Deadeye foul shooting keeps you alive
While they let Vanderbilt back into the game on countless occasions they kept them just at arms-length and didn’t fold down the stretch sinking free throw after free throw en route to knocking down 24 of 25.
It was Kentucky’s best free-throw shooting performance in a game (min. 25 att.) since January 7, 1992, when they nailed the same exact number 24 of 25 against Georgia in winning 78-62.
The lone miss came from Jackson, but that blip is easily overshadowed by his 15 points, nine-rebound, and two block night despite fouling out. Of course, thanks to the Vanderbilt scoring system confusion during the second half no one from the bench to the media knew exactly how many he had.
Kentucky made critical free throws down the stretch thanks to Brando Boston Jr., Jacob Toppin, and Devin Askew who calmly hit two crucial ones after Vanderbilt cut it to a two-point game with just 2 seconds left in the game.
Askew’s four turnovers and relentless driving into traps will drive fans crazy but he is 45 for 56 at the foul line this season after canning all six attempts Wednesday.