Kentucky Basketball: Cats fight off pesky Vandy advance to SEC semis vs Vols

Kentucky Wildcats guard TyTy Washington Jr. ( Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)

The TyTy Washington this team has been missing is back just in time

Battling through injuries that resulted in missed games Big Blue Nation was hoping TyTy Washington would morph back into the shifty, confident, and dead-eye shooter he was earlier in the year.

Well, he’s back.

Just when we needed him the most he stepped up and lifted his team to victory.

Despite getting yanked in the opening minutes for some lackadaisical effort including getting the ball stolen and not hustling back on the breakaway he was sent to the bench with Mintz replacing him.

Instead of sulking he got the message and returned ready to play especially in the second half.

With the team’s trading scoring runs the freshman scored eight straight points. He connected on consecutive 3-pointers from the corner with his bench encouraging him just two steps away. He added a floater in the lane and suddenly UK was up 69-60.

The total time it took him to do this – 92 seconds.

In the final minutes, he came up big again calmly splashing in four free throws in the final 19 seconds to seal the victory. In the end, Washington made 8 of 17 shots, including 4 of 5 from behind the arc.

For Kentucky to win eight more games and win their ninth NCAA title they need this Washington every game.