Three things to watch when Kentucky plays Vanderbilt at Rupp Arena
Three things I’ll be watching Wednesday night when Kentucky basketball plays Vanderbilt in UK’s home finale:
1. D.J. Wagner’s shooting
John Calipari claimed D.J. Wagner was shooting 40 percent before his ankle injury. Not sure where Cal got that number. Through the Georgia game at Rupp on Jan. 20, the New Jersey freshman had made 18 of his 55 three-point shots for 32.7 percent.
After that, Wagner was 0-of-15 from three-point land over a seven-game stretch. He missed a trio of games in that span — the 94-91 overtime loss to visiting Florida on Dec. 31, the 103-92 loss to Tennessee on Feb. 3 and the 109-77 rout of Vanderbilt in Nashville on Feb. 6. He played 14 minutes in his return Feb. 10 against Gonzaga and 17 minutes the next time out against Ole Miss. His tender ankle was clearly a factor.
The last two games, Wagner has caught fire, however. He drained two of his four three-point attempts in the Cats’ 91-89 win at Mississippi State. Last Saturday, Wagner was 4-of-5 from three in the 111-102 shootout victory over Arkansas. He scored 19 points against the Razorbacks, his highest total since scoring 18 in that Georgia game on Jan. 20.
Can Wagner keep it up? He doesn’t have to go 6-for-9, as over the last two games, but a consistent outside shot will help open driving lanes. Quickly navigating those lanes is Wagner’s strength. If D.J. has found his outside shot, he did so at an opportune time.
2. Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse
This may be the last time we see Jerry Stackhouse as Vanderbilt’s head basketball coach. His Commodores are 8-21 overall this season, including a 3-13 mark in the SEC. In his fifth season, the former NBA star is 69-90 overall, 27-59 in the conference. He has yet to take Vandy to the NCAA Tournament.
Stackhouse appeared to have Vandy on the uptick last season. The Commodores finished 22-15 overall, 11-7 in the league. They beat Kentucky twice in a span of 10 days. The ‘Dores spoiled UK’s Senior Night with a 68-66 win March 1, then beat the Cats 80-73 on March 10 to reach the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.
This has been another step backward, however. A 68-62 loss to Presbyterian in the season opener was a harbinger of things to come. Vandy was 5-8 heading into SEC play and things haven’t improved since. Kentucky rolled over the Commodores 109-77 in Nashville on Feb. 6.
Vandy AD Candice Storey Lee has been supportive of her men’s basketball coach, but attendance at Memorial Gym has plummeted. If the ‘Dores don’t make a coaching change at season’s end, it will be a surprise.
3. The Rupp Arena crowd
As my colleague Mark Story wrote recently, the crowds at Rupp Arena have been terrific this season. They’ve packed the house. They’ve been loud. They’ve tried to give the team a lift.
They’ve also had a reason to be excited. This has been a wildly entertaining team to watch. It plays together. It is unselfish. It plays at a fast, exciting pace. And it roots for each other.
That hasn’t always brought about victories. This is also the team that lost three consecutive home games for the first time in Rupp Arena history. If those defeats have been frustrating, they’ve had their exciting moments, as well.
As is often the case since Calipari arrived at UK in 2009, the majority of the roster won’t be around next year. So enjoy these players, playing together, one more time.
This story was originally published March 6, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
