#2 Cats absolutely dismantle Arkansas Razorbacks with a final score 86-63 win. UK improves to 18-1, 4-0 in the conference. UK and Vandy are the only two undefeated teams in the SEC (Vandy is 3-0 and has a tough game Thursday @Bama).
I was about 30-45 minutes behind on the game via DVR, so I did not catch Coach Cal’s post game comments. If anyone caught it, be sure to comment on anything interesting that was said.
I’m hearing he did say Teague only made 2 poor decisions the whole game. Teague played well and is showing why he is our floor general, we needed to see him improve and tonight he did that.
The final score doesn’t even do this game justice as Arkansas put up some threes at the end when we pulled back the reigns.
Arkansas showed why you don’t press UK, the Cats will destroy your press. When our bigs in Davis and Jones can drive past you, this isn’t a good idea. As a coach who uses the press as their bread and butter has a tough choice to make. Do you completely change how you play or do what you do and if they destroy us they destroy us and hope the players learn from the experience.
Anderson chose to go with it and was drilled in the process. I’m not a betting man but if I was to bet money on UK covering the spread (which they finally did in 13 games) I would do it against a team that presses the whole game like Arkansas does. A team like this we should pick a part.
UK has now won 46 straight home wins for UK (45 in Rupp, 1 in Memorial). I assume Brad Nessler believes Vargas played in that Memorial game since he believes Vargas has lost in Rupp. I would say Eloy would disagree with that sentiment.
Anthony Davis was the clear star of the game, man is he good. He finished with a career high 27 points, 14 rebounds, 7 blocks, 0 turnovers, 10-12 from the field, 7-8 from the line (one miss being a 3). He broke the block record and is now on 89. The SEC record is Jarvis Varnado with 170 who was drafted by the Heat but is now playing in Europe.
Balance scoring from the rest of the Wildcats: Lamb-14, Jones-13 (9 rebounds, 5 blocks, 0 turnovers), Miller-11, Kidd-Gilchrist-10, Teague-7, and Wiltjer-4.
Cats shot 32-56 (57.1%) from the field, 3-11 (27.3%) maybe the one area we didn’t perform well at again, 19-25 (76%) from the line. Arkansas performed better at was three point shooting as they went 5-15 (33.3%) but as mentioned above most of those were unguarded when the game was out of reach.
UK won the rebound battle 38-23. Assist 13-5. Blocks 13-3.
Loved the aggressive move by Jones as he went up with both hands and tried to dunk it over the defender. He didn’t make it but was fouled and nailed both shots. This is a type of play he needs to do over and over. Take it up strong to avoid it being blocked. He is either going to dunk it or get fouled or both for an “and 1”. I can’t see anyone stopping Jones if he takes it up strong like that. If he goes up weak he will be rejected as he has done in the past.
What about the double foul called on Teague? I have never seen a block/charge both be called at the same time, I was unaware this was possible. My understanding for a charge is the defender must be there before the offensive player. Just like in baseball tie goes to the runner. So it was a block even though Teague was out of control. Apparently one ref called a charge and one called a block and they didn’t want to overrule the other. In a game like this, who cares but in a tight game where Teague ended up fouling out…this would be a hot topic.
On another note, UK Hoops is the first time our ladies have been solely first in the SEC in 30 years. They play Thursday against 2nd place in the SEC Georgia.
The injury plague continues for Louisville as Rakeem Buckles is now listed as being out for the season and next season with a torn left ACL suffered at Marquette. He tore his ACL in his right knee last season. His career at Louisville may be finished. At some point recruits got to realize that the game of basketball doesn’t want Louisville, it is denying you in the only way it knows how. Don’t go there unless you like to watch in street clothes.
Cats now play Alabama at home on Saturday at 12 eastern. Alabama is a more of a bruiser, slow pace type of game. If Arkansas is the ideal matchup in style, Bama may be the worst. We will be forced to beat them in the half court game and will need to keep Davis and Jones out of foul trouble. Bama is currently 13-4, 2-1 in the SEC with a 4 point loss @MSU. The good news is as mentioned above Vanderbilt plays Bama in a late game just two days before. That will be a battle, here hopes for 10 overtimes.
Go Cats!
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