Jacob Toppin displays ‘more energy,’ ‘more spirit’ in first public action
Jacob Toppin returned. Oscar Tshiebwe was limited. CJ Fredrick is set to return.
That was the injury update given after Kentucky defeated Miles College 80-71 in an exhibition game Friday night.
In his first public performance of this preseason, Toppin scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds in 15-plus minutes.
He dismissed the shoulder injury he sustained in practice as “minor” and more a product of overuse.
“It happened in practice over time,” he said. “Sore.
“I’m good now. I’m 100 percent.”
Calipari sounded pleased with what he saw.
“Jacob played with more energy (and) more spirit,” the UK coach said.
Given Kentucky’s depth, any absence can have consequences.
“I was coming back from injury, so I was the 11th man,” Toppin said. “Obviously, when my time came, I had to perform.”
Although he grabbed 12 rebounds, Tshiebwe took three shots and scored four points. Calipari said he sat the big man for more of the first half than he might normally.
“Oscar has not practiced,” the UK coach said. “He was off about four days. He was injured. I think it kind of showed. In the second half, he played a little better. The first half, he was just out of sync.”
Fredrick is expected to return to practice Saturday, Calipari said. It will be the transfer’s first practice “in months,” the UK coach said.
Duke as barometer?
Calipari dismissed the notion that Tuesday’s opening game against Duke can be a barometer for UK’s season. He noted that UK’s 118-84 loss to Duke to open the 2018-19 season did not prevent Kentucky from having a season that culminated with advancement to the Elite Eight.
“What it’ll be is two teams that will be (decided by) who’s going to fight?” Calipari said. “Who’s going to come up with balls? Who’s going to pass it quicker?”
Knicks game
While in New York, the UK team will attend the New York Knicks’ game Sunday night, Calipari said.
Of course, Toppin’s older brother, Obi, plays for the Knicks.
“I’m excited for that,” UK’s Toppin said. “Just to be back home (and) for my brother to watch me play in Madison Square Garden the day after. It’s going to be fun.”
Cheers
During Calipari’s postgame news conference, cheering could be heard from the nearby Miles College locker room.
“They must be in there watching ESPN talk about the game,” the UK coach said. “I told Coach (Fred Watson of Miles College) that this was a good game for us.”
Duke history
Earlier in the week, Dontaie Allen was asked about Kentucky’s opening game looming. UK starts the season by playing Duke on Tuesday.
“For sure, it’s going to be exciting,” Allen said. “Obviously, it’s going to be Duke. You know the history. It’s going to be something we’ve been preparing for. … I feel it’s going to be a great game and we’re going to be well prepared.”
‘Almost a Mecca’
Davion Mintz transferred from Creighton to Kentucky last season.
“Everything you do is just amplified here …,” he said. “You have to find that balance. It’s definitely different. I tell guys, when you lose, it’s a big deal here. There are people who root for you. But there’s a large amount of people who want to see you lose because it’s almost a Mecca here.”
Short memory
In the first exhibition game, freshman Bryce Hopkins made two of eight shots (none of four from three-point range) as UK beat Kentucky Wesleyan.
Assistant coach Jai Lucas cautioned against any impulse to draw conclusions.
“He’s a freshman,” Lucas said. “They’re going to have games like that. So, I think he’ll be fine. He has the right temperament and understands what he needs to do. Just get better and work.
“Like Daimion, TyTy, all of them, they’re going to have their lumps. Just hope there aren’t a lot of them. But it’s going to happen. You’ve just got to get them to respond and continue to understand. Short memory. Next thing. What’s next?”
Irony?
Miles College, which is among this country’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, playing in an arena named for former UK Coach Adolph Rupp caught Watson’s attention. “What’s the irony behind that?” the Miles College coach asked.
Fairly or not, Rupp became the face of segregation in college basketball when he was slow to integrate Kentucky’s program in the 1960s.
This story was originally published November 6, 2021 at 12:49 AM.
