Under coach John Calipari, Kentucky is 63-5 as the top-ranked team in the AP poll.
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“Skal did some good stuff”, Calipari said. But, as with the 2014 meeting, it would be hard to tell how competitive the game was by the final score.
The Kentucky Wildcats opened up their first game as #1 quickly, going up 10-0 to start the game. “They’re not gonna back down”, Jones said. I’m proud of that.
The Terriers’ switch to a zone defense seem to blunt UK’s momentum. He passes up too many scoring opportunities, and at times settles for the perimeter shot against teams, like BU. What? What?’ You’ve got to react to it. ‘Switch, help, step up. “I think on the year we’re shooting 22, 23 percent there”.
Kentucky responded. Labissiere’s post-up, part of UK’s 30-8 advantage in points from the paint, erased the Cats’ only first-half deficit. “And the game is finally starting to slow down for me”.
Two other Wildcats scored double figures – Jamal Murray (12) and Isaiah Briscoe (11) – as John Calipari eventually used 11 guys. Kentucky closed the first half on a 9-1 run. “I thought our guys should feel good about the effort they gave tonight”.
Focus again could be an issue considering Boston University (2-2) hasn’t beaten a ranked team since 1959 and lost by 24 in its visit to Rupp Arena last November.
Maryland will face Rhode Island for the Riviera Division title on Wednesday.
Sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis had 15 points, though his 1 of 5 from 3-point range is a concern.
Illinois State plays TCU in the consolation game.
Five UK players scored double-digit points.
After McGlynn put the Rams up, 61-57, with 45 seconds to play, Hassan Martin blocked a layup 10 seconds later to put the Rams in control. There was some high tension though when Marcus Lee got in a shoving match and drew a technical and picked up a technical himself. Then he got back in and he’s a double-double and he could be dunking every ball, making free throws, getting fouled. “I saw by the end of the year how different he was as a player”.
McGlynn led the Rams (3-1) with 18 points.
Tyler Ulis added 15 points for Kentucky, and Alex Poythress had 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for his second straight double-double.
The Terriers led 34-33 with 2 minutes remaining in the first half, but the Wildcats scored the last six points of the period to regain the lead.
Vanderbilt 86, Wake Forest 64 – Wade Baldwin IV and Damian Jones both scored 17 points, as the No. 19 Commodores (5-0) earned a spot in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational finals. Freshman Skal Labissiere finished 7 of 13 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. The Commodores were never threatened in the second half and led by as many as 24 points. He finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
North Carolina 80, Kansas State 70 – Jutin Jackson’s 22 points propelled the No.9 Tar Heels (5-1) to the championship of the CBE Classic in Kansas City.
The Terriers (7-4-2) were led by forward Danny O’Regan, who had a goal and an assist.
Murray, who was 2 for 5 from 3-point land on Tuesday and is 8 for 26 on the year, said it’s “not likely” for perennially skilled shooters like Ulis and Briscoe to continue to miss as the season goes on and that the team will pick it up shortly.
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United Kingdom is shooting only 2 of 11 from downtown.
