I didn't see this game because I was in a Bed and Breakfast with no access to the TV coverage, and because I am a jinx of incredible proportions when I listen to UK games on the radio with no TV. But as far as I can tell, the Cats played their best game of the year.
Score by quarters:
1st: Kentucky 20, Providence 13
2d: Providence 22, Kentucky 19 (UK led 39-35 at the half)
3d: Kentucky 18, Providence 13 (UK led 57-48 with 10 minutes to go)
4th: Kentucky 22, Providence 17 (UK won 79-65)
The most remarkable thing about UK's performance was that the Cats shot the lights out:
21-34 from 2-point range (61.8 percent)
6-8 from 3-point range (75.0 percent)
19-25 from the line (76.0 percent)
Willie Cauley-Stein had a spectacular day: 7-8 from the field, 15 points, 8 rebounds, 9 blocks. Those are Anthony Davis-like numbers.
James Young also did very well, making 3-4 three-pointers and scoring 18 points in 33 minutes.
The Cats also played very solid defense: Providence went only 9-42 from 2-point range, for a shooting percentage of 21.4 percent. The Friars did make 10-19 three's, but 3-point shooting percentage is determined much more by luck. It's actually very impressive that the Cats could have a relatively easy win over a pretty good team that shot so well from behind the arc.
KenPom now has the Cats back up to 6 in the country, with a huge game coming up Friday night in Dallas against a 7-1 Baylor team. (It's very odd that UK is playing Baylor for the third year in a row). We'll know a lot more about the Cats after that game.
I don't know if it's John Calipari or someone on his staff, but someone, on his coaching résumé, needs to list Willie Cauley-Stein, Josh Harrelson, Marquis Teague and DeAndre Liggins as references.
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