John Calipari’s Kentucky season hits new low with fan kicked out for ‘Texas’ sign

“Please go to Texas.”

One signal completely sums up the irritating begin to the season for John Calipari and Kentucky this 12 months. A Wildcats fan was escorted out of the staff’s gorgeous 71-68 loss to South Carolina on Tuesday night time for holding an indication with the aforementioned message, in accordance with the SEC Community’s Sophie Meadors.

The defeat dropped Kentucky to 10-6 on the season and 1-3 in SEC play. That isn’t catastrophic at some jobs — particularly for a coach with Calipari’s pedigree — however it’s in Lexington. And it comes as 247Sports reported Monday that Texas reached out to the 63-year-old Calipari after Chris Beard was fired final week following a home violence arrest.

“Stick to these children,” Calipari advised reporters afterward. “If you wish to get on me, that’s wonderful; I’m the coach. If we weren’t able to play then I’ve obtained to have a look at me and say, ‘Properly, what, why? The place had been we mentally?’

“And I used to be making an attempt issues at present to get them in a constructive mindset. As a result of it’s arduous. It’s arduous right here. I imply, I all the time say this isn’t for everyone, together with coaches. It’s not for everyone, when issues go unhealthy like this. So if you wish to be mad, be mad at me. These children, they’re making an attempt.”

The win was simply the third for the 8-8 Gamecocks in 31 video games at Kentucky and the primary at Rupp Area since January 2009.

Kentucky had its SEC-leading 28-game dwelling win streak snapped in what has been a decidedly disappointing begin to the season, with its worst begin in SEC play since 1986-87.

Gregory “GG” Jackson II added 16 factors for the Gamecocks, who shot 48%, making 11 of 20 3-point makes an attempt, outscoring the Wildcats 21-12 on second-chance factors and surviving 15 turnovers.

Oscar Tshiebwe scored 19 factors and grabbed 12 rebounds, his ninth double-double this season for Kentucky. CJ Fredrick added 14 factors and Antonio Reeves 13, each off the bench. The Wildcats shot 51% however made simply 3 of 10 from the arc and seven of 14 from the road.

Kentucky was lacking ahead Jacob Toppin with a proper shoulder harm and guard Cason Wallace left halfway by way of the primary half with a decrease again concern. Each are double-figure scorers. Toppin’s standing is day-to-day.

South Carolina led all through and was up by 12 with 13 minutes remaining. Kentucky made a few runs on the Gamecocks and obtained inside some extent with 51 seconds to go after a 10-0 surge with Reeves and Fredrick hitting 3-pointers. Johnson then misplaced an inbounds cross out of bounds with 20.2 left, the fourth turnover in the course of the Wildcats’ run. However Kentucky missed a pair of 3-point makes an attempt to finish the sport.

Each groups had been coming off lopsided losses to top-10 groups, Kentucky falling to Alabama 78-52 and South Carolina shedding to Tennessee 85-42. However solely the Gamecocks responded initially, taking a 21-6 lead within the first seven minutes and a 42-32 halftime edge after taking pictures 57% with Johnson scoring 16 factors.

— With AP