:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27645987/20140128_tcb_al6_091.0.jpg)
Well, let's just recap the first half. Here's what I said Kentucky must do:
-
Take care of the basketball. LSU is a very good steals team, and just like Louisville, they feed off of them. If Kentucky feeds them, they will be tough to beat.
-
Get off to a good start. LSU is good enough to hold a lead if they get one.
-
Keep LSU out of transition. LSU is very quick at the guard position, and their big people can run as well.
-
Attack the offensive glass. LSU is a good offensive rebounding team, but Kentucky is a better one. Winning the offensive rebounding battle on the road is big.
-
Make free throws. LSU is going to get a favorable whistle, so Kentucky must continue their recent good free throw shooting.
So here is the box:
First-half box score from UK-LSU: pic.twitter.com/YSkNvbnz3E
— CoachCal.com (@CoachCalDotCom) January 29, 2014
By my reckoning, they did none of the things I said they needed to do. None of them. This is just unacceptable. 8 turnovers. Not keeping LSU out of transition. Not getting off to a good start. Blah, blah, blah.
Well, the one good thing is that somehow we managed to get back within six. Given the the first half, I'll take it. LSU gifted us this smaller lead by jacking up an obscene number of threes and ignoring their leading scorer as though he talked bad about their mama.
Alex Poythress, James Young, and Dakari Johnson all came to play. Everyone else seems to think this is some kind of vacation. I hope Calipari reminds them why they're here in the locker room.
I want to thank LSU for letting us back into the basketball game. Let's hope we take good care of your generosity and do the needful in the second half.