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The Kentucky Wildcats drop their second straight game, heading to 8-3 on the season, to Ohio State, 71-65.
It was a close game through the entire 40 minutes, however Kentucky pretty much imploded during the final five minutes against a veteran team that knew how to finish.
The good news is Nate Sestina did have 17 points and was Kentucky’s main source of three-point shooting, hitting five of Kentucky’s seven. He appears to be fully recovered from his wrist surgery.
Overall, Kentucky isn’t very good right now and they have a lot of problems to take care of, whether that shooting, defense, shot selection, etc. You name, Kentucky needs help with it.
Anyway, let’s see what social media had to say about this second game of an atrocious Las Vegas trip:
Final score from Vegas. pic.twitter.com/HYhWeo6IYw
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) December 22, 2019
Biggest problems on this team (to me):
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 22, 2019
1. Need another star. A guy they thought would be one (Whitney) hasn’t
2. No easy baskets in the post
3. Everyone except Hagans struggles to guard off the bounce
Not sure how these get fixed to be honest
Ugly shot chart for UK in the paint today. Only Montgomery and Hagans were above 50% shooting there, and Montgomery was only 2-3. Against 1 guy over 6’8”. Not a good look when guys can’t finish.
— Hoops Insight (@HoopsInsights) December 22, 2019
Officiating was horrendous in both games, but this team has zero identity offensively. Kentucky has scored 69 points or less in four of its last five games.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) December 22, 2019
That was definitely a walk and the officials are definitely butt but Kentucky still doesn't deserve a win.
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) December 22, 2019
Hagans, Maxey and Sestina have combined for 46 points. Basically, nobody else showed up.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) December 22, 2019
Problem isnt “One and Done.” You can win titles with a great team of One and Dones
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 22, 2019
You can win titles with teams of 2-4 year players that are all good and grow
The issue is when half the team are returning Sophs and half are “non-elite” Fresh
That’s a hard combo to win with
OSU coach Chris Holtmann called Vegas "a *somewhat* neutral" environment. Says he thinks Kentucky will still have a great year.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) December 22, 2019
No strong takes about Kentucky are permitted before mid February. We've all seen this movie before, haven't we?
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) December 22, 2019
Players not-named Nate Sestina were 2-of-15 from behind the three-point line.
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) December 22, 2019
Kentucky football can win without passing. Kentucky basketball can't win without shooting.
O/U 3 “FIRE CAL” calls on the postgame show tonight
— Evan Hatter (@ehatt493) December 22, 2019
Kaleb Wesson is exactly what Kentucky is missing. He’s owning the inside.
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) December 22, 2019
Kentucky just has too many guys where you don't know what you're going to get on a night to night basis. That's to be expected from freshmen. Not so much from sophomores and juniors.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) December 22, 2019
FINAL: Ohio State 71, Kentucky 65.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) December 22, 2019
UK has Louisville at Rupp a week from today. Has become even more critical since ‘Cats have a couple of bad losses, and with fact there won’t be any real “resume” wins in SEC besides Auburn.
Well, here's something to cheer up Kentucky fans: Utah is getting blitzed by 30 against San Diego State.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) December 22, 2019
Strap in, BBN, it could be a bumpy rest of the season.
I find myself going round in circles with UK basketball. It used to be my favorite thing to watch by far. It's not now, and it's not close. I honestly don't even enjoy discussing it. This isn't a Calipari thing. It's a "this shit is boring" thing. I don't watch the
— Brian Eldridge (@BriEldridge) December 22, 2019
The team fought hard and I know there are moral victories in Lexington, but I understand the process. And I trust The Process™️.
— Terry The Real TB Brown™️ (@TBrown_80) December 22, 2019
These Cats have a loooooong way to go.
— Derek Terry (@DerekSTerry) December 22, 2019
Sestina called the postgame locker room "pretty solemn" after going 0-2 in Las Vegas. Says Louisville game looms especially huge now.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) December 22, 2019
Nate Sestina says that despite the loss, he felt Kentucky was just a few possessions away from pulling ahead late in the game, feels the team is right on the cusp of "clicking."
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) December 22, 2019
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