‘On the road again’ a bluesy lament for Kentucky this season

For a team that’s lost six of its last eight games away from home, Kentucky faces a daunting challenge in the season’s final weeks. UK’s final four road opponents have a combined home record of 49-4 (20-2 in Southeastern Conference play).

That challenge begins Saturday at South Carolina, which is 13-0 in Colonial Life Arena this season. Then comes Texas A&M (13-1), Vanderbilt (11-2) and Florida (12-1).

UK Coach John Calipari acknowledged the “great test” his team faces.

“When you’re not a dominating team, it’s hard to win on the road . . . ,” he said Friday. “I’m anxious to see how we respond.”

Kentucky can take solace in taking then-No. 4 Kansas into overtime before losing on Jan. 30. Kansas Coach Bill Self had almost never lost a home game (200-9 record).

To bolster the idea that Kentucky can win away from Rupp Arena, Calipari reminded reporters that the Cats led by 12 in the second half at Auburn and by 21 in the first half at Tennessee.

This was the setup for Calipari to again point out that Kentucky must improve at making high-percentage plays with a game on the line.

“Then stuff gets hairy,” he said. “We’re still learning how to win (and) how to put people away (and) how to stop the bleeding.

“You don’t shoot fadeaways. You don’t shoot up-and-unders. You don’t take the hardest play and turn it over and give them a basket.”

South Carolina Coach Frank Martin declined an invitation to comment on how Kentucky has been almost a different team at home (14-0) than on the road. UK has won its last four home games by an average margin of 26.5 points.

“I just speak for our team,” he said. “For our team, our freshmen are completely different at home than they are on the road. Where they make a mistake and the opposing crowd gets on them, and they allow one mistake to become two. And that’s young kids.”

Martin did feel free to say Kentucky had the means to start winning away games: point guard Tyler Ulis.

“He’s the kind of young man who can get that rectified because of his toughness, his discipline, his enthusiasm. He seems to be an unbelievable leader. When you have a guy like that, those so-called road losses eventually go away because he’ll will those young guys to do things the right way.

“I just hope it doesn’t happen too soon.”

Dominique Hawkins said Kentucky victories away from home will come via increased concentration and effort.

Isaac Humphries said opposing crowds can adversely affect UK’s play.

“We need to secure that lead and not let the crowd interfere with that,” he said. “When you get ahead, you get complacent. You think, oh, we’ve won it.”

The players and Calipari stressed the importance of rebounding at South Carolina. Entering this week, the Gamecocks ranked second in rebound margin (plus 6.6), offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds.

Though only 6-foot-5, Michael Carrera averaged 8.7 rebounds, which was the third-most by an SEC player in league play.

Calipari noted how improved perimeter shooting has made Carrera a more difficult player to defend. But, the UK coach added, “He’s still an offensive rebound machine. He’s still the guts of the team, the toughness of their team.”

Humphries did not sound like he needed convincing.

“He obviously knows how to work his body around . . . ,” he said of Carrera, a native of Venezuela and a senior. “Boxing out a smaller person is harder than it looks.”

Calipari returned to the theme of rebounding when asked about Derek Willis’ emergence as a contributor. Yes, Willis’ perimeter shooting has loosened up defenses and created driving lanes for Kentucky’s guards.

But, Calipari added, “the biggest thing in this game is he’s going to have to rebound. This is one you’ve got to be willing to get your nose in there and mix it up and put your body on somebody.

“If you don’t put your body on somebody, I can promise you they will put their body on you. And you’re at a huge disadvantage if that’s what happens. And they’re good at it. They’re going to go after every offensive rebound. It’s the best thing they do.”

As the record indicates, Kentucky does not need to give any opponent on the road any advantages.

On the plus side, Kentucky’s final three opponents at home — Tennessee, Alabama and LSU — have a combined record of 9-23 on the road (5-11 in the SEC).

But, first, Kentucky must play at South Carolina.

“We’re making progress,” Calipari said. “I told them I’m pleased. But I’m not satisfied.”

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 5:53 PM with the headline "‘On the road again’ a bluesy lament for Kentucky this season."