Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s win at Tennessee
In addition to my column, three takeaways from Kentucky’s 77-64 win at Tennessee on Saturday:
1. Kentucky’s numbers are improving defensively
The host Volunteers shot just 34.5 percent from the floor, the fourth straight opponent that failed to reach the 40 percent mark against the Cats. Vanderbilt shot 38.9 percent. Auburn shot 35.3 percent. Mississippi State shot 34.5 percent. And now Tennessee failed to get close to the 40 percent mark.
UT Coach Rick Barnes referred to the Cats as “solid defensively” and Tennessee did average 1.026 points per possession. Still, the ability to force missed shots is a positive trend. Tennessee made just seven of 26 three-point shots. Newcomer Santiago Vescovi was four of 11 from three point range. His teammates were three of 15.
Kentucky came into the game 59th in defensive efficiency, according to Ken Pomeroy’s numbers. That’s still the worst showing by a Calipari defense at Kentucky with the exception of the 2012-13 team that lost Nerlens Noel to a torn ACL and ended up (briefly) in the NIT.
This team still has some work to do on the defensive end, but here in the February it appears the Cats are moving in the right direction.
2. Let us now praise Immanuel Quickley
The sophomore guard ended up as Kentucky’s leading scorer on the afternoon with 18 points. He made five of his nine shots from the floor, including two of three from three-point range. He was six of seven from the foul line. Yes, the 92-percent foul shooter missed a free throw.
“He’ll probably be in the gym practicing free throws as soon as we get off the plane” teammate Tyrese Maxey said.
It was the 12th straight game in which Quickley has scored in double figures. Over those dozen games, he’s averaging 17.8 points per game. And after going just one of six from three-point range against Mississippi State, Quickley was back on the beam against Tennessee.
“He’s a killer,” Johnny Juzang said.
The most impressive thing Quickley did Saturday was show his smarts. On Calipari’s advice, he drove the ball more Saturday. And he did so in such a way that drew contact to earn a spot on the foul line. And, as we mentioned, he’s a 90-plus foul shooter. That’s not just taking coaching, but taking it one step beyond.
3. The weekend road warriors get a break
After a Tuesday night trip to Vanderbilt, the Cats return home for a — get this — Saturday home game against Ole Miss. That will snap a streak of four consecutive Saturdays in which Calipari played their “Everybody’s Super Bowl” role for aspiring opponents.
Saturday No. 1 was Arkansas and a 73-66 win at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. Saturday No. 2 was Texas Tech and a 76-74 overtime win over the Red Raiders in Lubbock. Saturday No. 3 was Auburn and a 75-66 loss to the Tigers in a game that was closer than the final score suggests.
Saturday No. 4 was at Thompson-Boling, a recent house of horrors for Calipari. As the Kentucky coach, Cal had dropped four straight in this arena down by the river. Two years ago, UK wasted a 37-29 halftime lead and lost 76-65. The Cats were beaten by a very good Tennessee team 71-52 last season.
This Tennessee team is nowhere near that Tennessee team. Rick Barnes is in rebuild mode. Plus, he’s had to work around some significant injuries, the biggest of which cost Lamonte Turner (shoulder) his season. Uruguay import Santiago Vescovi has the makings of a good player, but he only became eligible last month.
Still, for Kentucky to lead pretty much from start to finish and secure the road victory in solid, team-oriented fashion, is a nice way to cap off this Saturday string of road trips.
This story was originally published February 8, 2020 at 6:07 PM.
