Coming off what turned out to be somewhat of a unimpressive win Saturday against Texas A&M, Kentucky was looking to have an actual statement game against the Gamecocks Tuesday night. With a record of a record of 15-6 (6-2), the Cats could not afford any kind of slip-up heading into the final weeks of February, especially to a 12-9 (2-6) South Carolina team.
Kentucky opened the game with a turnover on it's first possession, but looked to show some aggression rebounding the ball. Kentucky opened the game with a 7-0 lead before the Gamecocks scored their first point on a free-throw.
The Cats pushed their lead out to 11-2 with 16:53 to play on a three by the old man of the group, Julius Mays who was fouled on the play and drained the ensuing free-throw. Kentucky seemed to run their offense extremely well early on as Ryan Harrow and Julius Mays found the open man every time down the floor. Making the extra pass is something this team hasn't done much of this season, but done extremely well early in the first half tonight.
True meaning of Jekyll and Hyde has to be Frank Martin. During the game, he looks like he should be on America's Most Wanted, but during interview he is one of the nicest guy's I've ever heard answering questions. He is definitely all business on the floor.
Back to the subject at hand, South Carolina shot out of their minds (imagine that) in the first half, but Kentucky didn't helping it's self any with the same old senseless turnovers that have plagued them all season long. It is hard to write about the team during the game because they change the way the play so often. As soon as you (I) write about how well they're playing, they start having the same defensive breakdowns they had to start the season. This has got to be the hardest team to coach that Cal has ever had.
Just a quick point, it's pretty bad when our fans are better (louder) on the road.
When his "circus shots" aren't falling, there is no-one harder to watch than Archie Goodwin. I don't think I can stand to watch him get blocked by the bottom of the backboard again. Especially when he has open men on the wings who are more than capable of knocking down the outside shot, he has got to learn to pass the ball. Just as I typed that, Goodwin goes coast to coast for a thunderous dunk, he is so hard to read. He could be a lottery pick, if he only had consistency.
There can't be a better shot blocking duo in the country than Willie Cauley-Stein and Nerlens Noel who recorded his fourth block of the game with 4:34 to go in the first half, amazing to watch these two on defense.
Kentucky turned things around in a hurry, after letting USC take a 18-17 lead, they put together a 19-2 run and led 36-23 with 3:06 remaining in the first half while shooting 68% from the field. If they could only do that for 40 minutes it would be impressive what this team could accomplish. It's worth noting that Cauley-Stein blocked two three point attempts in the first half. This kid has all the makings of an excellent player if (I'm sure he will) he stays around a while. He has so many different abilities on the floor it's mind boggling, free-throw shooting aside.
Kentucky went to the break with a 45-24 lead on a 9-1 run, showing signs of the team they could be if everyone has their head in the game. If this score holds and Kentucky wins this one, they will be all alone in second place in the SEC. That's kinda hard to believe considering how they've played this season at times.
HALFTIME STATS:
Noel: 2pts, 4rebs, 1to, 4blks
Goodwin: 10pts, 3rebs, 2ast, 2to, 1blk, 1stl
Poythress: 4pts, 6rebs, 1blk
Mays: 9pts, 1reb, 1ast,
Harrow: 10pts (5-5 from the floor), 2rebs, 2ast, 1stl
Cauley-Stein: 5pts, 2rebs, 2blks
Wiltjer: 5pts, 2rebs, 2tos,
The most shocking stat of the half was, Kentucky shot 80% on free-throws going 12-15 from the line.
Ugly stat of the game? 9 turnovers in the first half.
At the first timeout of the second half, Kentucky led 52-36 after some poor decision making and passing. It still wasn't the typical "collapse" that we are accustomed to seeing from the Cats to start the second stanza, but still something that needs some work. Against a good team, that would spell disaster in a hurry and something they cannot afford come March. South Carolina spent the early part of the second half scoring from the free-throw line due mainly to guys being out of position on defense.
Noel struggled most of the night offensively, but he more than makes up for it with what he brings to the table defensively. When he can erase or alter shots the way he does, you overlook the bad shots he takes on the offensive end of the floor. Every time someone drives the lane against the Cats, Noel is always in the back of their minds and you can tell by how badly they miss at the rim.
At the second timeout of the half, Kentucky led 62-40 as they got things going on defense and offense. This team is fun to watch when they are making good decisions and not forcing things. They can out talent every team in the SEC besides maybe Florida, that is something I think they rely too much on at times. You have to come to play every night and not just expect to win. Exhibit A, Florida getting blitzed by Arkansas tonight by 11 and the game wasn't even that close much of the night. If you don't show up every single night, anyone can beat you, that's something this team has yet to understand.
At the 7:49 mark, Kentucky led 68-44 and looked to be playing the best they had since the Auburn game. I have to bring this up again, with a lead like that and playing the way these guys played, the crowd was absolutely pathetic. I'm not lying when I say the crowds were 100% better on the road. This is a prime example why Rupp Arena need's to look into surrounding the lower part of the arena with students. There is no excuse for the lack of crowd support during a game in which this team played the way the ENTIRE commonwealth wished it would. SAD...
After seeing the UK locker room previewed during the game, I'm still kicking myself for not going up for the media tour the day it was completed....damn day job
The best part of the game came when they showed Kentucky's signing class for next year on the screen and referred to it as "that's just unfair".... you have no idea.
At the end of the day, it is what it is. Kentucky destroyed a team that was undersized and less talented 77-55, but showed signs of improving. Defense looked much improved as did decision making, aside from a few silly decisions. In the long run, games like this will boost the confidence of a team that is in desperate need of a boosting.
Up next Kentucky's got Auburn coming to Rupp on Saturday....
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