Here are eight takeaways from UK's two point win over rival Louisville.
1. Ulis: I'm sure you guys are going to debate it but we likely witnessed Ulis' last game against Louisville. Ulis is an NBA player and may go down as one of the favorites during the Calipari era. He's tough, he's poised and he makes winning plays.
He's not a Kentucky kid and he didn't grow up watching UK vs. UofL but this game means a lot to him. He listens to students and fans all year.
I thought it was such a poor decision to have Ulis throw the ball in because the Cats needed him to dribble. I understand the logic behind it, he throws it in and gets it right back, but that wasn't happening. Calipari said they trusted Ulis not to turn it over throwing it in. I believe that, and it speaks to Cal's trust in Ulis, but still disappointing to see.
Star player was the smallest guy on the floor. And to think, the Cats could have landed Emmanuel Mudiay.
2. Shooting: How many times in my post game analysis have I said I'm not worried about Kentucky's shooting? Today was a good day for the Cats, but I think this was closer to the norm than past games. The only player that hit that I wasn't expecting was Hawkins but you have to remember Calipari said he was UK's best shooter over the summer, then he was injured. Maybe he really is a decent shooter now?
If you want to zone Kentucky, the Cats will get offensive rebounds and hit plenty of threes like this did this evening.
3. But...: Cats need more options against the zone. We saw some classic Calipari stallball when UK was up 16 and UK didn't seem to make adjustments when Louisville covered Poythress in the zone. I'm not a college basketball coach and I don't make millions of dollars, but UK needs to figure something else out.
Briscoe would have helped drive to the rim, but Cal will need to get creative because teams will be zoning UK all year. Like I said, UK will hit a ton of threes, but in a perfect world there will be other options. There weren't other options late in the game today.
4. Hawkins: Even as a media member I had to be happy to see such a good kid have such a big game, then mix in the fact he's a Kentuckian and it was the Louisville game and it made for a very special moment.
I don't know how much of Hawkins we'll see this season, but he'll definitely be getting minutes here and there and rightfully so. Lewis having a solid game until Hawkins started guarding him and that virtually ended Lewis' night.
He did make a big mistake late in the game that could have cost UK, but still a huge game that included several valuable threes.
5. Murray: Not Murray's best night but the reason you have to keep him on the floor was clear: he's going to knockdown threes when it matters.
He'll get better at taking care of the ball. He's young, he reclassified and he's always been on teams where he has to play at 100 MPH. He'll learn with experience to slow things down, let the game come to him and take over when he needs to in certain situations.
Not his best game but still a crucial part of Kentucky's win. Wouldn't worry too much about him.
6. Guarding Lee: With the exception of Ben Simmons, Damion Lee will be the best player Kentucky faces all season. Yes, I believe that and no one would have thought that at the beginning of the season. He's so talented and it's clear why every school (including Kentucky) recruited him when he decided to transfer.
He's an NBA player and a matchup problem and although he had 27 points, I thought the Cats did a solid job on him.
There were a few silly miscues where UK let him drive-by (Murray a few times), but they contested most of his shots, played him well and knew his tendencies and really made things difficult on that last shot.
It's a good thing Lee will be gone next season, but credit UK's defense in making him earn every bit of those 27 points (8-20 shooting). Also to do it without UK's best defender, Briscoe, was impressive.
7. Crowd: What an environment at Rupp Arena. This is all subjective but I sensed before the game that UK fans noticed Briscoe would be out and the things were tense during pregame. However, as soon as that ball was tipped it was one of the better Rupp Arena crowds I've ever witnessed. You never know what would happen on a neutral floor, but UK possibly doesn't win this game if they don't have the fans backing them.
If you were there please tell me your experience because it looks wild in the stands. I was down on the floor and at times it started shaking it was so raucous.
8. Pitino: I don't hate Pitino. I actually kinda like him and think he's a great coach but today was embarrassing for him.
He refuses to go to the podium, that's nothing new, but then he decides not to talk period? He flips off a fan heading out of the tunnel? Via UofL, him not talking has nothing to do with Matt Jones but no matter what the reason it's a bad look.
I can't help what the reaction would have been if Calipari did those things after a loss. Flipped off a fan and didn't talk to the media. Or if he had two major scandals in his life. I'm hoping national media doesn't let Pitino slide on today's actions.
Just a classless display.
1. Ulis: I'm sure you guys are going to debate it but we likely witnessed Ulis' last game against Louisville. Ulis is an NBA player and may go down as one of the favorites during the Calipari era. He's tough, he's poised and he makes winning plays.
He's not a Kentucky kid and he didn't grow up watching UK vs. UofL but this game means a lot to him. He listens to students and fans all year.
I thought it was such a poor decision to have Ulis throw the ball in because the Cats needed him to dribble. I understand the logic behind it, he throws it in and gets it right back, but that wasn't happening. Calipari said they trusted Ulis not to turn it over throwing it in. I believe that, and it speaks to Cal's trust in Ulis, but still disappointing to see.
Star player was the smallest guy on the floor. And to think, the Cats could have landed Emmanuel Mudiay.
2. Shooting: How many times in my post game analysis have I said I'm not worried about Kentucky's shooting? Today was a good day for the Cats, but I think this was closer to the norm than past games. The only player that hit that I wasn't expecting was Hawkins but you have to remember Calipari said he was UK's best shooter over the summer, then he was injured. Maybe he really is a decent shooter now?
If you want to zone Kentucky, the Cats will get offensive rebounds and hit plenty of threes like this did this evening.
3. But...: Cats need more options against the zone. We saw some classic Calipari stallball when UK was up 16 and UK didn't seem to make adjustments when Louisville covered Poythress in the zone. I'm not a college basketball coach and I don't make millions of dollars, but UK needs to figure something else out.
Briscoe would have helped drive to the rim, but Cal will need to get creative because teams will be zoning UK all year. Like I said, UK will hit a ton of threes, but in a perfect world there will be other options. There weren't other options late in the game today.
4. Hawkins: Even as a media member I had to be happy to see such a good kid have such a big game, then mix in the fact he's a Kentuckian and it was the Louisville game and it made for a very special moment.
I don't know how much of Hawkins we'll see this season, but he'll definitely be getting minutes here and there and rightfully so. Lewis having a solid game until Hawkins started guarding him and that virtually ended Lewis' night.
He did make a big mistake late in the game that could have cost UK, but still a huge game that included several valuable threes.
5. Murray: Not Murray's best night but the reason you have to keep him on the floor was clear: he's going to knockdown threes when it matters.
He'll get better at taking care of the ball. He's young, he reclassified and he's always been on teams where he has to play at 100 MPH. He'll learn with experience to slow things down, let the game come to him and take over when he needs to in certain situations.
Not his best game but still a crucial part of Kentucky's win. Wouldn't worry too much about him.
6. Guarding Lee: With the exception of Ben Simmons, Damion Lee will be the best player Kentucky faces all season. Yes, I believe that and no one would have thought that at the beginning of the season. He's so talented and it's clear why every school (including Kentucky) recruited him when he decided to transfer.
He's an NBA player and a matchup problem and although he had 27 points, I thought the Cats did a solid job on him.
There were a few silly miscues where UK let him drive-by (Murray a few times), but they contested most of his shots, played him well and knew his tendencies and really made things difficult on that last shot.
It's a good thing Lee will be gone next season, but credit UK's defense in making him earn every bit of those 27 points (8-20 shooting). Also to do it without UK's best defender, Briscoe, was impressive.
7. Crowd: What an environment at Rupp Arena. This is all subjective but I sensed before the game that UK fans noticed Briscoe would be out and the things were tense during pregame. However, as soon as that ball was tipped it was one of the better Rupp Arena crowds I've ever witnessed. You never know what would happen on a neutral floor, but UK possibly doesn't win this game if they don't have the fans backing them.
If you were there please tell me your experience because it looks wild in the stands. I was down on the floor and at times it started shaking it was so raucous.
8. Pitino: I don't hate Pitino. I actually kinda like him and think he's a great coach but today was embarrassing for him.
He refuses to go to the podium, that's nothing new, but then he decides not to talk period? He flips off a fan heading out of the tunnel? Via UofL, him not talking has nothing to do with Matt Jones but no matter what the reason it's a bad look.
I can't help what the reaction would have been if Calipari did those things after a loss. Flipped off a fan and didn't talk to the media. Or if he had two major scandals in his life. I'm hoping national media doesn't let Pitino slide on today's actions.
Just a classless display.
