What an offensive performance by the Kentucky Wildcats. UK basketball rewrote plenty of records on Saturday evening in a 117-95 domination of Alabama at Rupp Arena. Never mind the top-ranked offense that the SEC-leading Crimson Tide brought to Lexington: Saturday was all about the Wildcats’ scoring ability.
Freshman Justin Edwards led the way for Kentucky (19-8, 9-5 SEC) with a certified breakthrough performance: 28 points on perfect 10-for-10 shooting from the field, including 4-for-4 on 3s. Fifth-year guard Antonio Reeves added 24 points in his first game since becoming a 1,000-point scorer at UK. And freshman center Zvonimir Ivisic had a career night of his own with 18 points and four blocks in 20 minutes played. Ivisic had played four combined minutes across UK’s last three games. The team offensive numbers for UK were staggering: The 1.539 points per possession that the Wildcats had against the Crimson Tide were the most by a UK team since at least the 2002-03 season.
A final offensive nugget from Kentucky’s big game: On Saturday, Kentucky put up 117 points. Over its last five halves of basketball, Virginia has scored a combined 112 points (100 minutes). And the Wildcats did all of this while fifth-year forward Tre Mitchell was out injured for a third straight game. Afterward, John Calipari met with media members at Rupp Arena to discuss the incredible scoring night by his team, which came just a few days removed from a puzzling SEC road loss at LSU.
A final offensive nugget from Kentucky’s big game: On Saturday, Kentucky put up 117 points. Over its last five halves of basketball, Virginia has scored a combined 112 points (100 minutes). And the Wildcats did all of this while fifth-year forward Tre Mitchell was out injured for a third straight game. Afterward, John Calipari met with media members at Rupp Arena to discuss the incredible scoring night by his team, which came just a few days removed from a puzzling SEC road loss at LSU.
Here’s everything Calipari said as this up-and-down UK basketball season took another big swing, this time in the right direction.
You know, I kept saying you’re going to break through, I believe in you. He said coach, I believe in you. And I said you just got to stay the course. What I said to the team today – he has lived in the gym. He made every shot. I took him out because he reverted back and he was going to spin and move and throw the ball. I took him out because I said you’re playing a perfect game. I’m not going to let you screw it up. But, and even Z. I made a decision yesterday that I was going to play Z. I did get some pushback. But I said nope, when I wake up and in my gut says that’s what I should do, then I’m doing it. He’s waited his turn. He and Aaron, none of it is their skill. It’s all physical play. Are you physical enough to stay in games. And in this game they were.
