Two of our 7 footers played today. A lot of folks were saying they would never play here. Well they did. Now let’s get Z ready and let’s go!!

8-4 vs UNC
12-3 vs UL
1-3 vs Duke
5-6 vs KU
3-2 vs IU

UK beats UNC head to head on neutral floor yet UK (8-2) is ranked #21 and UNC (7-3) #19.

Even the computers hate us!

Derp derp derp

Kudos to Cal for pulling Edwards and not forcing it. Edwards had a couple of klutch shots but did not play well over all.

So for that, credit.

Can’t say enough about how good Wagner is becoming. I now love when the ball is in his hands. Add in Shepp and Dilly and we have 3 solid point guards. That especially pays dividends at the end of close games. Bradshaw is going to be a force. Thiero is an incredible glue guy. Reeves seems to struggle in big games, but I still love his scoring ability. Mitchell is solid for what he does. And just wait till Edwards really figures it out

we're going to be right there at the end this season. I've seen enough.

Why?

Well, we all knew our guards were fantastic. The assortment of skills and depth of talent allows for you to ride the hot hands and always have someone effective.
What we didn't know was how our bigs would look. Bradshaw has looked like a star and Ugo looked fantastic defensively at protecting the rim after his initial adrenaline-fueled stint.

I'm feeling REALLY good about this team. Once they figure out how to consistently close teams out, step on their throats on a run, it's going to be awesome.

Loving this team and this season! I hope you are too!

Cheers

Not able to locate it online, anyone come across it?

I mean, UNC only had like five uncalled turnovers in the final minute

Needs to play every one of Edwards’ minutes

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
STATE FARM ARENA | ATLANTA, GADEC. 16, 2023
ATTENDANCE: 17,058



Final Score: No. 14/15 Kentucky 87, No. 9/9 North Carolina 83



Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is 8-2 on the season, North Carolina is 7-3.
• North Carolina leads the series, 25-18, but the Wildcats have won the last two meetings.
  • UNC leads 13-8 in games played at neutral sites.
• Kentucky is 5-5 all-time in the CBS Sports Classic, including 4-1 against North Carolina in the event.
• UK is 71-33 all-time in games played in Atlanta, including 1-2 vs. North Carolina.
• Next for Kentucky: on Thursday, the Wildcats travel to Louisville to take on the in-state rival Cardinals. Game time is 6 p.m. and it will be televised on ESPN.

Team Notes

• Kentucky is now 2-1 against top-10 ranked opponents this season, with wins over North Carolina and Miami and a loss to Kansas (opponent ranking at time of game).
• Kentucky won the rebounding, 42-32, going +10 in rebounding for the second straight game. UK is 5-0 this season when leading the boardwork.
  • UK won offensive rebounding 18-6, leading to a 15-6 advantage in second-chance points.
  • Two huge offensive rebounds by Aaron Bradshaw:
    • His rebound and putback erased North Carolina’s only lead of the game when the Tar Heels had gone ahead 72-71.
    • With the shot clock expiring, Bradshaw rebounded Tre Mitchell’s desperation 3-pointer with 45 seconds left, was fouled, and made two free throws to give UK an 85-81 cushion.
• Sparked by Rob Dillingham’s 17 points and 11 from Reed Sheppard, UK won bench points 36-14.
• Led by Adou Thiero’s career-high four blocked shots, UK had a season-high nine blocks.
• Kentucky led by as many as 12 points. UK is 336-15 (95.7%) in the Calipari era when leading by at least 10 points at any time in the contest.
• All nine Wildcats who played scored at least one point.

Player Notes

• Rob Dillingham led UK with 17 points. He has scored in double figures in every game but one this season.
• D.J. Wagner had 14 points, tied for the team lead in rebounds with six, and had a game-high five assists.
  • UK is 8-0 this season when he scores at least five points.
• Making his first collegiate start, Aaron Bradshaw had 12 points, his second straight game in double figures. He led Kentucky in plus/minus with a +9 total.
• Reed Sheppard notched 11 points, tied for the team high with six rebounds, and had two steals – extending his streak of at least two steals in every game this season.
• Antonio Reeves had nine points, the first game this season he did not hit double figures.
  • He extended his streak of 21 consecutive games with a 3-pointer, longest UK streak since Kellan Grady had a 21-game stretch in the 2021-22 season.
• Tre Mitchell had eight points and five rebounds. He has had at least four boards in every game this season.
• Adou Thiero had seven points and a career-best four blocked shots.
• Ugonna Onyenso saw his first action of the season, totaling one point, one rebound and three blocked shots in 10 minutes.

Coach John Calipari

• Calipari has an 840-255 (76.7%) all-time on-court record, including 395-115 (77.5%) at Kentucky.
• Calipari is 71-50 (58.7%) at UK against ranked competition.
• Calipari is 9-4 vs. North Carolina.

In the First Half

• Kentucky started D.J. Wagner, Antonio Reeves, Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw and Tre Mitchell for the first time this season.
• Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard were UK’s first substitutions with 16:58 remaining.
• UK never trailed in the first half, lengthening the lead to as many as 11 points at 24-13.
• Kentucky led 40-30 with 2:45 remaining, but North Carolina closed the half with an 8-0 run to make it 40-38 at halftime.
• Bradshaw, Wagner, Sheppard and Adou Thiero led UK with seven points each.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with the starting lineup.
• North Carolina scored on the opening possession, extending the run to 10-0 and tying the game at 40.
• Kentucky responded with a 15-3 spurt, claiming the largest lead at 55-43.
• North Carolina rallied steadily, taking its first (and only) lead, 72-71, with 5:15 left.
• The Wildcats roared back with three straight baskets, forcing a UNC timeout with 3:45 remaining.
• Clinging to an 83-81 lead, Bradshaw made both ends of a 1-and-1 with 45 seconds left.
• After two UNC free throws, Dillingham made the second of two free throws with 11.9 seconds remaining to make it 86-83.
• With 4.7 seconds left, Bradshaw made the second of two free throws to provide the final score of 87-83.

Because he’s on campus

NM

Seems like if UK wins a close game then the national headlines say something like "UK holds off ______ for close win"
If UK loses a close game it's more like, " _____ Beats UK with Strong play down the stretch"
Anyone else notice this or am I just being a typical fan?

This team grew up today.

I smell #9!!!

This team is deeeeeep and if the Croatian Sensation gets cleared will be even more so!

Anyone know where to find the game replay? Was out half the hame

Had 4 blocks and 7 points. Love this kids game !

Y’all have fun milking that “Cow”. 🐄

…win the game. Asking for a friend.

Kentucky 87​

Kentucky - Team Statistics

Since I'm always so negative about Cal, here you go. These are the type of games we need to start winning more often, and we did it. Let's win out to conference play, and get it poppin".

Theiro and Onyenso combined for 7 blocks. 7!!!!
Plus Theiro had a couple wow baskets, and a couple nice help defensive plays on Bacot.
Onyenso not as impactful (3 blocks), but considering first game, not bad.

so much better after a win!

Go Big Blue