the game. Koby Brea was 4-for-7 from 3 and had 21 points but his teammates were a combined 0-for-10. Auburn went 7-for-16 from 3 the first half — including two banked 3’s — and 11-for-23 for the game.
Kentucky simply could not guard the Auburn guards. Auburn’s guards all hit 38 percent or better from 3 and 85 percent or better at the foul line. They are all quick, athletic players who understand their roles and know how to get where they want to be.
Bilas thinks Auburn has the best four guard combination in the nation — and it is hard to dispute his claim. Myles Kelly had 39 points and was 9-for-13 from 3. Chad Baker-Mazara had 22 points, was 9-for-10 at the foul line and 6-7 can guard all five positions. Freshman Thad Pettiford had 21 points and was 6-for-9 from the field and 8-for-9 at the foul line. And starting point guard Denver Jones played only eight minutes after injuring his ankle early but had four points.
Auburn now has 16 Quad I wins, more than any team in the country. It has the highest offensive efficiency in the 24 years of the KenPom rankings. It is now 15-1 in SEC play in a year where the SEC is loaded with ranked teams and could have three No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
“I liked watching Auburn play,” Givens, the Final Four MVP on UK’s 1978 national championship team, said. “I like really good teams. I was blessed to be on some good teams. When you have those teams lurking around No. 1 or No. 2 in the country and going on the road like this and not skipping a beat you have to give them credit.”
Yes you do because Auburn was just that good Saturday.
5 Responses
We looked totally helpless and clueless on the national stage. What a embarrassing defeat. Amari and Koby looked like the only 2 really wanting to win this game. Pearl took the Pope behind the barn and gave him total beat down. I had voted for Pearl being our coach a few years back and still wish it had happened. Auburn was a superior team, Pearl had a game plan, and he was a superior coach. Pope said we had the desire to win?? We still have no interior offense or defense and are totally inept with BB fundamentals. This is on coach and staff. Our newbies have yet to develope and bench had zero points at half and 5 for game. Almodor and Garrison have played well only in a few games and in spurts at that. You have got to appreciate the energy, passion, fire that Pearl has and his teams have always fed on that. Pope never changes expressions but does sigh and is good clapper.
Some of the mental mistakes the guys make are just staggering…like Jekyll and Hyde. Amari and his turnovers. Really? And why is our point guard repeatedly having our center bring the ball up?! Are we trying to kill point guards coming to UK?? And good lord Lamont, quit shooting layups!! You cannot make a layup! 0-4 yesterday!! Stop it.
Lazy passes make me want to pull my hair out! Why?! And at some of the worst moments! I kept asking the TV, “Who are these guys today?!”
Oh god and something has to be done about these pathetic referees. The missed calls and phantom fouls and 20 video reviews! Stop!!
This year’s football team gave Auburn a better game – they only lost by 14 (24-10).
Sure Auburn is #1 for a lot of reasons, but we did more self-inflicted damage to ourselves on Sat.
With the exception of the Tenn home win (and maybe the Vandy home win), our last 9 games have NOT been good. Looking very shaky for any chance of getting past first weekend in NCAA (or 1 win in SEC) at this point.
Very disappointing trend.
Auburn ranked correctly. A healthy Jax would have made a difference – but not 18 points dif. Live and learn – gotta keep grinding !
The REGRESSION began after the first or so games to start the season, and really got exposed after the 11-1 start. Regression is the long slide fueled by the terrible selfish play of SOME players whose efficiency has been low all season and who chose to be selfish instead of sticking with the winning TEAM 1st style of play developed by Coach Pope & his staff.
Too many players have been inconsistent because they are not focused because they are selfish and don’t want to pass the ball. Just look at the A:TO ratio for each player on the losses!