Kentucky shows glimpses of what it can be in loss to Kansas

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Rupp Area had rocked just like the glory days, packed to the banner-filled rafters and vibrating with anticipation by the nationwide anthem, thunderous all through a nationally televised battle of bluebloods, exploding with sound each time Kentucky surged on Saturday night time towards Kansas. Some 20,000 followers had channeled the renewed hope of a complete basketball-crazed state and created an epic faculty ambiance. They’d been rewarded with a high-level heavyweight battle. However now, having watched their Wildcats wilt over the ultimate 4 minutes and let a golden alternative slip away, they shuffled somberly towards the exits.

“Properly,” muttered one everlasting optimist amongst them, “I assume this simply means now we go win all of it.”

See, that’s what the Jayhawks did final season. They received beat at dwelling by Kentucky — thumped, really — regardless of an electrical Allen Fieldhouse surroundings, then they received the nationwide championship and handed the Cats for the all-time wins lead within the course of. It could be wishful considering to consider the reverse may occur this season, however one may no less than squint and see the perfect model of John Calipari’s staff coming into focus at occasions Saturday. The 77-68 loss to ninth-ranked Kansas confirmed each how far Kentucky has are available simply 18 days and the way a lot farther it should nonetheless go to change into a menace by March.

“They’re a top-10 staff, and we’re attempting to reestablish who we’re, and I hoped we may get this, however you understand what? The youngsters fought and tried,” Calipari stated. “We’ve received some stuff to work on. They had been crushed after that. I feel they went in with the thought (they’d win).”

Some excellent news: As a result of the Wildcats (14-7) received 4 straight to regular themselves after which performed 36 good minutes towards the Jayhawks (17-4), this newest loss didn’t ship sky-is-falling vibes for a change.

“It was a big-boy battle. They got here from shedding three in a row. They got here able to die to win this recreation. Us too,” stated Oscar Tshiebwe after his 18 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, a block and steal helped maintain Kentucky in it. “Kansas is a very good staff. For us to return in and battle the best way we fought, it simply provides me extra confidence.”

Consecutive losses to Alabama (by 26) and South Carolina (0-7 in its different SEC video games) left the Wildcats 10-6 total and 1-3 of their league, barely even on the NCAA Match bubble. Then they beat a top-five Tennessee staff in Knoxville, found a brand new, profitable lineup mixture and received rolling, which arrange probably the most anticipated dwelling recreation of the 12 months. Beat Kansas to make it 5 straight wins, and Kentucky would formally be again.

The magnitude of the second was not misplaced on the Cats. Propelled by a super-active duo of Jacob Toppin and Chris Livingston, who mixed for 14 of the staff’s first 20 factors, Kentucky led nearly all the first 10 minutes. A continual slow-starter, UK really sank 10 of its first 15 pictures Saturday, and the roof at Rupp appeared prefer it may blow off.

“Unbelievable crowd,” Calipari stated, “and also you wish to reward them as a coach and as a staff.”

Now for the unhealthy information: Invoice Self has by no means misplaced 4 in a row at Kansas, and he wasn’t about to start out, so he got here to city with a helluva plan.

Step 1: throw our bodies at Tshiebwe, the nation’s finest rebounder, and “hit him first,” as KU star Jalen Wilson stated. Kentucky got here in ranked No. 1 nationally in offensive rebound share however had zero offensive boards by halftime and 0 second-chance factors for the sport.

Step 2: assault Tshiebwe the place he’s weakest — defending pick-and-rolls. Undersized middle KJ Adams Jr. had a area day there, scoring 17 factors on 8-of-10 taking pictures, a lot of these after catching Tshiebwe in no man’s land. When his staff pushed forward by seven at halftime, Self advised ESPN: “We simply wished to place them in as many ball screens as attainable.” After the sport, he estimated the Jayhawks scored 20 factors that method. This has change into a hard pattern for the Wildcats.

Step 3: suffocate Kentucky’s shooters, Antonio Reeves and CJ Fredrick, and be aggressively of their face each time they contact the ball. That additionally labored, because the pair missed all eight 3-pointers they tried.

And nonetheless …

“All that being stated,” Calipari identified, “it was a one-point recreation, two-point recreation, three-point recreation, four-point recreation. I believed we had been going to win that recreation.”

The Cats’ A-plus lineup of Cason Wallace, Reeves, Fredrick, Toppin and Tshiebwe, central to the four-game profitable streak, didn’t play collectively till the second half, when Kansas pushed its result in 9. That group, leaning closely on the freshman Wallace — 14 factors, six boards, 5 assists, 5 steals — reduce the deficit to at least one with 11:33 to go. Then WIlson drilled a momentum-shifting 3-pointer. These daggers had been finally the distinction: Gradey Dick’s 3 with 4:49 to go after UK received inside two, one other Wilson 3 with 4:13 to go after UK received it to 3 and Kevin McCullar’s 3 with 3:09 to go after UK received it to 4. Three backbreaking 3s within the span of 100 seconds.

“In these video games, somebody’s received to step up and make a shot,” Calipari stated. “They made them.”

Not like different losses, there was not panic this time. Hope stays. However there are issues nonetheless to kind out. Who’re these clutch-shot makers? How do you deal with pick-and-roll protection shifting ahead? The place does the final vital piece of the roster, Livingston, match after scoring eight first-half factors after which taking part in only a minute within the second half Saturday? There are 10 regular-season video games left to seek out solutions.

“Contemplating we may’ve nonetheless received the sport, clearly it’s not the top of the world,” Toppin stated. “We perceive that. We’re nonetheless collectively.”

(Photograph of Kansas’ Gradey Dick and Dajuan Harris and Kentucky’s Cason Wallace: James Crisp / Related Press)