Ohio State Buckeyes 74, Kentucky Wildcats 67

At the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York, the Ohio State Buckeyes (6-5) upset the University of Kentucky Wildcats 74-67. The Buckeyes were the aggressors early on, hitting 7-12 from three point range in the first half on the way to a 37-25 halftime lead. In the second half, the Ohio State lead ballooned to 16 before Jamal Murray lead a furious comeback that just fell short.

Thoughts from the Wildcats second loss of the season:

This team needs an offensive identity. The Kentucky teams that head coach John Calipari has had his most success with (ie all of them except the 2013 NIT team) have had strong offensive identities. Against various defenses, the Cats knew how to attack and where their shots should come from. This edition of the Wildcats is still looking for that identity. Teams are going to sag defensively because the Cats aren’t a great outside shooting team. And with Skal Labissierre struggling and Marcus Lee and Alex Poythress not being natural back-to-the-basket scorers, the pressure is on the guards to create opportunities and finish around the rim. This problem has to be solved because every team has seen what UCLA and Ohio State have done to slow the UK offense.

Jamal Murray is really good. The one highlight from the game was the superb play of Jamal Murray. He had six first half points and went Jodie Meeks in the second half scoring 27 in the second. He finished with 33 points, nearly half of the team’s total. His play sparked the second half rally that, while it fell short, can be and should something to build on as the team goes forward.

While Murray looked fantastic, his backcourt mates of Tyler Ulis and Isiah Briscoe didn’t look ready for primetime. Since his return from his hyperextended elbow, Ulis’ shot simply hasn’t been the same. He finished 4-12 from the field to go along with 4 assists and 3 turnovers. Briscoe shot a woeful 1-9 from the field and 1-4 from the FT line. Although he did have 7 assists, the offense runs so much better with Ulis running the point and Briscoe and Murray doing the heavy lifting on scoring.

There’s plenty of time for Coach Cal and his staff to figure out how all these different pieces fit together. Skal not being the answer (to this point of the season) has definitely hindered what the Cats can do offensively. There’s simply no one that can command a double team in the post. And while Lee (12 points, 9 rebounds) and Poythress (6 points, 7 rebounds) are doing good work, that just doesn’t fill the void of a reliable inside scorer.

It’s clear that last year’s 38-1 team and even the 2012 title team have spoiled the BBN. What we’re seeing this year is the way a team with a bunch of new pieces should look. There should be struggles. There should be periods of frustrating play. This team may not “get it” as quickly as the other Cal teams have, but that doesn’t mean they won’t. There will be some bumps on the road, but that will hopefully make for a smoother run through March.