Kentucky Needs Energy From BBN Against Kansas State

Guard Dazia Lawrence advances UK to the second round on the NCAA Tournament bracket board. (UK Athletics Photo)

Two hours before Kansas State finished an 85-41 thrashing of Fairfield Friday to advance to a NCAA Tournament matchup with host Kentucky Sunday, UK players were already sending a message to Big Blue Nation to fill Memorial Coliseum.

“Come out and do the same,” Kentucky point guard Georgia Amoore, who had 34 points in Friday’s win over Liberty. “We have a great game. Whoever wins this next game, they’re a good team and we can see that.

“Obviously this game, you know, the crowd does help. The energy, momentum helps.”

Memorial Coliseum was close to being sold out for Friday’s game and the Cats had a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter before barely surviving thanks to Amoore. Kentucky will need that — and more fan support — against a much better Kansas State team that got Ayoka Lee back Friday after she had not played since Feb. 22 due to foot injuries. The 6-6 center went 7-for-10 from the field and had 17 points and 10 rebounds in only 15 minutes.

Kentucky guard Dazia Lawrence, who had 16 points against Liberty, said UK fans “pump up our energy, so it really helps” the team.

“Come out, support, and just you’re going to have a great time. Next game we’re going to make it a lot more fun than this game. Just come out and support us,” Lawrence said to fans.

Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks said his team missed too many makeable shots in the fourth quarter and it took the team’s energy away.

“Then we were playing not to lose as opposed to win the basketball game. You have to give them (Liberty) credit. They were the aggressors. When you’re down like that you don’t have much to lose. Might as well go all out,” the UK coach said. “They were aggressive and confident in their shots.

“I thought once we missed a few we were a little bit tentative, especially going down the last five minutes. We were just trying to Band-Aid every situation because Teonni (Key) and Clara (Strack) fouled out. Kind of took away our anchor for our post defense.”

Brooks said the one positive to remember is that Kentucky did survive and advance to Sunday’s second round game. He also noted NCAA games were new to most of his team.

“She (Amoore) came out like this was her 29th NCAA first round tournament. I thought Dazia had really good energy. Clara was a little bit off. I thought she played through some emotions and kind of took her out of her game a little bit,” Brooks said.

“Teonni, first time playing in an NCAA with a prominent role. Clara Silva, first time in an NCAA tournament. It’s a different feel. So now when you go out there, Amelia Hassett, same thing. When you go out there, it’s not like, okay, you lose today. Who do you have on Sunday? You lose today and you’re done.

“Obviously the first round opponent, get that under your belt it’s good. I think they’ll have a different mindset, different emotion, level, when it comes to Sunday. So that’s the good part about this.

“That’s why you hear coaches right now say survive and advance. When I walk out of here (media room) you guys probably won’t talk about this game forever. You know, we’ll be onto the next one. That’s what the tournament is all about. It wouldn’t be madness without stuff like this.”