PJ Washington was 8-of-20 from the free throw line in the Kentucky Wildcats’ loss to K-State in the Sweet Sixteen. While that’s a terrible shooting percentage, Washington is not to blame for Kentucky basketball’s loss.
PJ Washington is going to get the lion’s share of the blame for Kentucky basketball’s loss in the Sweet Sixteen to Kansas State. However, this loss is on the entire team. In fact, if it weren’t for PJ, Kentucky would not have even been in the game. Washington was the best player on the floor for Kentucky.
Washington gobbled up the basketball. He had 15 total rebounds, 6 of those were on the offensive end of the floor. With Wenyen Gabriel occupying the perimeter the majority of the night, and Jarred Vanderbilt out with an injured ankle, Washington was the only presence Kentucky had on the interior.
Not once did Kevin Knox get the ball in the low-post. Never did Gabriel get a chance to score on the low-block. I know that Nick Richards and Sacha Killeya-Jones aren’t necessarily Kentucky’s best option down low, but UK is too big not to take advantage of their size. If PJ was able to get the ball consistently in the low-post, there was no excuse for John Calipari not to go inside to Knox.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, normally a very reliable ball handler for the Cats, had 5 turnovers. As a team, the Kentucky Wildcats had 15 turnovers and only 6 assists. Coach Cal and UK allowed K-State to muck this game up and play at their pace.
For those who want to blame the referees, STOP! Yes, the game was officiated horribly, but it was officiated evenly. In fact, K-State (30) was called for more fouls than Kentucky (21). The refs called a ridiculous number of fouls, and slowed the flow of the game, but they did not cause the Kentucky basketball team to lose this game.
This loss is on the shoulders of the entire Kentucky team. Calipari didn’t make necessary adjustments, the Wildcats turned the ball over way too many times, KSU buried 9-of-22 three-pointers and yes, Kentucky shot 62.2% from the foul line. Yes, Washington’s 12 missed free throws is not good. But, his performance was not the reason UK lost, he was the reason Kentucky was still in the game late.