The Kentucky Wildcats had been upset by the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Thursday night time time throughout the first spherical of the NCAA Match by a score of 80-76.
That first half was one factor. Every teams acquired off to sluggish begins, nevertheless it didn’t last prolonged. We’ll delve into it extra beneath, nevertheless Oakland’s Jack Gohlke hit seven 3-pointers…throughout the first half! Kentucky carried out principally properly defensively open air of that, nevertheless the Golden Grizzlies led 38-35 on the break.
Throughout the second half, it didn’t get considerably higher. Kentucky couldn’t stop Oakland, they often couldn’t score the way in which by which they’ve all 12 months. As quickly as as soon as extra, it was an horrible effectivity and disappointment all through the Bluegrass flows.
Proper right here’s what to know from this one.
Tre Mitchell shines
Correctly, that was sudden. Tre Mitchell has given Kentucky subsequent to nothing since dealing with accidents over the previous six weeks or so. He’s confirmed no sign of optimistic enchancment since his return, nevertheless he started the game within the current day with 14 elements and 13 rebounds.
To be truthful, Mitchell saved Kentucky above water earlier this season, nevertheless it practically felt similar to the youthful Cats outgrew the veteran. Accidents clearly play an enormous difficulty, nevertheless Kentucky found a method to win with out him.
He started for one simple goal: Oakland performs a zone, and the midrange is open sometimes. Adou Thiero is Kentucky’s most fitted selection on the 4, nevertheless I do understand the selection proper right here. Thiero is best at attacking the rim, whereas Mitchell is best at utilizing his shot-making talent. The one problem is that Mitchell hasn’t carried out one thing persistently since his return.
Two and a half months prior to now, this decision isn’t second-guessed, nevertheless it’s questionable under the circumstances. Happily, Mitchell carried out properly and proved the doubters flawed, along with myself.
Reeves redeems
Antonio Reeves could have ended his Kentucky career with a 1/15 effectivity in a loss to the Kansas State Wildcats last season throughout the NCAA Match. He’s been fixed all season prolonged, and that didn’t change on this sport, as he scored 27 elements on 11/18 taking photos.
Reeves saved the Cats throughout the sport after they’d no enterprise conserving it shut. The veteran guard did utterly all of the items he could to take care of Kentucky’s March Madness targets alive.
He was the one goal Kentucky even had a possibility, which is sad. The proper scorer of the Calipari interval redeemed himself, nevertheless it was all for naught.
Sheppard disappears
As unimaginable as Reed Sheppard has been this season, he no-showed when it mattered most.
Sheppard carried out passive and let Oakland completely take him out of the game. He handed up open photos, jumped at ball fakes, and easily didn’t appear as if himself.
Let’s hope Sheppard takes the similar route as Reeves and gives himself a chance to redeem himself for the March disappointment. His frequent season was specific, nevertheless this was a brutal method for his Kentucky career to attainable end.
Jack Gohlke goes NUCLEAR
Need I say one thing additional? I’m undecided I’ve ever seen one factor like what this little one did on this sport. Gohlke talked hundreds sooner than the game, and he backed it up with 10/20 taking photos from the sphere, all 3s, and scored a game-high 32 elements…off the bench.
This little one is infamous for the way in which by which he performs. Coming into this sport, he had over 300 3-point makes an try compared with merely seven 2-point makes an try. Certain, you study that correct.
Correctly, he lived as a lot because the infamy. Gohlke solely shot 3s, and he merely couldn’t miss, it would not matter what Kentucky tried to do to stop him. He broke the NCAA Match file for a lot of deep balls in opposition to the Cats in a occasion sport, and he did that throughout the first half alone with seven!
John Calipari had utterly no reply. I’m undecided if anyone could have had an answer. The effectivity was legendary, on the Cats’ expense.
What a tragic day for BBN. This must be John Calipari’s last sport as the top coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, nevertheless it most definitely gained’t be.
Now, let’s vent.