The Kentucky Wildcats came out sluggish early on offense in front of their home crowd in Lexington Kentucky for the first time in three games against the Radford Highlanders, but the defensive pressure was enough to force Radford into a 26 percent shooting performance on the night and ran away with the ball game to make it an 88-40 final score in favor of Kentucky.
Early in the game the 23,000 plus at Rupp Arena was treated to some ugly basketball on both ends as on the defensive side the Wildcats swarmed the ball on defense but couldn’t find rhythm on offense. Terrence Jones would finish the night with a team high and season high 17 points but scored the first two buckets of the game which led Kentucky out to a 10-0 lead with 12:50 left in the first half. Still, the Wildcats were very sloppy on offense. Settling for jumpers and forcing passes.
Doron Lamb seemed to be the a step behind the action and he got the tug from the floor early because Coach Calipari said his motor wasn’t running fast enough. He missed a few layups and a couple of one footers, Calipari said after the game Lamb had to get his motor running before he would be on the floor.
From there the Kentucky squad began to click. Holding Radford to score six points in the next three minutes s as Kentucky rattled off 14 points. Sophomore Lamb began to elevate his game , with around two minutes to go in the game Lamb scored a jumper and a three pointer to raise his point total to ten points, but he wouldn’t score again. It wasn’t needed.
Anthony Davis would get on the highlight reel quickly as his long arms got into the passing lane and he took it from coast to coast to the other end for a thunderous dunk. Davis finished on the night with 12 points, six rebounds and four blocks. He was active on defense the whole game.
Davis and company would increase the half time score to 45-14. The only bright spot for Radford being from Jonathan Edwards with 10 points, the only player with double figures for the Highlanders.
After the half it was more of the same as Kentucky got a couple of open dunks. Freshman point guard Marquis Teague made the high light reel with a couple of quick steals and taking it to the other end for a dunk. Teague had some moments tonight that were head scratchers. Calipari said after the game that he needs to let his point guards go wild at the beginning of the season, and then he will define their game for them. He said he has to let Teague go crazy, and then he’ll tell them how they need to play. He said Teague is there because he’s accepted it so far, but now is where he will begin working with Teague. Teague finished with 13 points, two steals and five assists with only two turnovers.
Kentucky stretched their league during the second half with exceptional shooting from the free-throw stripe, led by freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist who went 8-8 from the three point line tonight and had a quiet 15 points from the floor tonight, but his hustle and passion for getting after the ball wasn’t quiet at all. He also had three steals and nine rebounds on the night.
Kentucky had five players in double figures for the third time this season and at one point late in the second half Radford had not hit a three pointer over Kentucky, and missed their first 20 threes before they hit one, that was even with Kentucky playing zone defense which they worked quite a bit on during the second half, Calipari said in the post-game that he’s working on that zone, it’s big and there quick but there is some gaps that doesn’t need to be there.
A few final thoughts after the win, Darius Miller didn’t start tonight and only had six points on the night. Calipari said that Miller is a shooter, so he has to do just that—shoot. Just because everyone else is driving doesn’t mean Miller should, shooters shoot. Big Blue Nation should not be worried about Miller though, he will begin to pace the team when they need him to do so.
Not to be left out, Kyle Wiltjer grabbed eight rebounds today and dished out some nice dimes, but Calipari said he had two more in his hands. He has to be tougher, Calipari says and he says Wiltjer understands. Wiltjer finished with nine points including a three pointer, white boy academy basketball at its finest.
Final score from Lexington was Kentucky 88, Radford 44 and I’ll leave it at that. I hope all of you guys have a very blessed Thanksgiving, and if you’re feeling generous follow me on Twitter at @JNorth0, I occasionally say funny things.
Also, Sam Malone trended on Twitter tonight….#BBN