Thread Rating:
02-25-2018, 12:44 PM
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Outside shooting helped get Kentucky going against Missouri before the Wildcats started hitting from inside the arc. On both fronts, baskets came consistently with many contributions.
Kevin Knox had 21 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 14 and Kentucky made 10 3-pointers and shot 55 percent to blow out the Tigers 87-66 on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (20-9, 9-7 Southeastern Conference) outscored the Tigers 16-6 over the final 4 1/2 minutes before halftime for a 44-32 lead. Several more spurts stretched the advantage to as many as 24 as they avenged a 69-60 loss three weeks ago, a game in which baskets were hard to come by.
This time, Kentucky seemingly couldn't miss.
Knox succeeded more from inside the arc than behind it, but his one 3 helped the Wildcats' strong start and symbolized his focus after a couple of rough days.
Mentioned Friday in a Yahoo! Sports story as having had a meal with an agent, the freshman forward started after an internal review determined there were no eligibility issues. He made 6 of 13 from the field and all eight free throws in a game that initially seemed destined to be decided from outside.
"With everything going on it has been a good week," Knox said, "just been blocking everything out. I had two good days of practice before this game. Last time they gave us a good one at their place, so we just made sure that we focused on the game going on.
Quade Green and PJ Washington each added 12 points, while Jarred Vanderbilt had a career-high 15 rebounds and 11 points for his first career double-double. Hamidou Diallo made all three 3s for 11 points as six Wildcats scored in double figures. Kentucky was 10 of 16 from long range and shot above 50 percent for the first time since Jan. 13 at Vanderbilt.
Kassius Robertson had 26 points including six 3s, and Jordan Barnett had 11 points for Missouri (18-11, 8-8), which made 10 of 31 from long but shot 36 percent in losing its third in a row.
BIG PICTURE
Missouri: The Tigers started with promise offensively, especially from outside, before cooling off to finish 21 of 58 from the field. Failing to contain Kentucky as well from the perimeter hurt the most, and getting beat 36-31 on the glass was an issue of toughness for coach Cuonzo Martin.
"They set a tone that we could never match their toughness level," he said.
Kentucky: The Wildcats followed up their impressive victory at Arkansas by doing many things right, especially with 27 defensive rebounds. Long-range shots got them going offensively and led to frequent chances at the foul line, where they made 21 of 28 free throws. They also shared the ball well with 17 assists, while their bench dominated 38-15.
More importantly for coach John Calipari, the Wildcats are coming together just in time for the postseason.
"Right before your eyes, we're becoming a better basketball team," he said. "It was only a month ago, three weeks ago, half the team, it was a fight to get them to play how we were trying to get them to play."
PORTER UPDATE
Freshman forward Michael Porter Jr. did not play after returning to practice Friday following back surgery. Martin said the team is going to make sure he's healthy enough to take contact before bringing him back and did not set a timetable for his return.
CHAMPS REMEMBERED
Members of Kentucky's 1978 NCAA championship squad held their 40th anniversary reunion this week and were recognized in a halftime ceremony. The Wildcats beat Duke to claim the program's fifth title and end a 20-year drought. Surviving members or their relatives, including MVP Jack "Goose" Givens, received replicas of the championship plaque that was displayed on a table. Former coach Joe B. Hall said, "it gets better and better every year."
UP NEXT
Missouri visits Vanderbilt Tuesday in the season's lone meeting between the schools.
Kentucky hosts Mississippi on Wednesday, seeking its ninth straight series win against the Rebels.
http://ukathletics.com/404-1.aspx?url=/c...-body.html
Kevin Knox had 21 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 14 and Kentucky made 10 3-pointers and shot 55 percent to blow out the Tigers 87-66 on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (20-9, 9-7 Southeastern Conference) outscored the Tigers 16-6 over the final 4 1/2 minutes before halftime for a 44-32 lead. Several more spurts stretched the advantage to as many as 24 as they avenged a 69-60 loss three weeks ago, a game in which baskets were hard to come by.
This time, Kentucky seemingly couldn't miss.
Knox succeeded more from inside the arc than behind it, but his one 3 helped the Wildcats' strong start and symbolized his focus after a couple of rough days.
Mentioned Friday in a Yahoo! Sports story as having had a meal with an agent, the freshman forward started after an internal review determined there were no eligibility issues. He made 6 of 13 from the field and all eight free throws in a game that initially seemed destined to be decided from outside.
"With everything going on it has been a good week," Knox said, "just been blocking everything out. I had two good days of practice before this game. Last time they gave us a good one at their place, so we just made sure that we focused on the game going on.
Quade Green and PJ Washington each added 12 points, while Jarred Vanderbilt had a career-high 15 rebounds and 11 points for his first career double-double. Hamidou Diallo made all three 3s for 11 points as six Wildcats scored in double figures. Kentucky was 10 of 16 from long range and shot above 50 percent for the first time since Jan. 13 at Vanderbilt.
Kassius Robertson had 26 points including six 3s, and Jordan Barnett had 11 points for Missouri (18-11, 8-8), which made 10 of 31 from long but shot 36 percent in losing its third in a row.
BIG PICTURE
Missouri: The Tigers started with promise offensively, especially from outside, before cooling off to finish 21 of 58 from the field. Failing to contain Kentucky as well from the perimeter hurt the most, and getting beat 36-31 on the glass was an issue of toughness for coach Cuonzo Martin.
"They set a tone that we could never match their toughness level," he said.
Kentucky: The Wildcats followed up their impressive victory at Arkansas by doing many things right, especially with 27 defensive rebounds. Long-range shots got them going offensively and led to frequent chances at the foul line, where they made 21 of 28 free throws. They also shared the ball well with 17 assists, while their bench dominated 38-15.
More importantly for coach John Calipari, the Wildcats are coming together just in time for the postseason.
"Right before your eyes, we're becoming a better basketball team," he said. "It was only a month ago, three weeks ago, half the team, it was a fight to get them to play how we were trying to get them to play."
PORTER UPDATE
Freshman forward Michael Porter Jr. did not play after returning to practice Friday following back surgery. Martin said the team is going to make sure he's healthy enough to take contact before bringing him back and did not set a timetable for his return.
CHAMPS REMEMBERED
Members of Kentucky's 1978 NCAA championship squad held their 40th anniversary reunion this week and were recognized in a halftime ceremony. The Wildcats beat Duke to claim the program's fifth title and end a 20-year drought. Surviving members or their relatives, including MVP Jack "Goose" Givens, received replicas of the championship plaque that was displayed on a table. Former coach Joe B. Hall said, "it gets better and better every year."
UP NEXT
Missouri visits Vanderbilt Tuesday in the season's lone meeting between the schools.
Kentucky hosts Mississippi on Wednesday, seeking its ninth straight series win against the Rebels.
http://ukathletics.com/404-1.aspx?url=/c...-body.html
![[-]](https://bluegrassrivals.com/forum/images/lifestyle/collapse.png)
02-25-2018, 03:49 PM
Great game. Vanderbilt out rebounded Missouri in the first half 10-9, despite not starting the game. 12 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocked shots, but Vanderbilt is not good enough to crack UK's starting lineup. SGA and Vanderbilt are easily the best two players on this team.
Kevin Knox is a shooter, but a 6-9 forward who plays 24 minutes should be able to pull down more than a single rebound. In terms of effort, Knox's game is nowhere near where it should be for this team to make a deep NCAA run.
Overall, I am really enjoying watching this team play.
Kevin Knox is a shooter, but a 6-9 forward who plays 24 minutes should be able to pull down more than a single rebound. In terms of effort, Knox's game is nowhere near where it should be for this team to make a deep NCAA run.
Overall, I am really enjoying watching this team play.
02-25-2018, 07:14 PM
Hoot Gibson Wrote:Great game. Vanderbilt out rebounded Missouri in the first half 10-9, despite not starting the game. 12 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocked shots, but Vanderbilt is not good enough to crack UK's starting lineup. SGA and Vanderbilt are easily the best two players on this team.
Kevin Knox is a shooter, but a 6-9 forward who plays 24 minutes should be able to pull down more than a single rebound. In terms of effort, Knox's game is nowhere near where it should be for this team to make a deep NCAA run.
Overall, I am really enjoying watching this team play.
The only thing I can think of for Knoxâs lack of effort is heâs one of the youngest kids in college basketball. If not the youngest. So he doesnât even truly realize how good he actually is and hasnât developed his killer instinct to just become a man.
Was so happy to see Diallo step up and see the ball bounce his way because I have been very critical of him and he even played good defense last night, so Iâm happy.
Now we are just waiting for Richards to break through and I hope itâs soon cause he could be major for us with a back to the basket scorer. Because we know heâs got moves heâs just got no confidence and plays very soft.
If you need any assistance or want to report a problem feel free to PM me and we will get it taken care of! Thank you for choosing to be apart of the BGR community!
#BBFL
02-25-2018, 09:06 PM
Spud6 Wrote:The only thing I can think of for Knoxâs lack of effort is heâs one of the youngest kids in college basketball. If not the youngest. So he doesnât even truly realize how good he actually is and hasnât developed his killer instinct to just become a man.Agree on all counts. I have never considered this to be a selfish team, just an immature one. The improved guard play and Vanderbilt's rebounding prowess has created more open looks for these young players. Richards is running out of time to develop into an inside presence this season.
Was so happy to see Diallo step up and see the ball bounce his way because I have been very critical of him and he even played good defense last night, so Iâm happy.
Now we are just waiting for Richards to break through and I hope itâs soon cause he could be major for us with a back to the basket scorer. Because we know heâs got moves heâs just got no confidence and plays very soft.
02-26-2018, 01:03 PM
Hoot Gibson Wrote:Agree on all counts. I have never considered this to be a selfish team, just an immature one. The improved guard play and Vanderbilt's rebounding prowess has created more open looks for these young players. Richards is running out of time to develop into an inside presence this season.
if only we can get him going along with Washington.
Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
