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5 Takeaways from Kentucky vs. South Carolina

By Chaka Cummings

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - JANUARY 11: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Arena on January 11, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - JANUARY 11: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Arena on January 11, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – JANUARY 11: Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Arena on January 11, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – JANUARY 11: Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Arena on January 11, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

3. Tyrese Maxey Makes Offense Easier for the Cats

Kentucky jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead in the first half. Coach Cal decided to give his star freshman Tyrese Maxey a quick blow. But when Maxey went to the bench, the offense got stale. The Cats struggled to get quality shots in the half-court and there was no fast break to speak of.

Maxey’s combination of handles and shooting is a nightmare for defenses. When he is aggressive and looking for his shot in the half-court offense, it spaces the floor for his perimeter teammates and provides easy opportunities on the block for the big guys.

When Maxey came back into the game, the flow instantly returned to the offense. For a team that is not a lights-out shooting team or a high-flying offensive juggernaut, Maxey’s contributions are critical, to say the least. Maxey had two huge 3’s in the second half that provided some much-needed spark.

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