Cold shooting from everywhere dooms Kentucky in 'SEC fistfight'

During the first half of the Kentucky-LSU game, color analyst Jay Bilas said it best when he called the game an “SEC fistfight”. That is exactly what went on at the Maravich Assembly Center.

When the final buzzer hit triple zeroes, Will Wade’s team walked away with a big-time 65-60 victory over No. 16 Kentucky. For the Wildcats, it was another road contest where things would just not bounce their way.

The Wildcats lost both point guards to injury, had Oscar Tshiebwe sit most of the first half with foul trouble, and went over seven minutes without scoring in the second half. Yet, Kentucky still had a chance to win the game.

In the end, cold shooting kept John Calipari’s squad out of the winner’s circle.

Kentucky was ice cold

Entering the matchup, LSU was a huge test for Kentucky. The Wildcats had a top-10 offense to this point, but the Tigers are legit on defense.

Will Wade’s squad can switch just about everything with multiple perimeter defenders who are absolute pests on the defensive end. With length and quickness at just about every position, the Tigers are legit on defense.

Defense beat offense on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats were just 13 of 34 from two (38.2%), 8 of 24 from three (33.3%), and 10 of 20 from the free throw line (50%). Each number is below Kentucky’s season average. Specifically from two-point range and at the charity stripe, the offense did not get it done.

Kentucky was just 11 of 17 on shots at the rim and really labored from three outside of hot stretch to begin the second half. Meanwhile, nine second half turnovers led to a 21.7 percent turnover rate. That is just not going to get it done.

The Wildcats have a high ceiling on offense this season, but LSU appeared to be a very tough matchup. Wade might have the best defense in college basketball this season.

Unacceptable scoring drought

At the 13:06 mark in the second half, Kentucky claimed a 50-41 lead after Kellan Grady poured in his fourth three-point field goal of the second half. With LSU laboring on offense, the Wildcats seemed to have total control of the game.

Then a scoring drought would not end.

The Wildcats would not score again until a dunk by Tshiebwe at the 6:44 mark. After that, Kentucky would go over five minutes until getting another field goal.

Kentucky cannot go through scoring droughts like this.

The team lost Sahvir Wheeler early in the first half and TyTy Washington was clearly hobbled by a second half injury. Yet, Kentucky should have the depth to overcome something like this. Davion Mintz has point guard experience, and there are plenty of talented players on the roster.

Calipari and his staff have done some good things offensively, but the team cannot go through droughts like that. Kentucky must find ways to put the ball in the hole no matter who is on the floor.

Stats that stood out

• LSU guard Eric Gaines entered Tuesday’s contest as one of the worst three-point shooters in college basketball. The sophomore was just 4 of 31 from deep on the season, but that did not hold up. Gaines poured in a pair of three-point jumpers, and his last one allowed LSU to finally take the lead at 51-50 during Kentucky’s long scoring drought.
• On the perimeter, Kentucky’s guards had issues. Grady, Mintz, and Washington combined to collect 34 points, but a lot of shot volume was needed. The trio hoisted up 34 field goal attempts with a 2 of 11 mark from two-point range. The Wildcats need more efficiency from this group.
• Both teams collected 39 rebounds, had more turnovers than fouls, collected 19 total steals, and shot a combined 35 free throws. LSU turned the game into a grinder, and that’s not the style Kentucky is going to thrive at this season.
• Jacob Toppin was the player of the game for Kentucky with 14 points on nine shots with eight rebounds in 27 minutes. Some huge plays by the junior in the first half allowed the Wildcats to hang around. However, that seemed to take away from Keion Brooks. The junior played just 14 minutes and was 0 of 3 from the floor. For the third time in the last five games, Brooks has played under 20 minutes. The upperclassmen’s playing time seems to be shrinking. Moving forward, Kentucky must figure out what his role will be.