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Photo by UK Athletics
There was so much promise from the Kentucky Wildcats after the three-game winniing streak that brought their record to 4-6. After the angst of losing two games in a row, there was more promise with Coach John Calipari saying the five starting positions were open and players were competing for them in the practices leading up to the Georgia game in Athlens, Ga. last night.
On game day, he announced that Lance Ware and Dontaie Allen would be moving into the starting lineup for the Georgia game.
The results were maddeningly disappointing as the Cats lost 63-62 as Georgia scored a basket from in the lane on an out-of-bounds play.
I need someone to talk to me because I’m discouraged. What I just saw, the way we finished the game – the shot selection at the end, missed free throws, turnovers, just throwing them the ball for layups. We gave them 20 points on turnovers just throwing them the ball. I’m discouraged," said Cal after the game.
He continued talking on mental and physical toughness of this edition of the Wildcats. "“It’s both. I’m telling guys that if they don’t shoot it, I’m taking them out. Again, we had guys in roles that they we’re comfortable with. Now, you put them in other roles and you see they’re not as comfortable. This is why I always say I know my team. I’m with them every day. I know when they’re going to play their best when they’re in certain roles."
For Keion Brooks, he was more direct. "This loss sucks" while mentioning that they blew a pretty good lead and "basically just gave the game away."
Brooks responded to a question on toughness saying that he felt the team was mentally tough but "Physically, it’s just the other team seemed like they wanted the ball more than us. We can’t let that happen. We have to continue to fight and get the loose and 50-50 balls. We don’t get nearly as much of them as we should, and we got to come into the game with that on our mind, that being an emphasis. We’re going to win the backboard, win the 50-50 balls and the rest will take care of itself. We got to be the aggressor. We kind of get pushed around a little too much. We get hit and react instead of being proactive and hitting them first.”
The one bright spot in the game was the play of Freshmen Brandon Boston, Jr. He had not been playing up to his five-star hype but came off the bench to lead the Cats with 18 points.
"I’ll tell you what, it woke up BJ," said Coach Cal about him coming off the bench.
Brooks said about his teammate, "We all know BJ can hoop. I feel like BJ needs to keep pushing. He’s been working extremely hard. He’s always in the gym and he went out there and had a good game tonight. I’m just happy for him to be able to go out there and make some plays and help his confidence group."
Notes on the Georgia game
- The loss snapped a 14-game winning streak vs. Georgia, which was Kentucky’s second-longest active SEC winning streak entering Wednesday.
- Next up for the Wildcats: Kentucky hosts LSU at Rupp Arena on Saturday. The game is set for a 6 p.m. tip on ESPN.
- He was 9 of 17 from the floor, the first time since the season opener that he made at least 50% of his shots.
- Olivier Sarr grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds.
- Keion Brooks Jr. tied his season high with 12 points, all of them coming in the second half because of first-half foul trouble.
- Isaiah Jackson scored 12 points on a perfect 4-of-4 night from the floor and blocked four shots.
- Kentucky outshot Georgia, 42.1% to 38.8%, but lost for the third time this season (in six total opportunities) and second in a row when shooting better than the opposition.
- Kentucky only made 1 of 13 from 3-point range.