From scolding to clutch scoring, TyTy Washington steps up in UK’s win against Vanderbilt
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Game day: No. 5 Kentucky 77, Vanderbilt 71
Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Friday night’s men’s basketball game between Kentucky and Vanderbilt at the SEC Tournament in Tampa, Fla.
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Before he shouldered the scoring load for Kentucky down the stretch of a possession-by-possession game, TyTy Washington faced another test of character and courage.
Early in Kentucky’s 77-71 victory over Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals Friday, John Calipari removed Washington from the game and gave him a scolding. The UK coach wanted the freshman to be more assertive.
“At the start of the second half, I wasn’t playing with a bounce,” Washington said. “He was pulling me out and got on me.
“And I got really upset.”
Washington credited his teammates for helping him accept — as the sports world terms it — coaching. Teammates reminded him that Calipari wants players to succeed.
“Everybody else on the team was just telling me, you’re OK, don’t let it get in your head, be you,” Washington said. “(Calipari) wants what’s best for you. My teammates pushing me and giving me confidence, that’s going to be the result.”
The result was Washington scoring 12 points inside the final six-plus minutes. UK, which advanced to a semifinal game against Tennessee on Saturday, needed those points to hold off a Vanderbilt team that played with unquenchable resolve despite playing a third game in three nights.
“They played to the horn, and that was amazing,” Calipari said. “We thought we could get to their legs at some point of the second half. And it didn’t happen.”
Washington’s 25 points were three shy of the career high he scored in UK’s home game against Tennessee. His four three-pointers were a career high. He had made only two of nine three-point shots since coming back from injury at Arkansas on Feb. 26.
The three-pointers were also timely. With Kentucky clinging to a 61-58 lead, Washington hit a corner three. Then after a Vandy turnover, UK went to SEC Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe. Vandy collapsed its defense on Tshiebwe, which resulted in a loose ball that found its way to Washington. He again hit a three-pointer.
When Vandy got within 73-69, Washington clinched Kentucky’s victory by making four of four free throws inside the final 19 seconds.
No one said it, but Washington’s slow start mirrored his nondescript regular-season finale at Florida: 1-for-6 shooting and six points.
“My concern always is guys that are young don’t know how to play through bumps,” Calipari said. “They get bumped. Now they’re off-balanced.
“If you’re not going to be physical driving, then don’t drive. Pass the ball.”
But Washington is good enough to be a factor shooting, driving, passing and defending, Calipari said.
Sahvir Wheeler put Washington’s lead role against Vanderbilt in the context of a testament to Kentucky’s depth of options.
“It was just him getting back in rhythm,” Wheeler said. “… It can be anybody’s night. At any given time, someone can step up. Someone can make plays.”
This depth showed itself early. When Keion Brooks picked up his second foul with 13:08 left in the first half, Jacob Toppin entered the game and made an almost immediate impression. He hit a pull-up jumper 45 seconds after coming in. That put Kentucky ahead 17-11 and was part of a 12-0 run that gave UK its largest first-half lead: 19-11.
On Vandy’s next possession, the Commodores got two offensive rebounds, then appeared to get a third opportunity by retrieving a loose ball. An uncontested layup appeared in the offing, but Toppin came out of nowhere to block the shot.
The large contingent of UK fans in Amalie Arena roared.
Vanderbilt star Scotty Pippen Jr. made only one of seven shots in the first half. But the one he made seemed to shift momentum to Vandy’s favor. He hit a three-pointer while being fouled by Davion Mintz. The four-point play narrowed UK’s lead to 19-15.
Kentucky’s depth got another call with about five minutes left. That’s when Toppin left the bench area holding a towel to his face and headed toward the locker room.
Toppin played the second half wearing a clear plastic mask.
“It looks like Jacob may have a broken nose,” Calipari said. “I don’t know. But he played with it.”
Wheeler credited Toppin with playing a key role, which he attributed to “his energy and his presence.”
Then Wheeler added with a smile, “He was talking even with the face mask. You can barely understand him. But you knew he was saying something.”
Mintz and Toppin were among the UK defenders who held Pippen to 2-for-17 shooting and 10 points.
“I’ll give credit to them,” Pippen said. “They had a good game on me. We had three games in three days. I think that had an effect on me. Tired legs.”
Calipari saluted Mintz and Toppin as “difference-makers.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2022 at 12:50 AM.
