Very good win for the Cats and the game wasn't as close as the final score indicated. Marshall Plumlee (and Jefferson to a lesser extent) kept the game close early and I think down the road we may look at those first couple of segments as good for Kentucky's younger big guys as a lesson in the kind of intensity you have to play with in these games. No way to learn that except by seeing it.
Impressed with the way Humphries fought. Didn't have a huge statistical night but he got better as the night went on and made contributions. He'll have to do that as I don't expect Lee and Skal to both foul out in too many games but this UK front court will be more prone to foul trouble than some of Calipari's others.
Kentucky's backcourt owned the game. Extremely efficient outing for Ulis and his best game of the year. He was totally in control, totally unfazed the entire game. Played at the tempo that he created and ran circles around Duke's defenders. Very impressed with Briscoe and Murray also. Murray's going to be even better when he gets more comfortable picking his spots and doing everything in the flow of the offense.
Kentucky's running out so quickly after the shot goes up. They were 18-0 in fast break points at one point.
UK was quietly winning the boards at the half (27-20) in spite of Plumlee's dominance of the offensive boards early. Lee really provided the needed energy to combat what Duke's bigs were doing early.
Kentucky started very poorly from the free throw line but finished much better.
Cats won points in the paint 48-30 in large measure because of the way the guards created. Was 36-18 at one point.
Just a much more efficient, impressive team with the ball than was Duke. Kentucky had 15 assists and nine turnovers; Duke had 9 assists and 16 turnovers.
Loved the way they were able to get in Allen's face and 'D' him up. Allen and Ingram were a combined 3-17 so you have to think Calipari loved the way they answered the bell on that end.
Very good lesson in how to fight for the bigs. Very good sign in terms of how good the backcourt is.
This team can win a championship. Duke's not a great team but this will be remembered as a quality win, not only because it's an 11-point win over Duke, but because it could have been a significantly wider margin.
Impressed with the way Humphries fought. Didn't have a huge statistical night but he got better as the night went on and made contributions. He'll have to do that as I don't expect Lee and Skal to both foul out in too many games but this UK front court will be more prone to foul trouble than some of Calipari's others.
Kentucky's backcourt owned the game. Extremely efficient outing for Ulis and his best game of the year. He was totally in control, totally unfazed the entire game. Played at the tempo that he created and ran circles around Duke's defenders. Very impressed with Briscoe and Murray also. Murray's going to be even better when he gets more comfortable picking his spots and doing everything in the flow of the offense.
Kentucky's running out so quickly after the shot goes up. They were 18-0 in fast break points at one point.
UK was quietly winning the boards at the half (27-20) in spite of Plumlee's dominance of the offensive boards early. Lee really provided the needed energy to combat what Duke's bigs were doing early.
Kentucky started very poorly from the free throw line but finished much better.
Cats won points in the paint 48-30 in large measure because of the way the guards created. Was 36-18 at one point.
Just a much more efficient, impressive team with the ball than was Duke. Kentucky had 15 assists and nine turnovers; Duke had 9 assists and 16 turnovers.
Loved the way they were able to get in Allen's face and 'D' him up. Allen and Ingram were a combined 3-17 so you have to think Calipari loved the way they answered the bell on that end.
Very good lesson in how to fight for the bigs. Very good sign in terms of how good the backcourt is.
This team can win a championship. Duke's not a great team but this will be remembered as a quality win, not only because it's an 11-point win over Duke, but because it could have been a significantly wider margin.
