Cats win for the 29th straight time at Rupp (30th straight for what is considered home games). We continue to play strong at home and not so hot on the road. Sadly the NCAA tournament isn’t played at home but on the other side, their not played in the opponents home court either…
UK is now tied with UT and Georgia for 2nd place in the East. Georgia did lose tonight but it was out of conference against Xavier. Florida holds a two game lead at 7-2.
This was Pearl’s 1st game back after his eight game SEC suspension, not counting his game at UCONN. Glad to see we gave him such a warm welcoming. In reality it wasn’t just the team who stuck it to Pearl. The fans behind UT’s bench were all over him. So bad at half time, Pearl was trying to get security after our fans for what they were saying. Not certain on the words but apparently it was enough to rile up Pearl and his assistants. Anyone aware of what was said, would love to hear.
John Wall back in the building, doing the Y, great to see him back. Some fans are a little frustrated with seeing guys here for a such a short time but these guys still bleed blue even if they played here only one year.
As mentioned at the end of the game, this one was important to not fall into last place in the East. This is clearly a rebuilding year from what we had last year and what we potential could be next year but last place in the East would be tragic.
They gave the player of the game to Liggins who tied his all time career high and led all scorers with 19, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 assist. Liggins didn’t just do his defensive lock down but shot very well. He went 5-6 from the field, 2-2 from three, and 7-8 from the line. Liggins has made himself known for being able to drive and then not finishing, that didn’t happen tonight. When he drove he either scored or was fouled.
I think Harrellson has a good argument for it as well with 16 points, 6 rebounds (4 offensive), 2 assist, 2 steals and 1 block.
Knight had a subpar game thanks to riding the bench for a significant portion of the 1st half with 2 fouls. He ended with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assist, with only 2 turnovers. Of course the low turnovers are in part thanks to being on the bench quite a bit in the first half.
Jones had a subpar game tonight as well. UT is big and the post wasn’t there and they collapsed anytime he drove. He shot only 2-9 from the field. He did end with a double double, 10 points with 11 rebounds. He also had 4 blocks and 2 assist. He did well from the line, hitting 6-6.
Miller went quiet for most of the game hitting one big three but that was only field goal of the night, as he shot 1-7 from the field. He did end up with 7 points thanks to shooting 4-4 from the line.
Lamb was hot early hitting two threes, seemed to disappear after this. Ended up with 9 points, 3-7 from the field.
Vargas and Hood both saw minutes but neither one scored.
The consistent stat from each player was our free throw shooting as a team we shot 22-27 (81.5%). Vols shot only 8-12 (66.7%). I’m sure the Vols fans will be pointing out the difference in free throw shooting on the road…of course that is what many UK fans do when we lose on the road and there is a free throw shooting discrepancy….
Free throw shooting is where in the end we beat them at as far as shooting goes. Cats shot 22-49 (44.9%) from the field compared to UT’s 22-54 (40.7%). UT scored more from three, as they went 9-16(56.3%) to our 7-18(38.9%).
Liggins after the game: Cal told him to be more aggressive on the offensive end. The team needs to step up and needs to play better on the road. Last year we had an attitude of playing like every possession is your last and we are not doing that right now on the road.
When we got the lead on the road, we rushed the shot and give the other team a shot at coming back. We are going one on one when we should be doing a pick and roll. One on one is only a last second desperation situation but we are doing that with 24 seconds left on the clock on the road.
Cal after the game: Great crowd tonight. Cal this week took 12 sets of boxing gloves and 4 heavy bags and showed them how to jab with their weak hand. He had them boxing and some of them were great at boxing. He wanted them to fight like that. He told Hood to go out there and talk some junk and he will fight harder. Hood did this in the first half but didn’t the second half.
Cal wants them to understand it is a dog fight, either they will get the ball or we will. He plans on using this again this week in practice.
He is trying to instill on them to go in and fight for rebounds, not just hope they bounce out. They have got to be committed to the team.
This team is what they are, 5-4 but this is a team that needs to commit and if they do that then we have a chance. He was very angry at Florida when they saw the same guys doing the same wrong things that they did at Ole Miss, Alabama and at Georgia.
Cal mentioned he thought the Vandy game was at home this week. Mentioned how Vandy will be their 5th road game out of their last 7 games.
We lose focus when we are up and let go of the game and this something we have got to stop doing.
On the two losses: Our fans are fine, I would rather them engaged than not give a crap. Our fans are the greatest and if they are mad at me for losing, they should be, I’m the coach. I’m trying to figure it out. If we lose, it’s on me, I’m the coach. If our kids are losing, blame me. I don’t read what is written about us. I like Jerry Tipton, everyone seems to hate him, but he seems like a great guy.
Cats now have an even tougher battle as we go down to #24 Vandy. Playing at Vandy is tough and a place that truly puts the road team at a more disadvantage than anywhere else. Having the bench underneath the basket, should be illegal. Yes both teams have to do it but Vandy is used to it. They have a system with big signs to call out plays from the opposite side. Stallings makes a loud whistle with his finger that allows him to get attention of his players. They have mastered hand signals.
When you only play there once a year, the west only plays there once every two years, it’s a challenge to have a perfected system like Vandy does who plays there all the time. Last season it took a John Wall block right at the end to pull out the win. Vandy is 3-1 in the conference at home, with their one lost to Arkansas.
Go Cats! Beat Vandy!
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