WATCH: Jacob Toppin throws down emphatic dunk over Howard defender
Have a night, Jacob Toppin. The senior big man finished off one of the best performances of his Kentucky career with a huge slam to put a bow on the ‘Cats 95-63 season-opening victory over Howard.
Kentucky was without star big man Oscar Tshiebwe and sophomore Daimion Collins for the contest, but Toppin more than made up their absence, finishing the game with 15 points and 11 rebounds – the first double-double of his career.
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Toppin was one of three players to score in double figures Tuesday night. True freshman Cason Wallace nearly notched a triple double (15 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds), while sharpshooters CJ Fredrick and Antonio Reeves combined for 44 points and went a collect 8-of-17 on 3-point attempts on the contest.
Kentucky will look to pick back up where they left off against Howard this Friday as they host the Dusquesne Dukes at Rupp Arena. Tip is west for 7 p.m. ET live on the SEC Network.
Oscar Tshiebwe, Sahvir Wheeler, and Daimion Collins all miss Kentucky’s opener
With Kentucky basketball’s opener almost upon us, the availability of some key Wildcats was still up in the air. John Calipari put an end to the speculation, though, with a negative update on the Wildcat trio.
Per Tyler Thompson of Kentucky Sports Radio, Calipari says Oscar Tshiebwe, Sahvir Wheeler, and Daimion Collins will all be unavailable for Kentucky’s first game against Howard
Tshiebwe and Wheeler are both missing due to injuries suffered in the preseason. Tshiebwe, the reigning National Player of the Year, had a minor knee procedure in October. As for Wheeler, he reaggravated a knee injury during Kentucky’s first exhibition game. Collins will be absent for a much more personal reason as he is still grieving the unexpected passing of his father last week with his family.
This leaves Kentucky very short-handed for the first game of their year. Being down two starters and a key rotation contributor isn’t an ideal start for the nation’s No. 4 team in preseason, but it ultimately didn’t matter as Kentucky came away with a blowout victory.