KSR Today: The Mourning After A Humiliating Kentucky Basketball Loss
The list of of bad losses on John Calipari’s resume is growing. Saturday’s loss to Alabama felt even more humiliating. Few would’ve been surprised if the Wildcats lost on the road to the No. 7 team in the country. But to lose like that? The 78-52 defeat was not a tough pill to swallow. This pill suffocated the BBN.
Kentucky actually weathered the initial storm. After falling behind 13-4, the Wildcats’ defense took away easy buckets and they clawed back within one point by the 9-minute mark. It wasn’t pretty, but each team settled in and the viewing audience collectively prepared for a back-and-forth affair. Instead, Alabama went on a run before halftime to grow the lead to double digits and never looked back.
The Crimson Tide opened the second half with an 11-0 run and led by 20+ points the rest of the way. Alabama led by as many as 31 and the final 26-point margin of victory was the largest in the series’ history for the Crimson Tide. Kentucky only scored 52 points. If not for a few late threes by Antonio Reeves, it would have been the lowest scoring SEC game of the Calipari era.
The Wildcats were absolutely demoralized by Alabama. It was the kind of beat down we’re used to seeing Kentucky deliver, not receive. Even if the team recovers from this epic beatdown, the fanbase will not. It’s going to be a long spring in the Bluegrass.
What Happened to Oscar Tshiebwe?
The reigning National Player of the Year played his worst game as a Wildcat. He did not make a shot until the second half and was limited to only four points and six rebounds. It’s not that he was just missing shots, Oscar Tshiebwe was completely taken out of the game.
“I thought they collapsed and he needed to kick out but we got rattled,” said John Calipari. “He got rattled. We got a bunch of guys who got rattled in the game.”
They Were Stoppin’, Jacob Toppin
After stringing together a couple of impressive performances, Jacob Toppin came back down to Earth in Tuscaloosa. Kentucky needed shot-makers and Toppin couldn’t buy a bucket, missing his six field goal attempts of the night. His first made shot was a desperation three at the start of the second half. It was his only made shot. Toppin went 1-of-10 and scored only three points.
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Toppin and Tshiebwe were not alone. Cason Wallace went 1-for-13, which means the Wildcats’ top three scorers combined to make three shots and score nine points. It’s unexplainable, inconceivable and incredibly disappointing.
At Least Kentucky Looked Good
It turns out that if you look good it’s not a guarantee you’ll play good. The Wildcats continued to rock the ’93 throwbacks, bringing out the blues for the first time this season. Hopefully this loss does not force the Cats to put these in the closet for the rest of the season.
Now Playing on the KSR YouTube Channel
We have everything that John Calipari and Nate Oats had to say after the game, but more importantly, we have takes. Check out KSR’s Rapid Reaction following the sad Saturday down south. If you need more than 15 minutes, listen to Matt Jones and a parade of callers on the KSR Postgame Show.
Kentucky Women’s Basketball at Rupp Arena
I hate to be that guy, but we might have another ugly Kentucky basketball loss on the docket for Sunday. Winless in SEC play, Kyra Elzy’s Cats will take on undefeated No. 7 LSU. Kim Mulkey’s team is absolutely destroying opponents this season. You can see them in person at Rupp Arena, beginning at 2 pm EST, and on SECN+.
Final Red Zone Sunday
Enjoy your afternoon with Scott Hanson. Today is the last day he will narrate a Sunday with seven hours of uninterrupted, commercial-free football. The NFL regular season concludes with playoff spots on the line in week 18. We already had one spot earned Saturday night when the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Tennessee Titans 20-16, all thanks to Josh Allen. The former Wildcat did what he did so many times in Lexington, deliver in the clutch.
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