2012-13 Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Season Review: Warning Signs A’Plenty

Nov 9, 2012; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Jarrod Polson (5) drives the ball during the second half of the game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Barclays Center Classic held at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Not ready for Prime Time?

As Kentucky generally  does, they started the season in star-studded fashion versus the Maryland Terrapins at the Barclay Center. This was supposed to be a good test for the #3 ranked Wildcats, but a team that Kentucky was expected to defeat. The Terrapins were not a ranked team, but were on the list of teams to keep an eye on for the season. Bothered by the flu, Ryan Harrow was ineffective, going scoreless in just 10 minutes. Kentucky’s lack of depth at the point was a concern, but former walk-on Jarrod Polson shined down the stretch and scored a career high 10 points and nailed the winning free throws. While Polson was a great story and captured everyone’s imagination, the Wildcats finished the game shooting just 6-25. Also disturbing was the fact Kentucky was outrebounded 46-34 and gave up 23 offensive boards. John Calipari was not totally thrilled and uttered some comments that would become the theme of this season:

"“Their best play in the second half was to miss, rebound, miss, rebound, miss rebound and score,” Calipari said. “In the second half we couldn’t make a basket. But we’re learning. We got manhandled a little bit. We’re not playing tough enough and I don’t know how we are going to fix that.”"

Up next for Kentucky was a big time showdown versus the then #9 Duke Blue Devils in Atlanta.  It would be a tough test for Kentucky as the Blue Devils were a deep and experienced team, but further complicating matters was the fact that Ryan Harrow would miss the game.  The same flu symptoms that kept Harrow out of the Maryland game would keep him out of the Duke game and he did not even make the trip to Atlanta.

Kentucky hung with Duke for over a half, but the Blue Devils broke open a close game with a barrage of threes that gave them a 58-44 lead.  In true champion fashion, Kentucky clawed his way back into the game and had a chance to tie the game at 64, but Julius Mays missed a three pointer.  The Wildcats were too exhausted to keep up the charge and fell 75-68.  With no Harrow, Kentucky’s guards struggled as both Mays and Goodwin had four turnovers.  Nerlens Noel and Alex Poythress played well, but it was becoming apparent that free throw shooting would be a concern with this team.  Aside from Goodwin, Poythress, and Noel, Kentucky managed to score just 16 points.  Despite the loss though, it appeared that Kentucky may be on track for a solid season.

Meanwhile, the Ryan Harrow watch continued.  Rumors of mono floated and Harrow was undergoing blood work to determine his mystery ailment.  He missed the Lafayette game as speculation ran rampant as to his condition.  Just three games into the season, the Kentucky season was beginning to take on the look of a boat taking on water, with KEntucky forced to rely on Mays and Polson at the point.  Archie Goodwin would see time there, but it could be too much to ask a true freshman to play out of position so early in his career.