Post Game Notes: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Providence Friars
By Wayne
Dec 1, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) blocks the shot of Providence Friars forward Tyler Harris (25) in the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Kentucky Basketball Postgame Notes
#3 Kentucky 79, Providence 65
Dec. 1, 2013
Barclays Center – Brooklyn, N.Y.
Team Records, Notes
Kentucky improves to 7-1 and 1-1 in neutral site games. Providence falls to 7-2 on the year.
UK now leads the series 2-0. The only other matchup occurred on March 18, 1976 in Madison
Square Garden.
Tonight’s game marks the first of five other matchups in the month of December for UK that
features a team with two losses or fewer and are either receiving votes or ranked in the top 25 in
the Associated Press poll.
Kentucky will remain on the road for another neutral contest on Friday, Dec. 6 in Arlington, Texas.
UK’s men’s and women’s squads will play a doubleheader vs. Baylor in AT&T Stadium.
First-Half Facts
Kentucky started with the lineup of sophomore Willie Cauley-Stein and freshmen Aaron Harrison,
Andrew Harrison, Julius Randle and James Young. That lineup is 3-1 on the year.
Alex Poythress was UK’s first sub off the bench. It is the third time this season he has checked into
the game first.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early 6-0 lead to start the game. It marked the most successive
points to start a game this season for UK.
UK has now made a 3-pointer in 868 consecutive games when Poythress sunk a long ball from the
corner at the 16:20 mark.
Kentucky led 39-35 at the break. UK is 5-0 when leading at halftime.
Second-Half Story
After Providence pulled to within one at 39-38, Kentucky went on an 8-0 run spurred by the player
of Willie Cauley-Stein who had six points, three rebounds and a pair of blocks in the spurt.
UK shot a season-high .643 (27-of-42) from the field. That mark is good for third in the John
Calipari era and the best since a .697 clip against LIU Brooklyn on Nov. 23, 2012. The Wildcats
also connected on 6-of-8 from behind the arc for a season-high .750 percentage.
UK out-rebounded Providence by a 35-30 margin. Kentucky has out-rebounded every opponent it
has faced this season.
The Wildcats went 19-of-25 from the free throw line. It marked the first game this season the Blue
and White have not hit at least 20 shots from the charity stripe.
Individual Notes
Willie Cauley-Stein posted 15 points, eight rebounds and nine blocks.
o Nine blocks marks a new career high. It is the second most blocked shots in the Calipari
era for an individual player, only trailing Nerlens Noel’s 12 at Ole Miss on Jan. 29, 2013.
o Posted four or more blocks in three-straight games and in five total games this season.
o Notched his second traditional three-point play of the season.
Aaron Harrison scored 15 points on 7-9 shooting from the field.
o Has sunk at least one 3-pointer in seven games this season including in four-straight
contests.
o Scored 11 first-half points and has now hit double-digits after the first frame in two-straight
games.
o Had a career-high four assists.
Aaron Harrison scored 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field.
o Has sunk at least one 3-pointer in seven games this season including in four-straight
contests.
o Scored 11 first-half points and has now hit double-digits after the first frame in two-straight
games.
o Had a career-high four assists.
Dominique Hawkins scored five points.
o Five points is a new career-high for the freshman.
o Connected for his second career 3-pointer.
Julius Randle posted 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
o Four assists ties a season best.
o Eighth game scoring in double figures.
James Young scored a team-high 18 points and hit a trio of 3-pointers.
o Has knocked down multiple 3-pointers in four games this season.
o Sunk a career-high five free throws.