Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s win over the LSU Tigers
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Game day: Kentucky 74, LSU 71
Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Tuesday night’s men’s basketball game between Kentucky and LSU in Rupp Arena.
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Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s 74-71 win over the LSU Tigers on Tuesday night at Rupp Arena.
1. UK proves it can win a possession-by-possession game
In the end, the Cats got it done. It wasn’t always pretty or dominating or a lead-pipe cinch, but when the final buzzer finally sounded at Rupp Arena, John Calipari’s Cats had made just enough plays to make their SEC home opener a successful one.
They did so by making plays down the stretch. Because they had to make plays down the stretch. Up 60-50 with 10:42 left, the Cats went cold just as Matt McMahon’s 12-1 team scored eight straight points — capped by an off-the-glass three-pointer by KJ Williams — to make it a two-point game (60-58) with 6:27 remaining.
After that, however, the Cats used a little luck and excellent execution in the clutch. Sahvir Wheeler banked home a three-pointer of his own with 3:58 left to give Kentucky a 67-61 lead. (“That was the basketball gods,” according to the point guard.) Moments later, on a pair of possessions, the Cats were able to score huge buckets just before the shot clock hit zero.
The first belonged to Jacob Toppin. The senior forward was just 3-for-22 for 13.6 percent from three-point range on the season when he rose up from the left corner and knocked down a key three with 1:23 left to extend UK’s lead to 70-66.
After LSU again chopped the home team’s lead to two points, UK freshman Cason Wallace scored on a drive that beat both a Tigers’ defender and the shot clock for a 72-68 advantage.
And when Toppin calmly sank both ends of bonus free throws with 3.4 seconds left, Kentucky had evened its SEC slate at 1-1.
Through 13 games, the Cats had played in just two games decided by single digits. One was a loss, the double-overtime 86-77 defeat at the hands of Michigan State in the Champions Classic on Nov. 15. One was a win, the 73-69 victory over Michigan in London back on Dec. 4.
Tuesday night the Cats proved to themselves they could win a possession-by-possession game against an SEC opponent.
“That,” Toppin said, “is big.”
2. Call them the Iron Cats
Before the game, Calipari said he was going to stick with his starters longer. He was going to let them play through mistakes and compile more minutes in an effort to foster more chemistry among is starting five.
And Cal did just that. Oscar Tshiebwe and Wallace each played 40 minutes. Wheeler logged 37 minutes, Toppin 31, freshman Chris Livingston 29. Antonio Reeves and Daimion Collins were the only subs who made off of the UK bench. Reeves played 14 minutes. Collins played nine.
And Kentucky’s players appeared no worse for wear. Toppin turned his second straight strong game, scoring a team-high 21 points to go with his 24 in last Saturday’s win over Louisville. Tshiebwe scored 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Wallace scored 14 points. Wheeler had nine assists with just two turnovers.
Did the starters get tired down the stretch?
“Nah,” Wheeler said. “I pride myself on my conditioning.”
“We’re more efficient now,” Calipari said after his team was credited with 18 assists compared to six turnovers. “We’re flowing more. We’re in sync, you can just see it.”
The players say they can see it, too, mentioning that the scrimmaging this team has been doing in practice before games has helped team chemistry, as well.
Calipari reminded the media that he has had teams in the past, especially during his time at UMass, that basically played five players. Is this going to be one of those teams?
“We’ll see going forward,” the coach said.
3. Next up is a tougher challenge
Calipari said his team will have Wednesday off to enjoy Tuesday’s win, but after that it’s back to work for a huge Saturday challenge, on the road at No. 7 Alabama, who improved to 12-2 overall and 2-0 in the SEC with convincing 84-62 win over visiting Ole Miss on Tuesday night.
The Crimson Tide already own a pair of wins over teams ranked No. 1 at the time. Bama beat North Carolina 104-101 in an epic four-overtime game in the Phil Knight Legacy when the Tar Heels were atop the polls. And Nate Oats’ club rallied from 15 points down to beat then-No. 1 Houston 71-65 on Dec. 10.
Kentucky’s first experience with a conference road trip did not go so well. The Cats fell behind early on the way to an 89-75 loss at Missouri on Dec. 28. That can’t happen Saturday, especially in front of what will surely be a raucous crowd at Coleman Coliseum.
“We’re getting closer,” Calipari said. “We’ve still got a lot to work on, but the good news is that it’s all fixable.”
Tuesday was certainly a step in the right direction. To win Saturday, however, the Cats will need to take a giant leap.
This story was originally published January 3, 2023 at 11:59 PM.
