Kellan Grady ‘was hitting shots left and right’ in UK’s win against Alabama
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Game day: No. 4 Kentucky vs. No. 25 Alabama
Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s men’s basketball game between Kentucky and Alabama in Rupp Arena.
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With Sahvir Wheeler and TyTy Washington not available because of injuries, Kellan Grady looked to be the person to shoulder the point guard responsibilities for Kentucky against Alabama on Saturday.
Pressure?
“I tried not to think about it (as pressure),” he said after UK’s 90-81 victory in Rupp Arena. “I just figured, naturally there are going to be more opportunities for me to shoot and be more involved.
“What was most important to me was to try to lead.”
Grady, who played point guard as a senior for Davidson before transferring to Kentucky, was certainly involved. He scored a season-high 25 points, thus becoming the fifth UK player to score that many in a game this season. He also matched a season high with seven made three-pointers.
“He was hitting shots left and right,” teammate Jacob Toppin said.
Two of his three-point shots were particularly memorable.
As Kentucky started pulling away in the second half, Grady appeared to turn away from the action on UK’s offensive end and look to the bench. Fortunately for him, he turned back just in time to see the ball bouncing his way. He scooped it up, took a dribble and made a three-point shot.
“I went from getting screamed at to getting applauded,” he said with a smile.
Toppin said the shot caused him to raise his hands to his head in disbelief as he retreated on defense.
“That just shows how on fire he was,” Toppin said.
Grady’s other memorable three-pointer came in the final minute of the first half. The corner three capped a 13-0 run that gave Kentucky a 47-46 halftime lead.
It also tested his previous statements about taking more inspiration from the crowd anticipating a made shot rather than the cheering that follows the swish.
Of the roar caused by the corner three, Grady said Keion Brooks told him “that was the loudest he ever heard it.
“What happened today, that tops that feeling (of the anticipation being more rewarding). That was incredible.”
Oscar produces
Oscar Tshiebwe posted his ninth straight double-double and 21st overall this season. He finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds. This came against 7-footer Charles Bediako.
On Friday, UK Coach John Calipari said Tshiebwe had struggled to score against taller opponents.
Going against a 7-footer or not, Tshiebwe figured prominently in UK’s makeshift plans with Wheeler and Washington not available.
“We had to go through Oscar,” Calipari said. “I told Oscar, I don’t care if the guy is 7-foot-8, you’ve got to get baskets and get fouled.”
History
Calipari increased his total of “on-court” victories as a college coach to 806. That tied him for the 12th most in Division I history.
Another coach with 806 victories? Former Kentucky coach Eddie Sutton.
Calipari also improved his record as UK coach against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 to 68-42.
Tougher is better
Alabama is among eight teams that will play in the 2022 Phil Knight Invitational, which will be played Nov. 24-27 in Portland.
The other teams will be Michigan State, North Carolina, Villanova, UConn, Oregon, Iowa State and Portland.
“Unbelievable field …,” Oats said. “I like playing good teams (and) great competition early. I like to get our weaknesses exposed. Let’s try to work on them in the non-conference.”
Both Ken Pomeroy and Jeff Sagarin rate Alabama No. 1 in strength of schedule this season.
As for next season, Oats said Alabama will play Gonzaga in Birmingham, Ala.; Memphis in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and at Houston in addition to the Phil Knight Classic.
Academic achievement
Davion Mintz has been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District team. He thus qualifies for placement on the ballot for one of three national All-Academic teams that will be selected in mid-March.
Mintz is the first UK player to be so recognized since Alex Poythress made the national All-Academic second team in 2016.
Before transferring to Kentucky, Mintz played for Creighton, where he graduated with a degree in marketing. At UK he is pursuing a master’s degree in kinesiology and health promotion with an emphasis in sports leadership. He has a 3.50 grade point average and is scheduled to graduate in May, UK said.
Looking ahead
In chronological order, Kentucky’s final four regular-season games are against LSU, at Arkansas, vs. Ole Miss and at Florida.
Going into this weekend, those four teams had a combined record in quad 1 games of 9-25. That’s LSU 5-5, Arkansas 2-4, Ole Miss 1-9 and Florida 1-7.
Those looking to make the argument that Kentucky faces a challenging final two weeks could note that Arkansas (14-2) and Florida (11-3) had a combined home record of 25-5. Never mind that LSU (2-5) and Ole Miss (1-5) were a combined 3-10 in “true” road games.
This story was originally published February 19, 2022 at 5:56 PM.
