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Calipari Tossed, University of Kentucky Wildcats rally, Beat Arkansas

By Chaka Cummings

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats argues with an official during the second half of the NCAA basketball game against the Lamar Cardinals at Rupp Arena on November 24, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Bryan Woolston/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats argues with an official during the second half of the NCAA basketball game against the Lamar Cardinals at Rupp Arena on November 24, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Bryan Woolston/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 18: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats stands on the court as the American national anthem is performed before his team’s game against the Utah Utes during the annual Neon Hoops Showcase benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at T-Mobile Arena on December 18, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes defeated the Wildcats 69-66. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 18: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats stands on the court as the American national anthem is performed before his team’s game against the Utah Utes during the annual Neon Hoops Showcase benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at T-Mobile Arena on December 18, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes defeated the Wildcats 69-66. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

The University of Kentucky Wildcats go on a 15-0 run after John Calipari’s ejection, and rally to ice Arkansas on the road, winning 73-66.

Any basketball game is a collection of huge plays, momentum swings, and questionable decisions that lead to the final, often frustrating, outcome. Rarely can an observer pinpoint the seminal moment at which victory is seized by a team.

However, for the Kentucky Wildcats fans, it was not difficult to find the turning point that led to the Wildcat’s 73-66 victory in Saturday’s matchup.

That moment? 8:18. Second Half.

John Calipari was ejected from the game.

John Calipari picked up two technical fouls at that moment after E.J. Montgomery was called for a foul with the game tied, 44-44. Calipari seemed to be aggressively asking the officials to review whether or not there was a flop on the play by Arkansas.

The officials seemed to give Calipari the first technical for being out of the coach’s box. The second came after Coach Cal would not let up, continuing his complaints.

Arkansas hit 3 of the 4 technical free throws awarded to them for these calls electrifying Bud Walton Arena now home to a 3 point lead and a Cal-less Kentucky bench.

From that moment, Kentucky seized control and never relinquished it.

The technical fouls backfired on the Razorback-friendly Fayetteville crowd. The Cats went on a 15-0 run that pushed the game out of reach.

The University of Kentucky Wildcats run was a result of staunch defense and a balanced offensive attack that ended with the Cats up, 61-49.

The run started with a Tyrese Maxey 3-point play, drawing the foul on a slashing drive to the basket. Maxey contributed 5 of the 15 points during the run, finishing the game with 11 points, 2 steals, and 2 assists.

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – JANUARY 11: Nick Richards #4 of the Kentucky Wildcats blocks the shot of John Petty Jr. #23 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Arena on January 11, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – JANUARY 11: Nick Richards #4 of the Kentucky Wildcats blocks the shot of John Petty Jr. #23 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Arena on January 11, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Nick Richards‘ rebounding and defensive presence impacted Arkansas the entire game while chipping in 4 free throws during the run. Richards stayed out of foul trouble and had a dominant performance, contributing 17 points, 9 boards, and 2 rejections.

Recently, Immanuel Quickley has been about as an accurate three-point shooter as anyone in the country. He added to this, chipping in a shot from distance during the run that pushed the lead to 10. However, Quickley only shot 1-5 from downtown but finished with a team-high 10 rebounds to go with his 13 points.

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 08: Keion Brooks Jr #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball in the game against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at Rupp Arena on November 08, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 08: Keion Brooks Jr #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball in the game against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at Rupp Arena on November 08, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Even Keion Brooks Jr. made a contribution, as he finished this game on the floor with Montgomery fouling out. Brooks’ baseline 8-footer gave the Cats a 12 point lead.  Brooks’ 10 points and 7 rebounds were a breakout performance for the unsteady big man.

The University of Kentucky Wildcats squandered a double-digit lead for the second consecutive SEC road contest. However, the defense down the stretch marked a staunch improvement from last Wednesday’s loss at South Carolina.

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – JANUARY 11: Ashton Hagans #0 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates in the 76-67 win 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: Ashton Hagans #0 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates in the 76-67 win against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Arena on January 11, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Ashton Hagans was plagued by foul trouble, finishing the game with 4 fouls. His veteran presence, though, was essential to UK’s ability to hold off a late Arkansas charge. Hagans had 13 points and 6 assists with 1 steal. Most importantly, Hagans took care of the rock, only turning it over once.

While it wasn’t always pretty (the Cats had 16 turnovers), the University of Kentucky Wildcats found a way to get a win over a tough Razorback team that came into this game at 14-2 on the season and 3-1 in conference.

The Cats finished the week going 1-1, splitting two SEC road games. It will be interesting to see how the Cats are ranked, considering that two top 5-ranked teams (Auburn and Butler) both lost two games this week capping off other significant losses throughout the top 25.

The University of Kentucky Wildcats will look to ride this momentum into their next game when Kentucky hosts the Georgia Bulldogs at Rupp Arena on January 21st.

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