Monday Quickies: Immanuel Quickley Edition

It wasn’t just Quickley’s scoring that led the Wildcats on Saturday.

By John Morgan Francis@MonJorgan Dec 30, 2019, 6:40am EST

If you checked Saturday’s box score following the Kentucky Wildcats’ win over the Louisville Cardinals, then you would’ve been led to believe Immanuel Quickley’s 18 points were far and away his most significant impact on the outcome of the game. However, it wasn’t just putting the ball through the hoop for Quickley. In fact, the sophomore guard took on the most challenging defensive role any Kentucky player has faced this season: attempting to lock down an experienced Jordan Nwora in a rivalry game.

Nwora shot just 2-10 on Saturday, including 1-6 from behind the three-point arc (with his lone make coming in transition) and 3-6 from the foul line. He also committed three turnovers and as many fouls. Quickley consistently had a hand in Nwora’s face as well as allowed just a few inches between their chests to make it nearly impossible for Nwora to create shots on his own.

In a modern age of scoring becoming the flashy trend, ‘twas Quickley’s hard-nosed defense that very well could have won the game for the Wildcats.

Tweet of the Day

Jameis Winston’s first pass under his rookie contract with the Bucs was a pick-six.

Jameis Winston’s last pass under his rookie contract with the Bucs was a pick-six.
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) December 29, 2019