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The Kentucky Wildcats were back in action on Sunday when the faced off with the Richmond Spiders, who will likely be an NCAA Tournament team.
Once again, the Cats were without returning sophomore Keion Brooks Jr. who is still out with a leg injury.
Right from the start, it was obvious that this was going to be a tough game against a good team.
Each team exchanged baskets throughout the half, but Kentucky held the early 8-7 lead over the Spiders.
However, each team would keep trading the lead. Despite Kentucky dominating the glass throughout the half, turnovers kept this one very close and the Cats led it 32-28 at the half.
The second half was much of the same as Kentucky built a 36-30 lead before Richmond stormed back to go up 39-36 with 16 minutes to play.
Late in this one, the veteran experience of Richmond started to take over as the held a 58-46 lead at the under 8 timeout.
Unfortunately, the Cats do not yet have an offensive identity and were unable to make the comeback as they lose this one 76-64.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the game:
Cam'Ron Fletcher will get the first start of his career today vs. Richmond.
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 29, 2020
1⃣ @babydev5
2⃣ @bboston_
3⃣ @terrenceclarke_
4⃣ @CamRonFletcher1
5⃣ @sarr_olivier #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/4HcrkIaIOL
This game will tell us a lot about Kentucky. Richmond will be a tournament team and possibly a top 25 team at some point this year. Big time matchup for the young Cats
— BIG BLUE NATION #BBN (@UKBasketbalI) November 29, 2020
Sarr looks like he's ready to ball out
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 29, 2020
We're seeing the offensive package from Olivier Sarr today.
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) November 29, 2020
Got to love the unselfish way this team passes the ball
— Vaughts' Views (@vaughtsviews) November 29, 2020
That finish is part of what makes BJ Boston special.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) November 29, 2020
UK's guards being a little careless with the ball. Neither team has scored in more than two minutes.
— Jon Hale (@JonHale_CJ) November 29, 2020
That Boston-Sarr inside-out game is going to be Kentucky's best offense this year
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 29, 2020
BJ Boston is just filthy. Has top-five pick written all over him.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) November 29, 2020
I love how much hustle Isaiah Jackson gives every play.
— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) November 29, 2020
Decision making could use a little work but he makes up for it in effort.
This is our second game and we holding an entire senior team to 29% ya we will be alright
— Eric Murphy (@emurphy24) November 29, 2020
Devin Askew throws some VERY lazy passes. He has to stop that bad habit
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 29, 2020
Askew tryin to look too cool sometimes. That won’t fly.
— Tod Lanter (@tod_lanterIII) November 29, 2020
Having a good free throw shooting team last year was pretty nice.
— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) November 29, 2020
You will see Terrence Clarke with the ball in his hands a lot down the stretch in this game.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) November 29, 2020
How many shots can you miss at the rim?
— All Things Kentucky (@BBNWonka) November 29, 2020
Cats need Mintz to knock down some shots to space the floor a bit.
— Big Blue Express (@bigbluexpress) November 29, 2020
Well, this isn’t much fun.
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) November 29, 2020
Kentucky down 7 to Richmond with 10 minutes left. Let’s see what this young group can do.
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) November 29, 2020
Was hoping Bruiser or Jai brought some out of bounds plays with them--Nope.
— John Huang (@KYHuangs) November 29, 2020
Seems like the question marks surrounding Kentucky’s shooting ability during the preseason have been warranted.
— Travis Graf (@TravisGraf_) November 29, 2020
Struggling from behind the arc and at the line.
This game was circled as a potential upset since the day it was scheduled.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) November 29, 2020
Way, way too much of this game has been guys 6'7, 6'10, 7'0 dribbling and trying to do their own thing. Positionless basketball is a slogan, not real. They need someone who can facilitate and set the table.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 29, 2020
Clarke has to play point guard.
— Travis Graf (@TravisGraf_) November 29, 2020
A game like this is where Rupp fans come in huge. Need that second push
— Immanuel Quickley (@IQ_GodSon) November 29, 2020
We’re gonna be fine. 10 new guys learning to play with a limited preseason. Richmond came in ready.
— Colton Covington (@C_Cov_) November 29, 2020
♂️
— PJ Washington (@PJWashington) November 29, 2020
One of the absolute worst performances I've seen in the Calipari era. Just ran off the court in the second half.
— Round Daddy (@JStreble82) November 29, 2020
Kentucky finishes 0-for-10 from three-point land. #bbn #ukbasketball
— John Clay (@johnclayiv) November 29, 2020
I don't think anyone who was in the game today had to worry about a quick hook. I actually credit UK's Fr. guards for not forcing 3s when they weren't falling, but with Mintz and Allen on the bench, Kentucky just doesn't have that many good shooters. https://t.co/kVz9HrdA3T
— Jon Hale (@JonHale_CJ) November 29, 2020
If my numbers are right, Kentucky did not have an assist on 11 second half field goals
— Vaughts' Views (@vaughtsviews) November 29, 2020
Through first two games, the only UK players with more assists than turnovers are Cam Fletcher (3/2) and Davion Mintz (3/2). 23 assists, 36(!) turnovers.
— Ben Roberts (@BenRobertsHL) November 29, 2020
Kentucky was outscored 50-31 in 2H in home finale last year against Tennessee. Cats were outscored 48-32 in 2H by Richmond at Rupp today. #bbn #ukbasketball
— John Clay (@johnclayiv) November 29, 2020
Also, this is important. There’s a good chance this loss ends up just as a Quad 1 loss. Richmond won’t lose that many games this season.
— Michael Beard (@AllMikedUp_) November 29, 2020
Today in college hoops to be a big winner the 3 ball is a MUST / u don’t need to be super but at least mediocre as 0-10 is not getting u to the winning locker room . @KentuckyMBB was 0-10 today vs @SpiderMBB & thus lost 76-64 . It doesn’t get any easier Tuesday vs Kansas @espn
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) November 29, 2020
Still think Kentucky has as high of a ceiling as anyone. But their floor is definitely lower than expected.
— Jason Marcum (@marcum89) November 29, 2020
Also, this is a good Richmond team in what’s effectively a neutral court.
Enjoy the journey, and be grateful there’s any kind of journey at all this season.
You know the season’s in trouble when the cardboard cutouts file out early to beat the traffic.
— Chet Lemond (@ChetLemond) November 29, 2020
I wasn’t expecting that kind of performance, but I knew Richmond presented a horrible matchup. Experienced guys who know how to play. Too many people crowned this Kentucky team after a meaningless win over a really bad Morehead State team. @KentuckyRivals
— David Sisk (@CoachDavidSisk) November 29, 2020
If we can lose to Evansville and fight back to win the SEC and compete for a one seed, then we can certainly manage this
— Done and Won (@UnrealisticFan1) November 29, 2020
Gotta bounce back. pic.twitter.com/nAwk3YALz4
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 29, 2020
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