Notes From Kentucky's Impressive Win Over Michigan State

Men’s Basketball Postgame Notes

Kentucky vs. Michigan State, Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.

November 15, 2016
Attendance: to be announced after second game of doubleheader  

Final Score: No. 2/2 Kentucky 69, No. 13/13 Michigan State 48

                                                             

Team Records and Series Notes

·         Kentucky is 3-0. Michigan State is 0-2. 

·         Kentucky leads the all-time series vs. Michigan State, 13-11.

·         Kentucky has a 4-2 record in the six-year history of the Champions Classic, 1-1 vs. Michigan State, 2-0 v. Kansas, 1-1 vs. Duke.

·         Kentucky’s future schedule in the Champion Classic features:

·         UK vs. Kansas, Nov. 14, 2017 (Chicago)

·         UK vs. Duke, Nov. 13, 2018 (Indianapolis)

·         UK vs. Michigan State, Nov. 12, 2019 (New York)

·         UK has an all-time record of 36-13 in Madison Square Garden, including 24-10 in the original building and 12-3 in the current arena. UK is 2-0 in Champions Classic games in MSG, also played here in the 2011 event.

·         Kentucky returns to action Sunday at home vs. Duquesne. Game time is 9 p.m. and it will be televised on ESPN.

In the First Half

·         Kentucky has started the lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Isaiah Briscoe, Malik Monk, Derek Willis and Bam Adebayo in all three games this season.

·         Malik Monk made a 3-pointer at the 16:04 mark, extending Kentucky’s streak of 978 games with at least one 3-pointer, the longest streak in the nation.

·         Monk’s first long ball was a harbinger of things to come.  Tied at 12, his third 3-pointer of the half ignited a 14-2 run that gave the Wildcats a 26-14 lead they did not relinquish.

·         Michigan State got as close as four but Kentucky lengthened the gap to 34-26 going into intermission. Monk led the Cats with 14 in the opening frame and Briscoe added 10.

In the Second Half

·         Michigan State opened the second half with a 3-pointer but the Spartans got no closer.

·         Kentucky steadily added to its advantage, leading by as many as 23 points at 67-44.

·         The Wildcats closed out with a 69-48 win.

Team Notes

·         Kentucky limited Michigan State to 48 points.  No Spartan reached double figures in scoring.

·         UK is 64-0 under Coach John Calipari when limiting the opponents to 55 points or fewer.

·         UK is 134-5 under Calipari when limiting the opponents to 63 points or fewer.

·         Kentucky blocked eight shots tonight. The Wildcats have at least seven rejections in all three games this season.

·         Kentucky forced 20 turnovers and won points off turnovers 24-12.

·         Kentucky made 16-of-20 at the foul line. The 80 percent mark is the Wildcats’ best of the young season.

·         This is the second-straight game that the Wildcats have had a pair of 20-point scorers.

·         Coach John Calipari has a 665-187 (.781) on-court record, including a 220-47 (.824) mark at UK.

Player Notes  

·         Freshman Malik Monk led all scorers with 23 points, sinking 7-of-11 on 3-point shots.

·         Monk is the third freshman in school history to make at least seven 3-pointers in a regular-season non-conference game, also Doron Lamb and Jamal Murray.

·         Monk also tied Wenyen Gabriel as the top Wildcat rebounder with six boards.

·         Monk has scored double figures in all three games this season.

·         Isaiah Briscoe totaled 21 points, including 5-of-5 at the foul line.

·         Briscoe has scored at least 17 points in all three games, featuring 21 the last two games.

·         Freshman De’Aaron Fox had 12 points, his third-straight game in double figures.

·         He made 6-of-6 foul shots and has made all 21 of his free throw attempts this season.

·         Fox had a game-high six assists and has led the Wildcats in assists all three games.