KSR Today: Kentucky Gets Right in Big Win over Vanderbilt

Kentucky shot the lights out of the rafters of Memorial Gymnasium. Rob Dillingham and Antonio Reeves went nuclear in the first half, combining for 29 points prior to intermission en route to a 109-77 victory over Vanderbilt.

It felt like the Wildcats could not miss. They made 15 of 26 shots from behind the three-point line, shot 55.4% from the field, and made all 12 free throw attempts in Nashville. Kentucky scored 56 bench points and 48 points in the paint. Crazy.

Six players scored in double figures. Reeves led the way with 24 points on six made three-pointers. Dillingham flirted with a double-double, tallying 20 points and nine assists in a romp.

The much-needed win snapped a two-game regular season losing streak. It also snapped a two-game skid to the Commodores in the series. Confidence was waning on the team and around the BBN. Despite the opponent’s deficiencies, last night was a lot of fun, reminding everyone how good this team can be when they get hot.

Career Nights for Two Kentucky Wildcats

Tre Mitchell and DJ Wagner did not play Tuesday night. In Mitchell’s absence, John Calipari called upon three players to fill the void and they all stepped up. Aaron Bradshaw had 12 points and seven rebounds, but it was Jordan Burks who surprised the BBN. He scored a career-high 13 points on a perfect 6 for 6 from the field, including one bucket from three-point land.

Burks wasn’t the only one getting in on the fun. Justin Edwards had a career-high 17 points in 20 minutes. The former five-star had not scored in double-figures since the Louisville game. Each player went back and forth, trying to outdo each other with the highlight of the night. Who won, Edwards or Burks?

ANOTHER LOB, this time @Jordanburks123 😤 pic.twitter.com/JPw0cCKJKn

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 7, 2024

OH MY @Jedwards3_ pic.twitter.com/ZDPB4v2XWP

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 7, 2024

Please, Stop Fouling Three-Point Shooters

Winning by 32 on the road in the SEC allows little wiggle room for criticism, but allow me to share some light-hearted nitpicking. Kentucky fouled a pair of three-point shooters. Can we stop doing that, please? Those are free points the Cats are giving away and they’ve done it all season long.

Also, Big Z, why you gotta foul like that? That was the perfect night to get some run in a live game, but he only logged 12 minutes thanks to foul trouble. Zvonimir Ivisic was impressive in that limited time, notching 11 points and seven rebounds.

One other not-so-serious grievance, come on Kareem Watkins! Kentucky was shooting 60% from three when his final attempt came up short with just a few seconds on the clock. That’s a whole number that would’ve looked great in the box score. It’s a shame it didn’t fall, a real shame.

“Kid got in and probably it was a kid that very rarely gets in the game and he had an opportunity to get a shot,” Jerry Stackhouse said after the game. “Maybe another day I would have been [mad] but I didn’t have the energy tonight.” He probably ran out of energy getting T’d up. It happens.

Postgame Comments and Rapid Reaction

It was a late night in Nashville. Catch up on what everybody had to say after the Kentucky get-right game against Vanderbilt.

• John Calipari’s Postgame Presser
• Reeves and Edwards Behind the Mics
• KSR Postgame Show Podcast
• Highlights from the Kentucky Basketball victory

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College Basketball on TV Wednesday Night

The first basketball edition of the Iron Bowl was entertaining. Hopefully, tonight’s produces a similar result.

• #12 Alabama (+4.5) at #16 Auburn, 7 pm, ESPN2
• LSU (+14.5) at #6 Tennessee, 7 pm, SEC Network
• #11 Wisconsin (-5.5) at Michigan, 7 pm, BTN
• Louisville (+7.5) at Syracuse, 7 pm, ACCN
• Pitt (+3.5) at NC State, 7 pm, ESPNU
• Villanova (+2.5) at Xavier, 7 pm, FS1
• #19 Creighton (-2.5) at Providence, 8:30 pm, FS2
• Notre Dame (+16.5) at #9 Duke, 9 pm, ACCN
• Nebraska (+4.5) at Northwestern, 9 pm, BTN
• Georgia (+8.5) at Miss. State, 9 pm, SECN
• Texas A&M (-4.5) at Missouri, 9 pm, ESPN2

It’s National Signing Day

People forget that the first Wednesday in February is still National Signing Day. The Early Signing Period has made what was once a momentous occasion, merely a footnote on the recruiting calendar. The Wildcats added a long-snapper, Texas native Trent Blake, on Tuesday.

We’ll also be keeping an eye on Georgia LB Quintavion Norman, who spoke with KSR+ ahead of his announcement. “I’m just working out what’s going to be best for me and my family,” he said.