KSR's takeaways from Kentucky's crucial win at Florida

You couldn’t ask for a better start for Kentucky in Gainesville. Looking to make a statement on the road with a third consecutive Quad 1 victory, the Wildcats jumped out to an overwhelming 30-15 lead, shooting an impressive 66.7% to open the game (12-18) while outrebounding the Gators 12-5. Missing star forward Colin Castleton due to a broken hand, Florida had no answer for the Kentucky frontcourt, nor did it have the offensive juice to counter on the other end of the floor. A blowout was underway with minimal resistance from the home team.

And then, a 13-0 run for UF to cut the deficit to just two points. UK responded with three quick buckets to push the lead back up to eight, but proceeded to give up nine straight points to close out the half down one. 22 of the last 28 points overall, a defensive disaster for the Wildcats after a brilliant start on both ends.

It was more of the same after the break. Kentucky put together a 14-6 run to go up 50-43 five minutes in, followed by a quick 8-0 run to retake the lead at 51-50. Wildcats push it back to 11 points at 74-63, then the Gators score nine straight to cut it to two with just 1:12 to go.

In the game of runs, Kentucky got the one that mattered most, closing out the game on an 8-2 run that included six made free throws to earn the 82-74 road win. It moved the team’s overall record to 19-9 on the year and 10-5 in conference play. More importantly, the Wildcats are now 5-7 in Quad 1 opportunities — just 10 days after having just one win in that crucial category — and 5-0 in Quad 2. A resume that reflected a team on the outside of the NCAA Tournament field is now resembling a fairly solid one — now likely a lock to earn an at-large.

How did the win come together for the Wildcats? KSR has the takeaways.

Chris Livingston puts the team on his back

Up two with 51 seconds to go, Cason Wallace launched a stepback three from the top of the key, bouncing up off the front of the rim before grazing the right side of the cylinder and down. A dagger attempt off by a hair, available for a Gator to grab and take down the floor for the tie or lead.

Instead, reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Chris Livingston glides through the air on the baseline for a putback attempt, an and-one finish that would ultimately put the Wildcats up five with 46 seconds to go. It was one of his 15 rebounds and three of his 10 points on the night, the rookie forward’s second consecutive double-double on the year — his only two of the season. In the midst of his best stretch of games as a Wildcat, his season breakthrough, Livingston put together the most important sequence of the win. He was the final dagger against a desperate Florida team playing with nothing to lose.

“What we’re trying to do is ruin their week,” John Calipari told the team prior to shootaround. “Ruin their week.”

The former five-star recruit did just that, the key reason the Gators’ week is ruined. Just as he helped ruin Tennessee’s weekend on Saturday and Mississippi State’s week a few days before that.

Livingston has hit the double-figure mark in four of Kentucky’s last five games, 7.6 rebounds per contest during that same stretch. He’s been a terror on the glass while taking what the defense has given him as a scorer, using his physical gifts to find mismatches. And he’s stepped up defensively, a key reason for his inconsistent playing time early in the year. It’s an all-around individual leap that has allowed the team to stack up quality wins to close out the regular season.

“Chris Livingston was ridiculous today, but he’s been ridiculous for the last couple of weeks,” Calipari said after the win. “His stuff is that energy, the diving on the floor, the going after offensive rebounds because he attempts them. Then, rebounding defensively with two hands. He’s been a monster.”

Oscar Tshiebwe with a near-perfect offensive night (and gets his 1,000th point)

Livingston stole Oscar Tshiebwe‘s spotlight as a rebounder, leading the way with 15 boards, including four offensive. The veteran center was limited to just four total, a season-low and his fewest as a Wildcat.

His impact was made elsewhere, specifically as a scorer, putting forth a near-perfect outing on the offensive end of the floor. The senior star led the way with a game-high 25 points on 12-13 shooting, his most since going for a career-high 37 points in Kentucky’s home win vs. Georgia on Jan. 17. Of his 12 makes on the night, seven were jump shots, with Tshiebwe confidently firing up mid-range attempts with unmatched success — his lone miss was a ridiculous fadeaway jumper on the baseline, a 6-foot-9, 265-pound center’s version of a heat check.

Just how ridiculous was his 92.3% shooting effort? It was the most field goal attempts with only one miss in a single game in program history. That mark is also fourth-highest in one game in Kentucky history with at least eight attempts, highest by a Wildcat in a 25-point outing over the last 25 seasons. He’s also just one of eight players nationally this season to go 12 for 13 or better from the field in a single game.

In terms of counting numbers, Tshiebwe scored his 1,000th point as a Wildcat, the 61st player in school history to join that prestigious club and the first since 2012. He also became just the third UK player to record at least 1,000 points, 800 rebounds and 100 steals in their career, joining Kenny Walker and Chuck Hayes.

Without Castleton, the Florida frontcourt was at a clear disadvantage from the opening tip. And without Riley Kugel and Kowacie Reeves going nuclear in the backcourt for the Gators (40 combined points, 13-23 FG and 6-11 3PT), Tshiebwe is likely the reason Kentucky leaves Gainesville with a blowout win.

Jacob Toppin and Antonio Reeves combine for 35

Tshiebwe was the star scorer and Livingston was a monster on the glass, but they weren’t alone in either category. Jacob Toppin added an efficient 19 points on 7-10 shooting, 2-3 from three and 3-4 at the line to go with 11 rebounds, one assist and two turnovers in 35 minutes while Antonio Reeves went for 16 points, four assists, one block, one steal and two turnovers in 39 minutes.

The two combined to score 13 of Kentucky’s first 17 points of the second half, then 10 of the last 15 points to end the game. 25 total points in the final 20 minutes for the senior duo. It was Toppin’s sixth double-double of the season and his 11th straight game with double-figure scoring, while Reeves finished with his 21st double-digit performance and a season-high in assists.

The four spot has been the team’s biggest question mark from the beginning, wildly inconsistent there on a game-to-game basis. Not only had Toppin underwhelmed going into SEC play, there was also no clear answer regarding his backup. Or someone threatening to take his minutes, fighting to expand their own role. The situation just was what it was, the weakest link of the lineup by a significant margin.

And then Toppin found his confidence. He’s learned to play to his strengths as an above-the-rim athlete while working in mid-range and perimeter jumpers, not the other way around. A non-shooter across his first three years of college basketball, he has also quietly knocked down 10 of 19 3-point attempts in SEC play, including seven of his last 12. And that’s not even accounting for his production on the glass.

As for Reeves, he’s embraced the green light Calipari has given him as a necessary bucket-getter, particularly in big moments. Efficiency hasn’t always been there — he went just 6-15 overall and 2-6 from deep tonight — but the Illinois State transfer continues to hit timely shots at all three levels. With Cason Wallace struggling in Gainesville — eight points (2-8 FG, 0-1 3PT, 4-4 FT), six assists, six turnovers — Reeves carried the scoring load in the backcourt while the forwards and center took care of business in the frontcourt.

Things should get easier for him once fellow veteran senior guards CJ Fredrick and Sahvir Wheeler return to the lineup.

All five starters play 20 second-half minutes

Speaking of the rotation, there was no rotation in the second half for the Wildcats on Wednesday. The five-man group of Wallace, Reeves, Livingston, Toppin and Tshiebwe got things rolling after the break and didn’t sub out a single time through the final buzzer. 20 minutes each while Adou Thiero, Daimion Collins, Lance Ware and Ugonna Onyenso remained on the bench. No breaks, no subs.

“I had to tell the team after, because Adou [Thiero] played well, Daimion [Collins] played well, Lance [Ware] played well, but I just went with the five guys because I was trying to win the game,” Calipari said after.

The strategy worked, but it’s not sustainable. Wallace’s back spasms could flare up at any given moment playing so many minutes, not to mention the leg issues he’s already dealt with. We’ve already seen what happens when Reeves’ legs get shaky due to fatigue — it’s one of several reasons the Wildcats lost in Athens two weeks ago. Livingston, Toppin and Tshiebwe have all been high-minute players as of late, too.

Calipari likes tightening up his rotation going into postseason play, but not to this extent. Three straight wins, sure, but Kentucky needs C.J. Fredrick and Sahvir Wheeler back sooner rather than later. And he made that clear to both players afterward.

“They’re working out and the trainers, the weight room, and all the stuff they’re doing. They’ve got two different kinds of injuries but they’re injured,” he said. “One of the things that I know, you trust a player because only he knows his pain. Don’t question it. If he’s in pain, they shouldn’t be playing. But I told them both, we need you. I’ve got no subs. It’s hard.”

Kentucky survived once again without either of the veteran guards. How much longer can the Wildcats keep it up? Hopefully we don’t have to find out.

Three games to go, No. 3 in the SEC

What’s next for the Wildcats? Kentucky controls its own destiny in the conference, holding firm as the outright No. 3 team in the SEC standings, setting up a double-bye opportunity in Nashville. Before then, though, a Quad 1 matchup vs. Auburn, a must-win Quad 3 vs. Vanderbilt and another Quad 1 at Arkansas to close out the regular season.

Just 10 days after sitting at 1-7 in Quad 1 games, the path is now there for a 7-7 finish in such matchups, gold in the eyes of the Selection Committee. Win the next three and you’re sitting at 22-9 overall and 13-5 in the SEC, potentially back in the top 25 — Kentucky is already receiving votes.

Then make a run in Nashville? The Wildcats could go from the focus of bubble talk to being a team no one wants to face in the NCAA Tournament.

Gotta finish strong.