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Well, the Abilene Christian Wildcats did not, in fact, beat John Calipari and his merry band of NBA stars. Instead, the Kentucky Wildcats demolished the Wildcats of Abilene, 79-44.
Without PJ Washington, the Cats looked good, although noticeably struggling without Washington. Keldon Johnson took over the game with 25 points and seven rebounds. And Tyler Herro continued his hot shooting streak with 14 points.
EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards did seem to struggle for some of the game, which will have to change, regardless of of who Kentucky plays on Saturday.
But for now, the Cats live to play another day in March. Let’s see what Twitter had to say about the Wildcats first round performance.
One down ... #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/lF7qiK4JUO
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 22, 2019
The Wildcats are having their way!
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 22, 2019
Kentucky has a 34 pt lead in Jacksonville.#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/9VcJNJZEYU
The victorious Cats Head back to the locker room after their win over ACU pic.twitter.com/TlicVGW1zQ
— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) March 22, 2019
Keldon Johnson made quite the #MarchMadness debut! pic.twitter.com/oTk3NCEa7a
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 22, 2019
That wasn’t very Christian like https://t.co/Knf0cQQleq
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) March 22, 2019
There were plenty of reactions about PJ, who now looks unlikely to play Saturday. Thankfully, he was in good spirits during the game.
PJ Washington Jr. didn't let his injury keep him from cheering for his team as Keldon Johnson scores 25 and Kentucky cruises past Abilene Christian 79-44 in #MarchMadness win in Jacksonville. And yes, ACU's band was good. Story: https://t.co/NUwn28AP5J pic.twitter.com/7dZstbBJSm
— Matt Stone (@mattstonephotog) March 22, 2019
PJ Washington tryin to play tonight #BBN pic.twitter.com/LaESAP5Z17
— D-Paas (@vanillawafer50) March 22, 2019
PJ Washington may be in a boot, but looks fine. He's jumped up numerous times after a big play and has been walking around just fine during timeouts. He doesn't look uncomfortable at all..
— Pat Jaggers (@Pat_Jaggers) March 21, 2019
@PJWashington having a lot of fun despite nursing a sprained foot in @KentuckyMBB win over ACU in NCAA Tourney. See all my photos here: https://t.co/9PryprygH0 via @DarrellBird pic.twitter.com/yd3wbCJK46
— Darrell Bird (@DarrellBird) March 22, 2019
Y’all, PJ Washington cruised by me on that scooter going about 20 mph! He was rolling! #BBN
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) March 22, 2019
Ashton Hagans said the Kentucky players proved they could overcome the loss of Reid Travis and can keep grinding without PJ Washington if necessary. pic.twitter.com/nhIcUcwNg1
— rickbozich (@rickbozich) March 22, 2019
That one was for you, @PJWashington. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/DDKDGcW1Oj
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 22, 2019
PJ Washington stands up on the bench asking the crowd to get on their feet, and a go big blue chant promptly breaks out here in Jacksonville.
— Jessica Wimsatt (@Jessica_Wimsatt) March 21, 2019
Charles Barkley: “Tyler Herro to me is the guy that makes [Kentucky] go…He’s the guy that makes all the big shots. He’s got, what we would say in the old days, swag."
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) March 22, 2019
Most Points by Kentucky Freshman - In NCAA Tournament Debut
— sameroncrazy (@SameronCrazy) March 22, 2019
2010 Eric Bledsoe 29
2019 Keldon Johnson 25
2018 Kevin Knox 25
2015 Karl-Anthony Towns 21@KentuckyMBB #BBN @EBled2 @KevKnox @KarlTowns
How's this for a defensive half?
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 22, 2019
Fewest points we've ever given up in a half in NCAA Tournament history and the fewest points we've given up in any half since holding UCLA to seven points in the first half of the 83-44 win on Dec. 20, 2014. pic.twitter.com/SjLztniaG3
44-17 on the glass.
— Michael Whitlow (@couldbelikemike) March 22, 2019
AC shot 5/23 from 3.
Paint points: 40-20.
1.317 PPP to 0.710 PPP.
It's a 2/15 matchup of course, but that's just an ass-kicking from Kentucky tonight.
All 39 Kentucky points scored and 22 of 23 Wildcats rebounds recorded by players playing in their first NCAA Tournament game ever
— Mark Story (@markcstory) March 22, 2019
The start of the second half in Jacksonville will be delayed so the Abilene Christian guys can get autographs from the Kentucky players.
— rickbozich (@rickbozich) March 22, 2019
The feeling after one half of Abilene Christian-Kentucky... pic.twitter.com/mEl1bLEcOR
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) March 22, 2019
when you draw kentucky in the 1st round pic.twitter.com/W3if5aUslG
— nick (@nick_pants) March 22, 2019
Swag Calpari sighting #backinblack pic.twitter.com/ODSBXsiXdN
— PFTCommenter (@PFTCommenter) March 22, 2019
Current Mood: @jemarlbakerjr #WeLoveJemarl pic.twitter.com/owCCOyGFXz
— Barstool UK (@BarstoolUK) March 22, 2019
PJ: “What you want to do there is don’t do that.”
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) March 21, 2019
PJ has spent a fair amount of time standing up on that casted foot already, by the way. pic.twitter.com/YTJKwRac9f
Was told once it became clear PJ Washington was going to sit out tonight, training staff told Calipari they could hard cast him to further protect/immobilize the foot. "Do it," Cal said. And that doesn't mean it can't/won't be cut off sooner than later to let him play. https://t.co/RfVwa5k8af
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) March 21, 2019
When Calipari said there was a tweak, I did not expect it to mean PJ tweaked his foot #bbn #marchmadness #ksr
— Jackie Watson (@JcWatson810) March 21, 2019
126 #MarchMadness wins ➡️ 127 #MarchMadness wins pic.twitter.com/ijvWtG2DkY
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 22, 2019
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