Kentucky basketball: 5 rushed reactions vs Alabama in SEC Tournament

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ST LOUIS, MO – MARCH 10: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2. Impressive Defense

This is back to back games that UK’s defense has looked really, really good. Against Georgia, the Cats executed their defensive game-plan and made life very difficult for Yante Maten. It was very clear that the defensive game-plan against Alabama was to focus on stopping Collin Sexton.

Sexton scored 31 points vs Auburn in the quarter-final, so the Cats had to stop him first and foremost. Throughout the game, Coach Cal decided to use length against Sexton, starting the game with Kevin Knox on him. Coach Cal rotated Hamidou Diallo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Knox on Sexton for 40 minutes.

The Cats also double-teamed Sexton on ball-screen situations, especially on the wing. The Wildcats’ defense never allowed Sexton to get comfortable. If it wasn’t for John Petty hitting some outrageously difficult 3-pointers, then UK would have held Alabama to under 60 points. It was a phenomenal defensive effort by the Kentucky basketball team.

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