UK Basketball: 5 rushed reactions from the loss to UCLA

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 23: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts during the second half of the CBS Sports Classic against the UCLA Bruins at the Smoothie King Center on December 23, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

4 of 6

NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 23: Hamidou Diallo /

3. Going “small”

UK found themselves down 11 points with about 5 minutes left in the game. Calipari made the switch to a “small” lineup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ran the point and Diallo occupied the other guard spot. Knox and Washington assumed the forward positions and Gabriel played the five. With 2:34 left, they had cut the lead down to 4. Unfortunately Knox had an unforced turnover or else the Cats had UCLA on tilt. Knox also missed a wide open three-point shot with 1:27 left that would have cut the UCLA lead to 1. The smaller UK lineup is definitely more likely to result in scoring. I expect to see smaller lineups used more often, assuming the opponent doesn’t have a dominant post-scorer.

Home/Kentucky basketball