Kentucky basketball: Wildcats bid season ado after Music City misery

 Allen and Mintz deadly aim while Terrence Clarke returns

It wasn’t all bad and when the team gets hot they are fun to watch as evidence by Sunday’s win over South Carolina and the midgame rally with the Bulldogs.

There is something about Mississippi State that Allen loves as the Bluegrass-born kid again touched them for 23 points on 8 of 15 shooting of which 6 of 13 were from long range.

You could see it in his eyes again wanting the ball and that has been growing over the past month just patiently waiting for his time to shine.

Back at point guard was Mintz who you have to wonder what would this team be like had he played there all season instead of Askew. He popped in 16 points, dished out eight assists, and didn’t turn the ball over.

Mintz was asked about the way Allen was shooting that ignited the rally.

"“Yeah, after he hit a couple. I’m not for sure, I came to get him around one of the media timeout marks, I can’t remember if it was 12 or 8, he just had a look in his eye like he was ready for it, he just wanted the ball. I was feeling the same way.  I knew that it was important, it’s my job to get it to him. Then when I’m open, shoot it as well. Like I said, with Dontaie, he’s the type of player, he knows when he’s feeling it, you got to get it to him. It’s just a feel that you have.”"

He by far is the most versatile and understanding of his role of anyone on the team always doing whatever is asked of him without hesitation. Accolades and NBA stock don’t mean anything to this graduate transfer who hasn’t ruled out coming back for a sixth season.  Please do.

Then there was the heralded return of Terrence Clarke who has been injured much of the year. With hints that he was available BBN was anxious to just see him on the floor and everyone healthy for the first time all season.

Calipari was glad to have him back on the floor even for just 10 minutes.

"What I tell you about Terrence, he was fine until he got a little winded, then there was a play, the ball bounced near him, he had no chance of getting it because he couldn’t even move to go get it. That’s when I took him back out. It’s not fair to put him in and then have him make a play that we lose. It was all coming back to effort and intensity at the end anyway. I thought he did fine. It’s a heck of a thing that he wanted to try to play to help our team. He knew if we had four games in four days, he was going to be needed."

He played 10 minutes finishing with two points and three assists in his first game since Dec. 26 at Louisville. No doubt Kentucky would have been a much better team with more weapons and options with a healthy Clarke.

And with that, the curtain closes on the 2020-21 season.