Strack, Obi Lead Kentucky in Win Over Purdue

Clara Strack continued her dominating play with another double-double against Purdue. (Vicky Graff Photo)

It was an easy win for No. 20 Kentucky and hopefully the perfect tune up game to play at No. 21 Louisville on Saturday afternoon.

Clara Strack had 17 points and 13 rebounds and Jordan Obi added 17 points and eight rebounds in the 76-35 win over visiting Purdue Tuesday night. Tonie Morgan had 11 points and six assists.

“It wasn’t always pretty, but I really like what we’re doing and how we’re continuing to gain chemistry with each other and gel,” UK coach Kenny Brooks said after the win. “We’re still a work in progress, but we show flashes of doing some very special things.”

Kentucky will play four straight road or neutral site games starting with Louisville Saturday before returning to Memorial Coliseum Dec. 7. Strack hopes the away games will only strengthen the team.

“When we go to Louisville, and obviously that’s going to be a crazy environment, because when they came here last year, that was a crazy environment, but it was for us. So having the other end, I think that will teach us a lot,” Strack said.  “Staying locked in,  through the adversity, and then continuing it when we play, like Maryland and teams like that, it’s going to be good games for us.

“I’m just excited. We’re looking forward to it (playing Louisville again.”

Obi knows different settings will help make Kentucky (6-0) a better team.

“Playing in different environments, staying focused wherever we are regardless of the situation. We just have to stay locked in,” Obi said.

Purdue coach Katie Geralds said any team playing Kentucky has difficult choices to make.

“Kentucky is a team where you pick your position. They got kids who can shoot and kids who can play on the block,” she said.

She noted that Strack’s fadeaway baseline jump shot is almost unstoppable.

“Just pat her on the butt and tell her good job. You could maybe crowd her a little more but it is difficult with (Amelia) Hassett there or Asia (Boone) there and you don’t want to dig too much,” Geralds said. “If Strack gets to her spot with her length she is a really tough guard for anybody.”

Clara Strack just keeps delivering. Her fourth double-double of the year powered Kentucky past Purdue.

Strack has  a double-double in every game but one, a level of dominance that has made her the nation’s leader in double-doubles this season.

Brooks said his team had some defensive miscommunications even though Purdue was only 13 of 65 from the field, a 20 percent mark.

“We have the potential with our length to be a really good defensive team. But we can’t rely on our length to erase everything. We have got to be in position to stop shots,” Brooks said.

Before the game, Morgan was honored for reaching 500 assists and also tying a UK school record with 16 assists in a game earlier this season.

Brooks said Morgan, a Georgia Tech transfer, could shoot and score more but is trying to “over facilitate” at times like UK All-American Georgia Amoore did last season to set the tone for team play.

“Things I am teaching her now are the intangibles, not her jump shot. It’s more the leadership part,” Brooks said. “We never saw Georgia have a bad day and others followed. She (Morgan) can command the whole game. I don’t care who you are playing, 16 assists and zero turnovers (in the same game) is pretty remarkable.

“I love her ability to be coached. She is super coachable. I can say Georgia’s name 500 times and it does not bother her. She is one of the most coachable kids I have ever had.”