In a game where the Cats were down by as many as 20 points, came raging back to only being down one, couldn’t hit the big shot to ever take the lead lose to Alabama 68-66.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Multiple times down the stretch the Cats had chances to take the lead but no one could step up to hit the big shot.
This definitely isn’t a road team, and it looks like every game away from Rupp Arena is going to be an adventure.
Terrence Jones had his ups and downs with Coach Cal, but Jones was a bull late. Jones ended up with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. He seemed like our only offense at times as Brandon Knight struggled throughout.
Knight scored 14 points, but only on 5-15 shooting. He also committed 4 turnovers with only 3 assists. Knight did hit a big 3 late that brought them within 1, but he had a couple big turnovers late as well.
Doron Lamb led the team in scoring in the first half with 9. He was doing a good job of driving to the basket and hit a couple of bombs. Doron finished with 16 points on 6-14 shooting. He was 2-6 from behind the arc.
Darius Miller had 12 pts and 4 rebounds and Josh Harrellson finished with 3 points and 9 boards.
This might be the last time you see Eloy Vargas. Vargas was taken out early in the first half and Cal looked at him and yelled “Out,” “Out!!” Vargas never returned to the game.
Defensively, especially in the 1st half, this team was terrible. Alabama’s JaMychal Green dominated the paint as he finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He was shooting point blank all night. He finished 7-15 from the field.
Alabama also shot the three very well. The Tide shot 7-14 for a cool 50% from behind the arc. Kentucky was a frozen 7-21 for 33%.
Kentucky’s next game is a road game, at South Carolina. You do remember who our first loss was last year? It will be another tough game for the Cats…of course it is on the road in the SEC..
