Tim Sullivan of the Courier-Journal says selfish play is the reason Kentucky lost to UCLA.
Several UK players seemed to have the same thought after the game.
Here is an excerpt:
“I don’t want to say we got arrogant,” UK forward Derek Willis said, “but that we got complacent. I don’t know, but we just kind of got behind.”
UCLA’s lead would eventually expand to 14 points, in part because of UK’s rushed shots and reckless dribbling. Twice, UK guard Isaiah Briscoe turned the ball over by treading on the baseline as he drove toward the basket. Though point guard De’Aaron Fox would earn credit for nine assists, fellow freshman Malik Monk would play 36 minutes for the Wildcats, attempt 19 field goals, make five steals and still manage to register zero assists.
Monk scored a game-high 24 points and played heroically for the most part, but later admitted, “I think we were a little bit selfish.”
“We never played like that before,” Monk said. “We always practice to share the ball.”
What Monk described as selfishness may have been more a matter of immaturity; of inexperienced players abandoning team principles in their haste to make a difference as individuals. When pressed on that point, Monk conceded that both perceptions were possible.
