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(Cousins dominated down low, grabbing 18 rebounds/AP:Ed Reinke)
Same story, different night.
That was the official theme of the Kentucky Wildcats victory over a pesky Sam Houston State team that tried to do their best Miami (OH) Redhawks impersonation. The Cats were able to hold off the persistent Bearkats team 102-92, a team that was lights-out from beyond the arc the entire game. Kentucky struggled once again to defend those shots, thus resulting in a much closer game than most wanted to deal with.
Many who packed Rupp on Monday night were treated; frightened for some, to a last second game winning shot by John Wall. Thursday didn’t contain the same spectacular ending, but it was what Kentucky’s opponents were able to do that was the news of the night.
The Bearkats were able to attack the Wildcats perimeter defense, a theme that Miami (OH) stood fast by in Rupp Arena on Monday night. Pick and rolls, screens, and constant cutting left Bearkats players wide open for three point shots. It got so bad that Kentucky head coach had to call another timeout after having just told his team to pressure the three-point shooters.
It was a slow process for the Wildcats as they gave up a record setting night in a winning effort over Sam Houston State. The Bearkats made a Rupp Arena record 18 total 3-pointers. That is a record for a team with guard Corey Allmond netting 11 of them, also a Rupp Arena record for an opponent.
The Bearkats looked the part of another recent, pesky opponent in Miami (OH). Redhawks guard Nick Wishburn drained 8 3-pointers on Monday night and had a career game scoring 27 points. Tonight was another career night, just for another player on another team. Allmond scored 37 points to help give the Bearkats everything they needed for the early season upset.
The Wildcats countered the hot-shooting Bearkats with a lot of low-post scoring. Freshman DeMarcus Cousins made his presence felt with an outstanding game in which he dominated the smaller Sam Houston State team. Cousins led the Cats with a 27 point, 18 rebound game while blocking two shots. The fiery Cousins gave the 110% attitude head coach John Calipari wants from his big man, something the team will need to succeed as the season pushes into March.
Cousins was helped out by fellow teammate and All-American candidate Patrick Patterson. Patterson scored 20 points while pulling down 9 rebounds. The way Patterson is shooting the ball earky in the season is something to keep in mind. Patterson went 8-9 from the field and made a three point shot, a trait he’s developed while working over the off-season. Cousins, along with Patterson owned the paint combining for 12 offensive rebounds for the Wildcats, an aspect Kentucky will dominate through the season.
Guard play was more fluid in this game, as freshmen duo Eric Bledsoe and John Wall become more acclaimated with each other. Turnovers were still high between them (12 total) with each player committing six. On the contrary, both players also had six assists. The main factor was Bledsoe getting out of a one game funk, scoring 19 points on the night as Wall scored 21.
Kentucky shot well from the field but is still struggling from the charity strip. John Calipari teams are notoriously bad free-throw shooting teams and can struggle to put opponents away when they aren’t making the free ones. The Wildcats shot 65% from the line, a problem that wasn’t apparent last season under Billy Gillispie. Kentucky led the SEC that year in free throw shooting percentage, one trademark that pleased many fans.
Calipari and his Wildcats are still figuring out the college landscape, especially being ranked #5 albeit an overrated ranking at that. New players are playing with old, talent must mesh with inexperience, and the the overall chemistry simply isn’t there yet. As teammates get to know each other on and off the court, the rhythm of this team will improve. Close games like these are just what Calipari needs to get his Wildcats team ready for its first big matchup on December 5th.
* #4 North Carolina is handling #15 Ohio St. in New York. UNC coming to Rupp is going to be a tough, tough game.
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