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The Pre-Season is in the books. Not to anyone’s surprise the Cats finished it with a 2-0 record after beating Division Two IUP by a final score of 86-64.
It wasn’t the greatest effort from the Cats but they did hang on. Here are the best social media reactions.
"Now the Wildcats will get set for their official opener on Tuesday night up in Indianapolis against the Duke Blue Devils."
— UK Sports Network (@UKSportsNetwork) November 3, 2018
86-64 Final. Now, let's do this for real.
First Half:
Okay. Herro shooting slump over. Hits 3 to open the game
— Vaughts' Views (@vaughtsviews) November 2, 2018
And now @PJWashington showing his range with a 3 ball. Looking to add it to his arsenal this season. He hit five last season.
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 2, 2018
Cats a little sloppy with the ball out front and IUP putting on a dunk clinic (sort of) in transition.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 2, 2018
UK may well beat Duke, but it's not going to be because they shut them down defensively. Cats have a ways to go on that end.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 2, 2018
Herro is amazing.
— Danny Davis (@DannyDa27021564) November 2, 2018
Calipari’s intensity level is about 5x what it was against Transy. You’d think they have a big game coming up or something.
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) November 2, 2018
"Six threes in the first half for Kentucky."@MikePratt22 impressed with Keldon Johnson in catch-and-shoot threes. Sometimes that's difficult for bouncy, athletic players. He makes it look smooth.
— UK Sports Network (@UKSportsNetwork) November 2, 2018
IUP giving Kentucky hell. Cut the 17-point lead to six before Tyler Herro buried his fourth 3-pointer. He has a dozen points, Reid Travis has 15 and 8, and Kentucky leads 43-34 at halftime.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 2, 2018
Confirmation: Kentucky basketball is good
— Justin Hodges (@HodgepodgeHoops) November 2, 2018
Second Half:
A minute into the second half, IUP has attempted 15 threes. And made six. So that's how they're still down by single digits against the No. 2 team in the country. RJ Barrett would score 50 on this version of Kentucky's defense.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 3, 2018
I don’t think the casual Kentucky basketball fan realizes how good @IUP_MBB is. They aren’t getting lucky. These guys can play.
— Russell Abner (@CoachRussAU) November 3, 2018
The Cats are giving IUP's shooters way to much room...and have given up the lane entirely.
— Warren Taylor (@WarrenETaylor) November 3, 2018
Not a good look for Cal's team with Duke looming.
They're looking ahead to the Georgia game.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 3, 2018
Odds on us getting a “We needed this” from Cal in postgame?
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) November 3, 2018
Herro-Travis-PJ are by far the best UK players on the floor tonight. Only guys who seem totally comfortable
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 3, 2018
I don't mean to jump the gun, but it's pretty apparent in this exhibition game that Kentucky basketball will probably not be very good this season. Don't understand why there is not more Internet panic about this.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 3, 2018
Reid Travis with 21 points, 13 rebounds, 7-10 FG, 1-2 3PT, 6-6 FT. Calipari should keep him in a protective bubble from now until Tuesday night against Duke. He's ready, and Kentucky's most important player at the moment.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 3, 2018
"You show Ashton Hagans that ball you won't have it for long."
— UK Sports Network (@UKSportsNetwork) November 3, 2018
Quick hands > quick temper.
The next one counts. Bring on the regular season. #DreamBIG pic.twitter.com/Tq7JFrP0as
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 3, 2018
The best clips from our final exhibition. pic.twitter.com/YV5Vrf5P97
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 3, 2018
.@Rupp_Arena is starting to feel like home as shots are starting to fall for Keldon Johnson and the Cats after two home exhibition wins. #BBN @ASeaOfBlue pic.twitter.com/6Qxk0QZ7EL
— Greg Goins (@BBN_CoachG) November 3, 2018
Tyler Herro said after his 1-for-8 night in the first exhibition, he went straight to the practice facility and got up 500 shots. Keldon Johnson said Herro was in there til midnight. He made 5 of 7 threes tonight.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 3, 2018
Or... pic.twitter.com/Oub85CvkBW
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) November 3, 2018
John Calipari said nobody wants to play this IUP team (which beat Morehead State in scrimmage) and he isn't sure why he agreed. "No good deed goes unpunished," he said.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 3, 2018
Expecting to see a lot more intensity and an edge against Duke on Tuesday night. Best sign tonight: The impact of UK's depth once you get to the final two TV timeouts.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 3, 2018
The official Old Guy Rupp Arena Uniform
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 3, 2018
RT @BEnglish017: pic.twitter.com/slSLa6bT0j
I would have much more concern about tonight’s game if we didn’t have the UK/Georgia tomorrow
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 3, 2018