Tag: sec

Recap: Kentucky’s 95-64 win over the LSU Tigers

photo credit Mont Dawson, Sports View America

Senior Day Festivities 

Mark Pope’s first team was led by six seniors: Jaxson Robinson, Lamont Butler, Koby Brea, Ansley Almonor, Amari Williams, and Andrew Carr. The six seniors helped lead Kentucky to a school record 7 wins over top 15 opponents and top 5 for the most Quad 1 wins in college basketball (9). The seniors were introduced one last time and sent off by the iconic song “My Old Kentucky Home” sung by Marlana VanHoose. It was then time to play as the Cats welcomed the 14-15 (3-13) LSU Tigers who were at the bottom of the SEC standings and without 3 key players and were looking to salvage what has been a rough season for Matt McMahon’s Tigers.

First Half

It was a quick start for the Cats as they opened the game on a 15-4 run lead by Amari Williams and Lamont Butler at the beginning of the first half. Matt McMahon’s Tigers would later make an early push with Kentucky’s bench coming in making it slightly closer at 18-10 with 11:47 to go in the first half. The first half was smooth sailing from then on as Kentucky would end the half on a 32-13 run led by Otega Oweh with 15 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the floor. Four other Cats would finish the half with 6 points or more to take the Cats in the half up 50-23.

Second Half and Overall Thoughts

The second half would be much the same and a cakewalk as the Cats would cruise to a win up as many as 38 points and outscoring the Tigers 45-41 in the second half. One main key in the big second half was the great defensive ball pressure as Kentucky would hold LSU to just 45% from the field and 27% from behind the arc. The Cats were led by a trio of Oweh, Almonor, and Garrison who combined for 54 points in the game. To finish the game Kentucky had four players in double figures and 8 players over the 5 point mark in the game. The Cats leading scorer would be Otega Oweh with 24 points and 8 rebounds, and to go along with Oweh it was senior forward Ansley Almonor who finished with 15 points, 6-9 shooting from the floor, and 3-4 from behind the arc.

When do the Cats get back on the floor?

Kentucky will head west to Columbia, MO next to face off with the Tigers who have beaten the likes of Kansas, Florida, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Alabama. The game will be at 12 PM and the game will be televised on ESPN inside Mizzou Arena as the Cats look to clinch the single bye for the SEC Tournament down in Nashville, TN and another statement game over the top 15 ranked Tigers.

Recap: Kentucky’s 82-61 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores 

photo credit Jeff McKinley

First Half

It was a quick start for the Cats as they opened the game on a 5-0 run led by Koby Brea and Andrew Carr at the beginning of the first half. Mark Byington’s Commodores would later make an early push trailing 15-12 into the first media timeout led by guard Chris Manon who had 4 early points. It was much the same throughout the first half with Kentucky leading much of the way until the Commodores took the lead 35-34 on a Jason Edwards jumper with 3:04 to go in the first. The Cats would keep chipping away and regain the lead and would take that momentum into the half up 41-40 led by Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh with 11 first-half points along with a breakout first half from 21-year-old freshman Collin Chandler who had a career-high 7 points in just the first half.

Second Half and Overall Thoughts

The second half would be much different as the Cats would cruise to a win up as many as 24 points (82-68) and outscoring the Commodores 41-21 in the second half. One main key in the big second half was the great defensive ball pressure as Kentucky would hold Vanderbilt to just 29.6% from the field and only 10% from behind the arc. The Cats were led by a trio of Carr, Oweh, and Williams who all had over 8 points in just the second half. To finish the game Kentucky had four players in double figures and 7 players over the 5 point mark in the game. The Cats leading scorer would be Otega Oweh with 20 points and 7 rebounds, and to go along with Oweh it was European big man Amari Williams who finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and to go along with a perfect night from the floor shooting 6 of 6 from 2 and 5 of 5 from the free throw line.

When do the Cats get back on the floor?

Kentucky will head down to Tuscaloosa, Alabama next to face off with the Crimson Tide who beat the Cats earlier in Rupp 102-97 led by star duo Grant Nelson and Mark Sears who combined for 49 points in their effort to a win. The game will be at 6 PM and the game will be televised on ESPN inside Coleman Coliseum as the Cats look for a revenge statement game over the top 5 ranked Tide.