‘That just fueled us.’ Kentucky denies talking smack about Utah.
One team came into Wednesday’s game with a competitive spirit and oh-yeah defiant attitude. That team was not Kentucky.
As John Calipari saw it, this disparity was apparent from the beginning of UK’s 69-66 loss to Utah.
“How about they had three freshmen (start) and start two sophomores, and they punch us in mouth?” Calipari said.
This punching took the form of a fast start in which Utah led 10-4 at the first television timeout and double digits by the second. This made for a game-long uphill climb for Kentucky.
Timmy Allen, who led Utah with 25 points, said pregame comments by Kentucky players served to inspire.
“They were attempting to punk us . . . ,” he said. “They weren’t expecting anything from us. I heard them talk in the pregame. So that just fueled us.”
Utah Coach Larry Krystkowiak stepped in when a reporter asked Allen what exactly he overheard.
“Oh, that’s all personal,” Krystkowiak said with a smile. “You guys don’t want to stir it up, do you?”
The Utah coach did suggest the Utes could be overlooked.
“Nobody’s talking about our physicality,” he said. “Probably by definition, you know, we’re on the softer side. On the younger side.”
Ashton Hagans denied that UK players derided Utah. Calipari asked that such players be identified.
“Usually, it’s a guy who doesn’t play much who stirs up the other team,” Calipari said.
The UK coach wished aloud that his team would have been motivated. “We didn’t fight,” he said. “We had a couple guys who didn’t fight the whole game.”
Calipari did seem to suggest that Kentucky might have been overly confident of beating Utah.
“‘Well, why didn’t you start that way,’” he said as if speaking to the players. “‘Because you think you don’t have to fight.’ I’ve told them, ‘it doesn’t matter who you are.’”
EJ inspires
After going scoreless last weekend against Georgia Tech, EJ Montgomery nearly posted a double-double. He scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Utah.
When asked if going scoreless in the last game spurred him, Montgomery said, “Yeah. Definitely motivating. Last game I got two quick fouls and that changed my mood. I just tried to come out this game and just fight and give it my all.”
Ashton Hagans credited Montgomery for inspiring the UK team.
“You see EJ dive on the floor for a loose ball (and) hustle plays, that just got us going even more,” Hagans said. “It made me want to pick up my man full court. Just try to make something happen.”
Calipari saluted Montgomery.
“I told him after (the game), ‘If that’s who you are, we’ll be fine,’” the UK coach said.
Sestina returns
Nate Sestina played for the first time since breaking his left wrist in a practice fall. He had missed the last three games.
Ashton Hagans cited Sestina’s absence as a factor in UK’s inconsistent play.
“We have one of our biggest pieces out, one of our main focuses out,” Hagans said of Sestina after UK beat Georgia Tech last weekend. “Once he’s back, we’re going to be ready to fight.”
Sestina played nine-plus minutes. He missed his only shot and grabbed one rebound.
“Nate wasn’t ready to play,” Calipari said. “He only practiced a couple of days. But I put him in anyway because I thought he’d fight (and) battle.”
Block-charge
A memorable play came with Utah ahead 68-66 and only 22.7 seconds remaining. Tyrese Maxey drove and collided with Utah’s Riley Battin in the lane. The initial call was blocking on Battin. But after a check at the sideline monitor, the call was reversed to charging on Maxey.
“The charge was probably the play of the game,” Krystkowiak said. “The referee had made a call that (Battin) was in the restricted area (in the lane where a defender cannot take a charge). And when they looked at the review, he wasn’t in the restricted area. So that was real pivotal.”
Thanks to fans
Many in the announced crowd of 5,507 were UK fans. They tried to give Kentucky a home-court advantage in T-Mobile Arena, which seats some 20,000 for basketball.
“Hey, that just shows you how much the BBN loves this team,” Hagans said. “But, you know, they helped us get back in the game. They were on their feet when we were down. And we needed them. They lifted us up. I just want to say thank you to the fans.”
Hagans asked fans to return to T-Mobile Arena on Saturday to cheer for UK against fifth-ranked Ohio State.
Etc.
▪ Wednesday night’s game was UK’s 100th at a neutral site in Calipari’s 11 seasons as coach. UK’s record in such games slipped to 78-22.
▪ The loss was UK’s first in Las Vegas. The Cats had won four earlier games in the city.
