A Sea Of Blue - Kentucky hammers South Carolina: Everything to knowOnline Home of the Big Blue Nation: Kentucky Wildcats Sports for the Discerning Fanhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46621/aseaof-fav.png2019-02-06T10:39:20-05:00http://www.aseaofblue.com/rss/stream/179773652019-02-06T10:39:20-05:002019-02-06T10:39:20-05:007 more thoughts & postgame notes from Kentucky’s win over South Carolina
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xbj3yPn7qT3VaENlI2wFzeeAYS8=/0x0:5184x3456/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63007093/ashton_hagans_nick_richards_cheer_celebrate.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Drew Brown - Sea of Blue</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The rise of the bench, slumping from deep and more from Tuesday’s demolition of the Gamecocks. </p> <p id="sT8NGO">The <a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/">Kentucky Wildcats</a> are in their longest winning streak of the season, and they were able to take down the <a href="https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/">South Carolina Gamecocks</a> to win their ninth straight. </p>
<p id="xnaQCv">It wasn’t the best start for the Cats, as they didn’t have much energy out of the gate, and they were not locked in defensively. But they were able to take an 8-7 lead into the first media timeout. </p>
<p id="SIX03P">However, South Carolina came into Rupp ready to play as they were knocking down threes at a high rate and getting to the rim. The great start for USC allowed them to grab a 17-13 lead with just under 12 minutes left in the half. </p>
<p id="GSGVpD">Then Cal went to <span>Jemarl Baker</span> off the bench, who has done just about everything well except make shots consistently. However, he came into this one and knocked down a big three and knocked down a mid-range pull-up shot to tie the game at 22. </p>
<p id="0xnA00">With 5:11 left in the half, a <span>PJ Washington</span> layup would tie the game at 24. From that point on, the Cats would go on a 15-4 run to close out the half and take a 39-28 lead into halftime. </p>
<aside id="L9mLIc"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"John Calipari & Wildcats recap win over South Carolina","url":"https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212808/ncaa-basketball-john-calipari-uk-wildcats-south-carolina-sec-2019"},{"title":"Highlights, box score & MVP from Kentucky destroying South Carolina","url":"https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212847/kentucky-wildcats-highlights-box-score-game-mvp-south-carolina-basketball"}]}'></div></aside><p id="tMQHHt">The second half was much better all around for the Cats as they were much more active and aggressive on both ends on the floor. </p>
<p id="wA2GsB">The ball was moving on offense and they were crashing the offensive glass. The hustle allowed them to build up a 51-35 lead at the under 12 timeout. </p>
<p id="mZ5RR1">PJ Washington took over the second half and was doing it on the inside, as well as knocking down outside jumpers. This helped the Cats to build up a 62-38 lead with just under 7 minutes remaining. </p>
<p id="loKKdk">The entire half was a completely dominating performance by the Cats, and they were able to roll to their ninth-straight victory with a 76-48 win. </p>
<h2 id="SbF934"><strong>Thoughts on the game</strong></h2>
<p id="Uqrg5i"><span><strong>EJ Montgomery</strong></span><strong> was outstanding</strong></p>
<p id="yAU5cZ">All season it seemed like EJ was just a step behind and was overthinking while he was on the floor. We all know what he is capable of, we just hadn’t seen it come together like it did in this one. However, we have seen it in spurts. </p>
<p id="N1Hr13">Well, against the Gamecocks, EJ was dominating them on the boards as he had 13 rebounds and five of them were offensive rebounds. He also had 11 points for a double-double to go along with an assist, a block, and a steal. </p>
<p id="vxExDC">It was the performance that we were all waiting to see from the freshman. </p>
<p id="16YXQF">EJ has made strides during the last couple weeks and he put it all together for an excellent performance in this one. </p>
<div id="4OCxpt">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">EJ Montgomery drains a beautiful straightaway 3 pointer. <a href="https://t.co/CywaJBVPbd">pic.twitter.com/CywaJBVPbd</a></p>— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scott_Charlton/status/1092964400669945856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="uaHuah">Grabbing 13 rebounds in just 20 minutes of play is tremendous productive for any big man. his offense is still a work in progress, but if he can come in and dominate the boards like that, it makes an already-dangerous Kentucky team even more scary going forward. </p>
<p id="z158QM"><strong>Jemarl Baker continues to improve</strong></p>
<p id="lAUhxR">Baker checked into the game and started knocking down shots on his way to five points off the bench as well as grabbing three rebounds. </p>
<div id="zGTWWn">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jemarl Baker knocks down the 3 against the zone. <a href="https://t.co/zWdnQglTDe">pic.twitter.com/zWdnQglTDe</a></p>— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scott_Charlton/status/1092943911813824514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="Je72GR">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jemarl Baker rainbow midrange jumper. <a href="https://t.co/qnDl74JYg4">pic.twitter.com/qnDl74JYg4</a></p>— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scott_Charlton/status/1092944998750998528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="EFMB2k">Aside from that, he continued to play excellent defense as he was able to get his hands on the ball to disrupt the offense of South Carolina. Plus, he is most likely one of the better passers on the team. </p>
<p id="aKIOcv">This team will continue to get better and better as Baker continues to grow, improve as a player and settle into his role. </p>
<p id="y8PlLz"><strong>Slumping from deep</strong></p>
<p id="lEW89J">While winning nine streak games is great, Kentucky has done so as of late without getting much help from beyond the arc. After going 5/16 from deep against the Gamecocks, Kentucky has shot below 32% from deep in three of its last four games (Kansas, at Florida and vs. South Carolina).</p>
<p id="G5etUI">In those games, Kentucky hit just 15 of its 55 three-pointers, a putrid 27.2%. That’s going to have to chance for the Cats to win at Mississippi State this weekend. Thankfully, the Cats went 8/16 from distance in the win over Mississippi State in Rupp Arena. Let’s hope they produce that type of outing in Starkville this weekend. </p>
<p id="jQTEX1"><strong>Rise of the bench</strong></p>
<p id="Vgoqyn">It wasn’t that long ago when Kentucky would go several games without getting much production from its bench. The starters were playing great, but you can’t expect them to do everything if you’re going to beat great teams.</p>
<p id="kDzopw">Then there’s the issue of foul trouble, something Kentucky had to deal with in this game when Reid Travis went out early with two fouls. It also didn’t help that Hagans was struggling to make a positive impact while on the floor.</p>
<p id="nvntmA">Thankfully, the bench came through and picked up the slack in a big way. It was actually the bigs who really stepped up, as Montgomery had the best game of his career, while Nick Richards also chipped in four points and four boards in just 11 minutes while defending the rim well. </p>
<p id="GTxo70">Immanuel Quickley had a nice game, despite going 0/3 from the field. He finished with three points, one steal, three rebounds and four assists vs. just one turnover in 19 minutes. </p>
<p id="6FPvab">Jemarl Baker had a good game as well, as he and Quickley helped Kentucky overcome Tyler Herro and Keldon Johnson combining to shoot 7/20 for 20 total points, a so-so game by their standards. </p>
<p id="4GaXMf"></p>
<p id="1CKvSy"><span><strong>Ashton Hagans</strong></span><strong> struggled again</strong></p>
<p id="eKfYk5">The first half was one that I am sure Hagans wants to forget as he turned the ball over six times and was just out of sync. This was coming off a not-so-stellar performance on the road at Florida. </p>
<p id="D9rIMJ">However, he did come back in the second half and play better as he was able to get into the lane and kick it out for open shots. The only problem was they were missing those shots. </p>
<p id="c9fxw5">Despite Hagans struggling most of the game, he still managed to get four assists and three steals. However, he’s committed 4+ turnovers in three of his last five games, which included a five-turnover first half in the win over South Carolina (finished with 6). </p>
<p id="WU4n72">Kentucky has improved by leaps and bounds, but it’s hard to see them making a deep run in March is Hagans can’t get out of this funk. </p>
<p id="RVUQyW">Hopefully, this is just a mini slump because they will need him to be much better Saturday in Starkville. </p>
<p id="uev4o2"></p>
<p id="beqTN6"><strong>Kentucky dominated the boards</strong></p>
<p id="zY2ZYy">We already knew that this team is excellent on the glass, but in this one they took it to a completely different level. They won the rebound battle 50-27 and came up with 21 offensive rebounds, which led to second and third chance opportunities. </p>
<div id="uqGYrr">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">EJ Montgomery with another big time offensive rebound out to Tyler Herro for the 3. <a href="https://t.co/5sKSfjJRzJ">pic.twitter.com/5sKSfjJRzJ</a></p>— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scott_Charlton/status/1092947382009057285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="AnAoOV">They missed 36 shots on the night, so they grabbed 58% of their own misses. That is a recipe to win a lot of games, especially in March when the games slow down. </p>
<p id="UVV7vV"><strong>The defense is very fun to watch</strong></p>
<p id="Oh6ZFk">This team has made one of the most impressive improvements on the defensive end since the beginning of the year when it felt like they couldn’t stop anyone from driving to the rim.</p>
<p id="KW7Gay">Tonight, they held South Carolina to 35.8% shooting and forced them into 19 turnovers. Not to mention, they held them to under 50 points for the game. </p>
<p id="7VnpQV">If you enjoy defense like I do, then you loved watching them talk on that end and the way they were rotating to make life miserable for the Gamecocks all night.</p>
<div id="it2TEH">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Immanuel Quickley with the takeaway and assist to Ashton Hagans on the break. <a href="https://t.co/fFgUFEmJ7E">pic.twitter.com/fFgUFEmJ7E</a></p>— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scott_Charlton/status/1092957662268936192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="tsY4Vw">Kentucky now ranks seventh in KenPom defensive efficiency. What makes that even more impressive is Kentucky has done this while facing teams with an average offensive efficiency of 28. For comparison, that’s higher than five teams ranked ahead of Kentucky in KenPom. </p>
<p id="RBvUbU"></p>
<p id="OwpB90">Up next, the Cats will make another road trip as they travel to face the <a href="https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/">Mississippi State Bulldogs</a> on Saturday. That game will tip-off at 1:00 pm EST on CBS. </p>
<p id="X1ZYiH">Now, here’s a look at the postgame notes and milestones via UK Athletics:</p>
<p id="oAH68K"></p>
<p id="PFrQuf"><strong>Team Records and Series Notes</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="oE1d6P">Kentucky is now 19-3 overall and 8-1 in the Southeastern Conference. </li>
<li id="IH4Ghn">Kentucky has won nine in a row, longest since a 14-game win streak in 2016-17.</li>
<li id="rsUYYc">Kentucky has won eight consecutive SEC games, longest since an eight-game league streak in 2016-17.</li>
<li id="UrBxj9">South Carolina is 11-11 overall, 6-3 in the SEC. </li>
<li id="bK5YOh">Kentucky leads the series 52-12, including 28-2 in Lexington.</li>
<li id="5Wy3Xn">Next for Kentucky: the Wildcats play at Mississippi State on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET (noon CT in Starkville) and it will be televised on CBS. </li>
</ul>
<p id="fgANe6"><strong>In the First Half</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="8wtBnV">
<em>Kentucky started </em><em><strong>Ashton Hagans, </strong></em><span><em><strong>Tyler Herro</strong></em></span><em><strong>, </strong></em><span><em><strong>Keldon Johnson</strong></em></span><em><strong>, PJ Washington</strong></em><em> and </em><span><em><strong>Reid Travis</strong></em></span><em><strong> </strong></em><em>for the 15th time this season</em><em><strong>. </strong></em><em>UK is now 12-3 with that lineup.</em>
</li>
<li id="MbmKB2">
<em>Kentucky was trailing 17-13 when Coach John Calipari inserted substitutes, </em><em><strong>EJ Montgomery, </strong></em><span><em><strong>Nick Richards</strong></em></span><em><strong>, </strong></em><span><em><strong>Immanuel Quickley</strong></em></span><em><strong> </strong></em><em>and </em><em><strong>Jemarl Baker </strong></em><em>at the 11:45 mark. The Wildcats promptly went on a 7-0 run for a 20-17 lead. </em>
</li>
<li id="f8B2Tb"><em>Trailing 24-22, the UK defense had a three-minute scoreless stretch and the Wildcats went on a 10-0 run, grabbing the lead for good at 32-24. </em></li>
<li id="FHKrT3"><em>All totaled, UK finished the half on a 17-4 run to take a 39-28 lead into intermission.</em></li>
</ul>
<p id="yCP640"><strong>In the Second Half</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="qbT567">UK began the second half with the starting lineup.</li>
<li id="QADqcw">Ahead 39-32, Kentucky held South Carolina without a field goal for almost six minutes, and the Wildcats 9-1 run rushed the lead to 48-33. </li>
<li id="qdGbBH">Kentucky continued to pull away, leading by as many as 29 points at 69-40. </li>
<li id="YITQDc">Over the last 18:50, UK outscored South Carolina 37-16. </li>
</ul>
<p id="6EYvHP"><strong>Team Notes</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="DUWlo2">South Carolina scored 48 points. UK is 166-7 under Coach John Calipari when keeping the opponent to 63 points or less, including 14-0 this season.</li>
<li id="AxGpGj">UK has held six straight opponents to 63 or less, first time that has happened since November 2015.</li>
<li id="3tRVrn">UK is 71-0 under Calipari when keeping the opponent to 55 or fewer points, including 7-0 this season.</li>
<li id="tB2Eg7">UK has held three straight opponents to 55 or less, first time that has happened since January 2015.</li>
<li id="Wxm1tz">South Carolina shot only 35.8 percent from the field. UK is 175-15 (.921) under Calipari when keeping the opponent at 40 percent or less, including 10-0 this season.</li>
<li id="hMgEaS">UK has held seven of the last eight opponents under 40 percent.</li>
<li id="T88hPj">Kentucky dominated the rebounding 50-27. The +23 margin is UK’s largest of the season in SEC play and third-largest of the season. </li>
<li id="DCzGoe">UK actually outrebounded South Carolina 21-18 on Wildcat missed shots and UK won second-chance points 18-7.</li>
<li id="srddH1">UK had 11 steals tonight and the Wildcats are 9-0 this season when having at least seven thefts. </li>
<li id="S0rWp6">During the current nine-game win streak UK has …</li>
<li id="yuv2de">Held the opponents to 58 points per game</li>
<li id="O4OQ82">Limited the opponents to 37.3 percent from the field</li>
<li id="uLnj1l">Limited the opponents to 31.2 percent from 3-point range</li>
<li id="tNe0vO">UK improved to 252-5 (.981) under Calipari when leading by at least 10 points at any point in the game. </li>
<li id="2R6IPg">UK has won 16 in a row at Rupp Arena, including 13-0 this season. </li>
</ul>
<p id="0FoROk"></p>
<p id="LyCdkB"><strong>Player Notes </strong> </p>
<ul>
<li id="5OD9n9">
<strong>EJ Montgomery </strong>had his best game as a Wildcat, notching his first career double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, both career highs. </li>
<li id="a4hrdR">
<em><strong>PJ Washington </strong></em><em>finished with 20 points and five rebounds. </em>
</li>
<li id="lpuRDc"><em>It is his sixth 20-point game of the season and he has seven straight games in double figures. </em></li>
<li id="Vf9MZq">
<em><strong>Tyler Herro </strong></em><em>had 11 points and added three rebounds. </em>
</li>
<li id="ogo2mb">
<em><strong>Reid Travis </strong></em><em>neared a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. He also had a season-high three steals.</em>
</li>
<li id="sQhu7p">
<em><strong>Ashton Hagans </strong></em><em>tallied two points, four assists and three steals. </em>
</li>
<li id="dCmL5g"><em>Hagans has 16 consecutive games with at least three assists. He’s led the team in assists 17 times this season. </em></li>
<li id="BQ1Kd8">
<strong>Nick Richards </strong>had four points, four rebounds and a steals in 11 minutes. </li>
<li id="8RNoS4"><strong>UK is 9-0 this season when Richards scores at least four points. </strong></li>
</ul>
<p id="IXRmg9"><strong>Calipari</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="eZxmaH">Calipari is now 294-67 at UK. </li>
<li id="QoAvsN">He is now three wins away from tying Joe B. Hall for the second-most victories by a UK head coach in program history. </li>
<li id="YLWkMk">Calipari has a 739-207 all-time on-court record.</li>
<li id="6AwCd9">UK is 238-40 vs. unranked competition under Calipari.</li>
</ul>
<p id="1DsfpK"></p>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/6/18213089/kentucky-basketball-thoughts-postgame-notes-win-south-carolina-gamecocksJason MarcumAdam Haste2019-02-06T08:39:24-05:002019-02-06T08:39:24-05:00ESPN 680 Postgame Podcast: Kentucky whips South Carolina Edition
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: South Carolina at Kentucky" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JXT1X8lWXdpUjdKhyKdjGf7jVYY=/0x0:2737x1825/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63006258/usa_today_12113177.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cats completely dominated the Gamecocks.</p> <p id="StmVOV">Well that was fun. The <a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/">Kentucky Wildcats</a> pounded the visiting <a href="https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/">South Carolina Gamecocks</a> and were able to beat them at their own game: toughness, defense, and rebounding. </p>
<p id="SjGFWj">The Cats outrebounded the Gamecocks 51-29 and completely smothered them on defense. The bench had a great night as <span>EJ Montgomery</span>, <span>Jemarl Baker</span>, and <span>Immanuel Quickley</span> all played big minutes and contributed in major ways.</p>
<p id="OoELqt">Here is what I discussed:</p>
<ul>
<li id="71iNwS">The rebounding clinic the Cats put on was a sight to behold</li>
<li id="iwoy4c">This team is locked in on defense </li>
<li id="6DvFve">
<span>Reid Travis</span> held <span>Chris Silva</span> to just four points and four rebounds</li>
<li id="J73rzc">
<span>PJ Washington</span> continues to dominate and has turned the corner</li>
<li id="wGU1dY">EJ Montgomery looked comfortable for the first time all season</li>
<li id="EgZeR4">Has this team peaked?</li>
<li id="wZUAbc">What did John Calipari have to say during his press conference?</li>
<li id="VB7R8H">The Cats have some big games ahead of them</li>
<li id="uA9j2p">Player sound from Baker, Montgomery, and Washington</li>
<li id="fwGiPg">Your calls and more!</li>
</ul>
<div id="QnsCIP"><iframe width="100%" height="400" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F570884919&show_artwork=true"></iframe></div>
<p id="IpPyBE"></p>
<p id="gReovC">I’ll be back with you on Saturday after the Cats take on the <a href="https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/">Mississippi State Bulldogs</a> in Starkville.</p>
<p id="XKzc0Z"></p>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/6/18213536/espn-680-postgame-podcast-kentucky-whips-south-carolina-editionJames Streble2019-02-05T22:49:34-05:002019-02-05T22:49:34-05:00John Calipari & Wildcats recap win over South Carolina
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gRFeeB94D7tJZgHF756CaEaKaYc=/0x386:1536x1410/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63004689/24LG0bWq.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Drew Brown A Sea of Blue</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It was all smiles as Kentucky clinched their ninth-straight win Tuesday night. </p> <p id="IpEsun">Any game against Frank Martin’s <a href="https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/">South Carolina Gamecocks</a> promises to be physical. </p>
<p id="Dgjf6c">Tonight was no different, but the No. 5 <a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/">Kentucky Wildcats</a> were able to fight off a pesky Gamecock squad and win their ninth straight game by a final score of 76-48. </p>
<p id="7l3A8W"><span>PJ Washington</span> led the way with 20 points and five rebound, while <span>Reid Travis</span> finished with 11 points and nine rebounds and <span>EJ Montgomery</span> posted his career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. </p>
<p id="RZdw9u">As for the Gamecocks, they were led by <span>Tre Campbell</span> and <span>A.J. Lawson,</span> who both scored 12 points in the losing effort. </p>
<p id="ptcb6p">It was an all-around team effort for the Wildcats who needed everyone on deck to defeat an extremely physical South Carolina team.</p>
<p id="XeWQFc">The most impressive stat of the Wildcats win was the rebound battle. The Cats out-rebounded a South Carolina team that prides themselves on crashing the boards by a 50-27 margin. </p>
<p id="MCtROt">Another big key to the Kentucky victory was shutting down Gamecocks star big man Chris Silva. The Cats were able to get the senior into foul trouble early as he committed two fouls in the first five minutes of the game and then two more within the first eight minutes of the second half. The veteran was held to just four points and four rebounds in 15 minutes played. </p>
<p id="smN7UE">It takes a great team to shut down an opponent's biggest weapon. The Wildcats proved they could do that tonight. </p>
<p id="z6UIPH">After the game head coach John Calipari, Washington, Montgomery and <span>Jemarl Baker</span> with the media to discuss the blowout win.</p>
<p id="SAFN2m">Here’s a summary of what they had to say via UK Athletics: </p>
<h2 id="ggiLsz">John Calipari</h2>
<p id="lfoQSq">Q. How big was EJ tonight, specifically on the rebounding?</p>
<p id="B6Hnvh">JOHN CALIPARI: EJ was really good. Double-double, active, playing hard, blocking shots. He’s starting to come around. This was a great game for him to prove it against a really physical team, that they’re going to get body-to-body on you. He was able to still get it done.</p>
<p id="KYW37a">Look, just understand (Reid) Travis had 9 and 11, but without Travis, (Chris) Silva probably goes for 25 and 11. The kid’s in there exhausted. We’ve got him on an IV. Him and Silva just went at each other. He was able to withstand it, which tells you it’s good for us to have a guy. If they have a guy like that, we got one, too.</p>
<p id="FIJwBO">But I thought PJ (Washington) was good. Did some good stuff. Ashton (Hagans) had a good second half. He had six turnovers at half. That’s a hard team to play. South Carolina is disruptive. They collapse. They run people at you. They’ll gap screens. They’re really good.</p>
<p id="riDLBi">We played good today, though. I loved our toughness, especially from our young guys.</p>
<p id="2gdt5T">Q. You talk so much about demonstrative performance. The types of plays that EJ made Saturday at Florida with the offensive rebound, is that what kind of sparks this performance?</p>
<p id="nBSCeA">JOHN CALIPARI: Yeah. He deserves the minutes he’s getting. The issue becomes -- so does P.J. When Reid plays that way, they have a guy like that, you have to leave Reid in.</p>
<p id="G7LUQP">This is the greatest thing. I told them after the game, this is hard because it’s ego, high school. The only way I get my name in the paper is I score the most points. That’s high school.</p>
<p id="mVDlyj">Right now the way we are as a team, numbers don’t matter. Immanuel played really well. Missed three shots, 0-3. But had four assists. Numbers don’t matter.</p>
<p id="EkVyDl">Reid goes for 9 and 11. He didn’t get 20? Yeah, but it doesn’t matter. You saw how he played. The same with PJ.</p>
<p id="IRUaVc">We’re at this stage now. I said finally, told Keldon (Johnson), You knew exactly how many points you had, that’s why you missed that little floater.</p>
<p id="Gdv3ko">I said, How many did you have?</p>
<p id="2vPDCK">Said, I had 7.</p>
<p id="lXmz0H">He knew. He knew. I knew he knew because that’s the only way he would have missed that. I have to get these two to get to 11. We got to get to where we’re not playing that way.</p>
<p id="jMoOzu">It’s not just him. You got a bunch of high school kids six months ago that are trying to do something unique and trying to do it together.</p>
<p id="lYr0U0">Q. Is there anything about playing a Frank Martin team that gets you ready for March?</p>
<p id="MGyhSo">JOHN CALIPARI: You better be ready to play, be physical. They ran good stuff. They missed a lot of shots today they’ve been making. I would imagine Frank would have said there were some open looks they just made, like the tapes I watched. They shot the ball. The last five games they shot threes at almost 40%. I expected them to make some shots today, and they didn’t.</p>
<p id="UGmxM8">They play similar to us. They take 18, 19 threes a game. We take 17, 18 threes a game. Today we had 16, they had 17. Rebounding was probably the difference in the game.</p>
<p id="BLwzIw">I like to press a pressing team. If a team is a disruptive defensive team, let’s disrupt them. If a team likes to run, let’s run them. You take their strength and make it it’s not your strength. You know what I’m saying? That’s kind of how I try to do this.</p>
<p id="oBldPC">Q. I’m a little bit confused. Coach Martin spent his whole time up there at the podium talking about how his team lacked physicality. You’re saying their team wasn’t physical. Who do we believe?</p>
<p id="yFl7rR">JOHN CALIPARI: Maybe it’s their normal physicality, that this was a little down. I’ll tell you what, when there are people hitting the floor or you’re moving into ball screens, you’re getting whacked, the only difference was Reid was out there whacking, too, so was PJ It’s two teams whacking each other.</p>
<p id="VL9HLl">You know what? Maybe we were a little more aggressive than them. I don’t know. Or the ball bounced our way. I don’t know. Silva only playing 15 minutes affects them. 25 and 12 last five games, 25 and 12.</p>
<p id="ItAMQ3">Q. Your best teams here played defense like they’re having fun, like they enjoyed it. This team looks like it’s starting.</p>
<p id="Si9sAg">JOHN CALIPARI: It’s getting there.</p>
<p id="Rsm7Ru">Q. How do you do that with kids who were in high school six months ago?</p>
<p id="hffT95">JOHN CALIPARI: Well, the biggest thing is they have to be engaged with each other. Early in the year, again I’ve done this 30 some years, your team is going to press for their individual performance. People around them talking to them, how they got to play. They press. They’re uptight about their individual performance.</p>
<p id="JRg6pm">Well, when you are, you cannot be engaged with your team because you’re thinking about your own performance. As it goes on and you realize, If I worry more about my team, the game becomes easier and I play better and score more. How does this work? I don’t know, but that’s how it works.</p>
<p id="kg5ZD8">It just takes some time to trust. I tell them, you’ve got to shut down the clutter. You got people telling you how you need to play or how you’re being evaluated and they’re wrong. So why would you listen? Here is what they’re looking at.</p>
<p id="bL39BJ">I’ll say it again. PJ went 0-4 against Kansas from the three-point line and everybody was going crazy about his performance. Are you ready? <span>Tyler Herro</span> went 2-9 and everybody went crazy. He missed every jumper. It shows you what you think they’re looking at or how you’re being evaluated, you’re wrong. This isn’t high school. This is big boy basketball.</p>
<p id="3ERvZO">This team is getting it. I’ll say it again. Thank goodness we have Travis on this team. Reid, he’s a beast. He is a beast.</p>
<p id="Ag4lQm">Q. Was there any kind of common theme in Ashton’s turnovers tonight? Six total.</p>
<p id="AKgRG2">JOHN CALIPARI: Well, again, this team plays different than any team we will play. What we were telling him is, you got to get to the lane and then make decisions. Well, it’s the first time. It’s like we weren’t running many plays. Just get into the lane and make decisions.</p>
<p id="NKrjEC">His decisions weren’t good. But in the second half, he got a better feel for it and had a better flow of it and he made better decisions. He had no assists and six turnovers at half. He had four assists and no turnovers in the second half, which is why the score was what it was.</p>
<p id="6Z0ALg">Q. You said recently about being halfway up the mountain. What are you still looking for improvement-wise? Any further up the mountain?</p>
<p id="lJb05B">JOHN CALIPARI: We need Nick (Richards). Nick has to give us 15 to 20 minutes a game. He’s got to be playing. It has nothing to do with jump hooks or shots. I like that because it makes him smile, but get in there and fight like crazy and rebound and block shots and fly up and down this court. Let us throw you lobs. There’s no one in the game of college basketball like him, but he’s got to go perform.</p>
<p id="RgAKOz">The second thing, that jump hook, to be honest, you got to fight before you catch it. Fight, fight, fight. It’s unstoppable. But if you catch it at 12 feet because you let the guy push you away or you weren’t moving your feet, you can’t make that shot.</p>
<p id="Cyh3NY">Your job is, forget about anything else, I’ve got to catch it close. Coaches tell me if I catch it close, shoot it. Don’t bounce it, just shoot. EJ, I’m happy for him. Every day in practice going against Nick, and EJ and PJ 25-12, don’t worry about it, we’ll play a zone, you don’t have to guard anybody. Here you got to get better.</p>
<p id="cCB4Ap">What I’m hoping is by the end of the year when you look at Keldon, you say, wow, how much better is he? Tyler. How about Ashton? How about Jemarl Baker playing today, making shots, how he defends? How about Immanuel (Quickley), EJ, Nick? PJ is not the same player as he was at the beginning of the year or last year. More assists than turnovers. Last year he had one assist every two turnovers. He’s a different player.</p>
<p id="xX9BO0">That’s what we’re looking to do. Let’s get better. Let’s get more consistent. Let’s play 40 minutes. Let’s use each of those games to learn about our team. Let the results speak for themselves. You all got mad. Seton Hall, act like you won. I needed them in a good frame of mind. I didn’t need them panicked because you guys are saying the season is over. We’re getting better. Cal, we don’t have moral victories. We’re Kentucky. What? It wasn’t about that. It was about getting them in the right frame of mind.</p>
<p id="trSFZM">Let me say this. We win a game like Florida, you know what I said to them? You know that ball that Tyler ekes in and rolled around the rim, that layup, then the corner jumper that Keldon made that went bang, bang, bang, bang, went in? We don’t make those, we probably lose the game. Should we feel any different about our performance, that we’re getting better? No.</p>
<p id="fVToga">I’ve got to keep these guys in the right frame of mind, which I told them today: My job now is hungry yet humble. We don’t need anybody arrogant right now. We need to be humble and we need to be hungry in what we’re trying to do.</p>
<p id="rqvz1D">Q. It seemed like Nick got in foul trouble tonight. One of them looked like it was on a drive. You were talking to him, moving your feet. Did you want him to move his feet more?</p>
<p id="qeCiGj">JOHN CALIPARI: We work every day on staying in front of dribblers. When they drive, because I know you guys don’t know basketball, but when they drive, if you push up, they’re coming at you. You push that way, you’re going to foul. If they drive, you’re <span>Nick Richards</span>, you retreat, give them space and retreat, at the rim you’re probably going to - I’ll help you - block the shot, unless you push up and foul.</p>
<p id="28pNIT">Every single day we work on moving our feet and retreating and blocking at the rim. He chose to push up. Now, the reason you push up is because you’re exhausted, tired, mentally not into it. You do what your old habits were, which were the eighth grade you used to stick your knee out when the guy tried to dribble around you. You can’t, not here, can’t do it.</p>
<p id="TYNixN">Let me just say this. He’s close. Just like EJ I’m telling you, Nick is close. But we can’t do it for him. He’s got to do it for himself. He’s got to prove to himself. Demonstrative performance will build his own confidence.</p>
<h2 id="LfWo5Z">Jemarl Baker Jr.</h2>
<p id="llB4fp">On the win tonight... </p>
<p id="YQHEdb">”We just went out. We played hard. We tried to execute the game as well as we could and I think we did it.”</p>
<p id="eoO0vf"> </p>
<p id="azDX3v">On Calipari saying you’re developing well …</p>
<p id="BNlrdf">”I think I am just getting comfortable. Every game I am getting more comfortable and just more engaged with the team. I feel like they know how to play with me as well.”</p>
<p id="wXFGix"> </p>
<p id="Z1yDRu"> On the second half defense…</p>
<p id="mMksz3">”Just working on it in practice and knowing that in order to win we are going to have to defend. In order to win the championship we are going to have to defend and be great defensively as well. We have been working really hard in practice and execute the game plans as best we can.”</p>
<p id="29VtH7"> </p>
<h2 id="9XlWgt">EJ Montgomery</h2>
<p id="kCBvQH">On how his double-double feels…</p>
<p id="kfHv40">”It’s a good feeling when you put in all the hard work every day to come out and improve, and you do it.”</p>
<p id="3wQrDD"> </p>
<p id="7oH3dH">On how much playing against Reid (Travis) and PJ (Washington) and Nick (Richards) in practice every day makes you better…</p>
<p id="uZZDhX">”It definitely gets me ready for physical games like this one. Going against them every day is a challenge and gets me prepared.”</p>
<p id="FwWsAF"> </p>
<p id="bwLWzD">On South Carolina being a physical team and if you planned for that… </p>
<p id="EaI2tf">”That’s what the game plan was. To go out there and play physical and just hit first before they hit us. That’s what we did.”</p>
<p id="4Qlmkp"> </p>
<h2 id="T8XZqg">PJ Washington</h2>
<p id="JVI1D3">On a great defensive performance…</p>
<p id="g40oDW">”Defense is a big part of why we’re winning. Without our defense, I don’t think we would be on a nine-game winning streak. We’re stopping teams and forcing them to get out of their game plans and it’s just great to stop teams like that.”</p>
<p id="bHjfYz"> </p>
<p id="rBqw76">On the physicality of the game…</p>
<p id="6D4m8i">”It was really tough, we felt like they were fouling every time, but we knew they were going to do that coming in so we were prepared for it, so we just tried to play physical as well down low. We did a great job at that. Forcing them to get into foul trouble and then getting to the free throw line and making our free throws”</p>
<p id="lYov6P"> </p>
<p id="mweagv">On holding teams to under 40 percent shooting…</p>
<p id="211jEH">”Our key is just taking them out of their game plan, making their strengths their weaknesses. When we play any team that’s the biggest thing we try to do. Tonight, they were a denying team on the defensive end so we tried to do the same thing to them.”</p>
<p id="Dg2kwm"> </p>
<p id="GFplo2">On seeing EJ Montgomery break out tonight…</p>
<p id="k9wfIv">”It was great. I’m happy for him. I’m one of his biggest fans and just to see him go out there and put a smile on everyone’s faces, that’s big for us.”</p>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212808/ncaa-basketball-john-calipari-uk-wildcats-south-carolina-sec-2019Aaron Gershon2019-02-05T21:33:56-05:002019-02-05T21:33:56-05:00Social media reactions to Kentucky’s blowout win over South Carolina
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nyNH1TKdaLQNY9tSCddvuj3F8nw=/0x0:903x602/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63004321/Screen_Shot_2019_02_05_at_7.55.58_PM.0.jpeg" />
</figure>
<p>Including John Calipari’s hilarious sideline hustle. </p> <p id="jgLvej">The <a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/">Kentucky Wildcats</a> get their 19th win on the season and extend their win streak to nine games with a blowout win against the <a href="https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/">South Carolina Gamecocks</a>, 76-48. </p>
<p id="YY6GmL"><span>PJ Washington</span>, yet again, had himself a night with 20 points and five rebounds, good enough for his fourth-straight 20 point game. And <span>EJ Montgomery</span> finally has a breakout game, racking up 11 points and 13 rebounds. </p>
<p id="qxLekb">The defensive performance from the Wildcats was suffocating again. Stifling defense has been this Kentucky team’s motto during their nine game win streak. </p>
<aside id="AeFAvS"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"John Calipari & Wildcats recap win over South Carolina","url":"https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212808/ncaa-basketball-john-calipari-uk-wildcats-south-carolina-sec-2019"},{"title":"Highlights, box score & MVP from Kentucky destroying South Carolina","url":"https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212847/kentucky-wildcats-highlights-box-score-game-mvp-south-carolina-basketball"}]}'></div></aside><p id="w6Xz7k">The Wildcats came into the game eighth in KenPom defensive efficiency, and they will likely move up tomorrow after holding the Gamecocks to 48 points. </p>
<p id="hyiTJu">Now, onto Mississippi State. Here’s what social media had to say about the Wildcats’ win: </p>
<div id="wm9iRE">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">9️⃣ straight for the Kentucky WWWWWWWWWildcats! <a href="https://t.co/UuuHQ7Bw5N">pic.twitter.com/UuuHQ7Bw5N</a></p>— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/1092965735922454528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="bNuuOW">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">That feeling when you beat a conference team by 28<a href="https://t.co/TLi39AYhOY">pic.twitter.com/TLi39AYhOY</a></p>— #5 UK Basketball (18-3) (@BBNation15) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBNation15/status/1092964024596099072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="XbWWVN">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">PJ has been a ROCK during this win streak. So glad to see a leader step up on this team </p>— Barstool UK (@BarstoolUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarstoolUK/status/1092946371215273987?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="rBZ1Tx">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Calipari sideline dance GIF you didn’t know you needed in your life. <a href="https://t.co/MOEegF2oms">pic.twitter.com/MOEegF2oms</a></p>— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrsTylerKSR/status/1092946161604931591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="cyPzvO">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The most famous man in Lexington took a break from the streets to dance for the Rupp Arena crowd. <a href="https://t.co/P8FEDpTacn">pic.twitter.com/P8FEDpTacn</a></p>— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewFranklinKSR/status/1092949677652303872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="UlQaJp">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jonny David saying Local Taco is his favorite restaurant in Lexington is on point. Place is phenomenal.</p>— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJWalkerRadio/status/1092947974496440321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="hnNxUV"></p>
<div id="uI0GJc">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr">o noooooo <a href="https://t.co/hpLif25MTp">pic.twitter.com/hpLif25MTp</a></p>— Evan Hatter (@ehatt493) <a href="https://twitter.com/ehatt493/status/1092957901965090816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="E4ozt6">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I have no idea how South Carolina is 6-2 in conference play.</p>— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) <a href="https://twitter.com/agershon99/status/1092958067673559040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="dLo74w">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Watching Coach Cal cheer for Nick Richards when he makes a play is maybe my favorite thing about this team right now.</p>— TJ Beisner (@tjbeisner) <a href="https://twitter.com/tjbeisner/status/1092958414433472512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="mFcAr3"></p>
<p id="QzIMBl"></p>
<div id="aDSDHs">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’d say 8 points, 13 rebounds, a block and steal in 20 minutes for EJ Montgomery constitutes a breakout game. Strong performance by Kentucky tonight.</p>— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleTucker_ATH/status/1092963860707926017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="fx9Z0j">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not gonna complain about a 28 point win and I’m gonna celebrate the continuing emergence of EJ. Our defense and bench again shine!</p>— Roger Harden (@HardenRoger) <a href="https://twitter.com/HardenRoger/status/1092964679809286144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="DyVSTx">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="ht" dir="ltr">EJ “Michael jordan” Montgomery!!</p>— Trill Withers (@TylerIAm) <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerIAm/status/1092963925157601280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="6IiC4Z">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m so happy for EJ. What a game</p>— Hayden Hooper (@haydenhooper01) <a href="https://twitter.com/haydenhooper01/status/1092965990504124417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="Tb6rjy">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kentucky’s Defense is </p>— Derrick Jordan (@DMJ32) <a href="https://twitter.com/DMJ32/status/1092959475575619584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="XpozTh">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kentucky's current 9-game win streak is the sixth-longest in the Calipari Era:<br><br>2014-15: 38<br>2011-12: 24<br>2009-10: 19<br>2016-17: 14<br>2010-11: 10<br>2018-19: 9</p>— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisFisher247/status/1092972911797911552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="ZOQHai">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I don’t know why but for some reason Kentucky’s 2nd half defense in every game the last month has been suffocating whoever they play! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBN</a></p>— Brock Bennett (@BBennett1992) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBennett1992/status/1092960043450822657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="V1P1gL">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tough night for the Black Mamba <a href="https://t.co/GtefrlmnBs">pic.twitter.com/GtefrlmnBs</a></p>— KY Clips (@KY_Clips) <a href="https://twitter.com/KY_Clips/status/1092960077776965632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="BuSv3b">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">And theeeeeeen, our athletes got to spend some time with the <a href="https://twitter.com/KentuckyMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KentuckyMBB</a> team after the game! Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyDavid?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JonnyDavid</a> and the <a href="https://twitter.com/UKAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UKAthletics</a> Student-Athlete Advisory Council for setting this up! <a href="https://t.co/0OLtXmTaxZ">pic.twitter.com/0OLtXmTaxZ</a></p>— Special Olympics KY (@sokentucky) <a href="https://twitter.com/sokentucky/status/1092968699382788098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="k6rg7y">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kentucky cruisin to their 19th win and 8th in <a href="https://twitter.com/SEC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SEC</a> play. Happy for this team <a href="https://t.co/jhQyWKKZAf">pic.twitter.com/jhQyWKKZAf</a></p>— J.D. Shelburne (@JDSHELBURNE) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDSHELBURNE/status/1092960947897917445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="tu7sHy">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kentucky playing “okay” almost gets them beat by Southern Illinois and VMI earlier in the season.<br><br>Kentucky playing “okay” now has them beating South Carolina by 20.<br><br>My oh my how this team has improved.</p>— KY Clips (@KY_Clips) <a href="https://twitter.com/KY_Clips/status/1092962165235957765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="zUaqqL">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The scoreboard says that South Carolina has 45 points but they probably shouldn’t even have that</p>— Ian Teasley (@ianteasley) <a href="https://twitter.com/ianteasley/status/1092962961105154053?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="pM0Hxw">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kentucky is playing at an elite level right now...9 guys who all contribute and 5 guys who can go for 20 any night<br><br>Special group</p>— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) <a href="https://twitter.com/KySportsRadio/status/1092965405910417410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="LwsrYp">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The breakthrough double-double for EJ Montgomery! <a href="https://t.co/ByqyW2uqSj">pic.twitter.com/ByqyW2uqSj</a></p>— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/KentuckyMBB/status/1092965448843284482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="E8cP8J"><em>Go</em><a href="https://twitter.com/aseaofblue"><em> follow our Twitter page</em></a><em> to get all of the latest Kentucky Wildcats news and views. And be sure to </em><a href="https://breakingt.com/products/party-like-its-1977-shirt?rfsn=278838.c1ca6" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>check out our latest Kentucky shirt</em></a><em>. </em></p>
<p id="vSITvI"></p>
<p id="VWSUS3"></p>
<p id="bg1DIn"></p>
<p id="ZqtJSD"></p>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212980/uk-basketball-twitter-reactions-social-media-kentucky-south-carolina-2019Ianteasley2019-02-05T21:09:50-05:002019-02-05T21:09:50-05:00Highlights, box score & MVP from Kentucky destroying South Carolina
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0rSN5KGRlQHV7EV9m3XHDKpju8w=/0x0:5184x3456/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63004238/uk_huddle.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Drew Brown - Sea of Blue</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cats’ defense continues to play at an elite level. </p> <p id="svyj7U">The <a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/">Kentucky Wildcats</a> destroyed the <a href="https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/">South Carolina Gamecocks</a> Tuesday night 76-48.</p>
<p id="SwKCJg">The score was close for most of the first half, but the Cats went on a big run and never looked back. </p>
<p id="XjvOrT">After falling behind 24-22 with about six minutes to go in the half, UK closed it out on a 17-4 run to go into the break up 39-28.</p>
<p id="vGB6Rd">The story was once again the defense. South Carolina was hot to begin the game, but UK dug their heels in and shut it down. It was an excellent effort against a team that likes to run.</p>
<aside id="SWfGKC"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Social media reactions to Kentucky’s blowout win over South Carolina","url":"https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212980/uk-basketball-twitter-reactions-social-media-kentucky-south-carolina-2019"},{"title":"Kentucky locks down South Carolina: 4 takeaways & postgame talk","url":"https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212837/kentucky-basketball-south-carolina-gamecocks-takeaways-postgame-wildcats"}]}'></div></aside><p id="qdS2p4"><span>PJ Washington</span> was excellent once again. I love watching him play right now. He’s fully accepted his role on this team, and he fits perfectly. He had another 20-point performance tonight.</p>
<p id="Z0gy4h"><span>Tyler Herro</span> played good defense and continued to score in a variety of ways. He’s become very streaky, though, which has limited his overall efficiency on the offensive end.</p>
<p id="BigcP7"><span>Keldon Johnson</span>’s struggles continued tonight. He just can’t get anything going right now. <span>Ashton Hagans</span> turned the ball over entirely too much tonight. He continues to run the offense well, but the turnovers are concerning. Regardless, he’s taking the ball back at an incredible rate.</p>
<p id="k6rBej"><span>Reid Travis</span> clogged the paint and grabbed rebound after rebound. <span>Nick Richards</span>, <span>Jemarl Baker</span>, and <span>Immanuel Quickley</span> all gave extremely valuable minutes off the bench. They all contributed in different ways, but they all looked like they belonged on the court when they were out there.</p>
<p id="kXaT4s">Kentucky shut down the Gamecocks’ best players and dominated the boards. Despite the offense looking sloppy and sluggish at times, UK was still able to dominate South Carolina.</p>
<p id="7f9KUL">The Gamecocks weren’t good at all in non-conference play, but they have wins over Mississippi State and Auburn. They’ve shown the ability to beat good teams. And the Cats didn’t let that thought cross their minds.</p>
<p id="x3S8Kd">Next up, the Cats will travel to Starkville Saturday afternoon to take on the <a href="https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/">Mississippi State Bulldogs</a>.</p>
<h2 id="Cs3hN2"><strong>Box Score</strong></h2>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ON7059VinBnkrVNa_YaBhdyL87o=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13740054/fhyf.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="gAtNa0"></p>
<h2 id="a3ykoY"><strong>Game MVP</strong></h2>
<p id="AcNKhv">This is now back-to-back games that <span>EJ Montgomery</span> has played extremely well. PJ played great, but EJ was a true difference-maker. That’s why he’s taking home the MVP.</p>
<p id="epePsj">His defense is very good, and he’s becoming a great rebounder. And he might be the rim protector Calipari has missed over the last few years. </p>
<p id="SSSqU7">His progression throughout the season has been nothing short of impressive, despite it being slow and steady. His potential is through the roof, and we’re finally seeing why he was the highest ranked recruit in this year’s freshman class.</p>
<p id="cVB2oP">Montgomery posted his first career double-double, finishing with 11 points and 13 rebounds. It was really awesome to see him just dominate the boards, especially on the offensive end (five offensive rebounds).</p>
<p id="hny6PO">He also shot 5-7 from the field, including 1-1 from three-point land.</p>
<p id="U6dxk6">As John Calipari said after the game, EJ takes this team to a whole new level. Let’s hope he keeps it up.</p>
<h2 id="Hkrcv3"><strong>Highlights</strong></h2>
<div id="4ox9y1"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fporbCvoQZg?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="6biVAT"><em>Go</em><a href="https://twitter.com/aseaofblue"><em> follow our Twitter page</em></a><em> to get all of the latest Kentucky Wildcats news and views. And be sure to </em><a href="https://breakingt.com/products/party-like-its-1977-shirt?rfsn=278838.c1ca6" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>check out our latest Kentucky shirt</em></a><em>. </em></p>
<p id="wICgCU"></p>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212847/kentucky-wildcats-highlights-box-score-game-mvp-south-carolina-basketballNick Wheatley2019-02-05T20:50:48-05:002019-02-05T20:50:48-05:00Kentucky locks down South Carolina: 4 takeaways & postgame talk
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: South Carolina at Kentucky" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yYSS2CgfVgiX-cclYCltISRw0iE=/0x971:3141x3065/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63004154/usa_today_12112747.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Kentucky’s defense remains locked-in as they take down South Carolina for their ninth-straight victory.</p> <p id="HBgnXG">Big Blue Nation has enjoyed four consecutive weeks of watching their <a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/">Kentucky Wildcats</a> win games. </p>
<p id="pikmRf">The Wildcats put their eight-game winning streak on the line as they played host to the <a href="https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/">South Carolina Gamecocks</a> on Tuesday night.</p>
<p id="pdLRDL">Once again, Kentucky started out slow while their opponent mysteriously caught fire from behind the arc. This time, it was Kentucky’s reserves who weathered the storm. Heading into halftime, Kentucky held a 39-28 lead over the Gamecocks.</p>
<aside id="RE575H"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Social media reactions to Kentucky’s blowout win over South Carolina","url":"https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212980/uk-basketball-twitter-reactions-social-media-kentucky-south-carolina-2019"},{"title":"Highlights, box score & MVP from Kentucky destroying South Carolina","url":"https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212847/kentucky-wildcats-highlights-box-score-game-mvp-south-carolina-basketball"}]}'></div></aside><p id="ogxbmQ">In the second half, Kentucky continued their strong effort on defense en route to a 76-48 victory.</p>
<h2 id="Xfc7uL"><strong>Wildcats Surge Forward</strong></h2>
<p id="s6CcaD">Behind reigning Co-SEC Player of the Week <span>PJ Washington</span>, who scored 20 points on Tuesday night, the Wildcats won their ninth-straight game this season. Not all of their victories have been spectacular for the full 40 minutes, but the Wildcats have proved they can win in any fashion.</p>
<p id="beiPIF">When head coach John Calipari’s team is struggling to score, each player has shown they can lock down on defense until the offensive spark comes. The ability for each of Calipari’s players to accept coaching shows how committed the team is to winning.</p>
<p id="9QfJYj">Kentucky is just a couple of games away from their premiere matchup against the <a href="https://www.rockytoptalk.com/">Tennessee Volunteers</a>. While many fans and members of the media are looking forward to next Saturday, the Wildcats will continue to follow their model of taking one game at a time.</p>
<h2 id="SYWtsS"><strong>Defensive Trend Continues</strong></h2>
<p id="okX6aq">Their offensive execution wasn’t pretty, but Kentucky’s defense on Tuesday night remained in sync with recent performances. The Wildcats held their opponent to less than 65 points for the fifth-straight contest.</p>
<p id="QfMQIo">Specifically, Kentucky held South Carolina to 36% from the floor and 29% from behind the arc while forcing 18<strong> </strong>turnovers. Kentucky’s big men indeed committed 12 fouls but South Carolina only shot 14 free throws to mirror the Wildcats’ discipline around the rim.</p>
<p id="T2uckh">Kentucky’s offense won’t always struggle but, when it does, it’s comforting to know their defensive backbone is as strong as any in the SEC.</p>
<h2 id="lDkoyo"><strong>Reserves Spark First Half Energy</strong></h2>
<p id="YWUgpc">Following the game’s first five minutes, Kentucky’s starters looked to mentally check in and out of the game while still physically standing on the court. Calipari instantly took notice and quickly went to his reserves.</p>
<p id="ISdtuy">A group of <span>Immanuel Quickley</span>, <span>Jemarl Baker</span>, <span>Keldon Johnson</span> (the lone starter), <span>EJ Montgomery</span> and <span>Nick Richards</span> led an all-out effort to bring Kentucky back into the game. Baker confidently swished multiple jump shots while Quickley calmly ran the offense. Montgomery and Richards each dominated the paint, winning every 50-50 battle for loose balls and rebounds.</p>
<p id="QAzaky">This is the contribution, as a whole, Calipari has been looking for. Competing for a national championship takes more than five players and, on Tuesday night, the Wildcats proved they can go eight or nine deep at any time.</p>
<h2 id="alca7B"><strong>Hagans Slumps On</strong></h2>
<p id="G1EQtc">Since taking over Kentucky’s point guard duties, <span>Ashton Hagans</span> has been mostly prolific at both ends of the court. He’s been a pest on defense and ran the team’s scoring unit on offense. However, his previous two games have been rather underwhelming.</p>
<p id="QLp3b5">At Florida on Saturday, Hagans was pulled multiple times early on in both periods for what appeared to be a lack of focus. His struggles continued into Tuesday’s game, resulting in a stagnant offense early on. The freshman has been recognized as the SEC Freshman of the Week multiple times this season, but will likely fall short of that award this week after committing six turnovers and scoring just two<strong> </strong>points on Tuesday.</p>
<p id="r4LSgN">In order to contend for a national championship, Kentucky will need their point guard to snap out of his slump.</p>
<p id="ZT2HCT">Kentucky (19-3) will hit the road for a second consecutive Saturday, this week traveling to Starkville where they’ll face the <a href="https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/">Mississippi State Bulldogs</a> (16-5). Tip-off is set for 1 pm EST. </p>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212837/kentucky-basketball-south-carolina-gamecocks-takeaways-postgame-wildcatsJohn Morgan Francis2019-02-05T18:01:02-05:002019-02-05T18:01:02-05:00Kentucky to wear Nike’s new self-lacing shoe
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jUnsfdUUkCOOG0Qk_Kub2pEnb3E=/0x0:4095x2730/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63003497/uk_shoes_nike_.1549407663.jpg" />
<figcaption>Drew Brown - Sea of Blue</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Wildcats will be the first collegiate team to wear the new Adapt BB’s</p> <p id="X2hDSu">The <a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/">Kentucky Wildcats</a> basketball team will be debuting Nike’s new self-lacing shoe tonight against the <a href="https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/">South Carolina Gamecocks</a>. </p>
<p id="lyXCvb">The Wildcats will be the first collegiate team to wear them. If you need a refresher, these are a new type of shoe that Nike recently unveiled. You tighten the laces via an app on your phone, and the purpose is to give players a much more smoother fitting shoe, as shoe sizes do tend to fluctuate a small bit during a game. </p>
<div id="ekBuCf">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr"> ⬆️ <a href="https://t.co/X2612q4q7B">pic.twitter.com/X2612q4q7B</a></p>— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/KentuckyMBB/status/1092869623106727940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="vICZ11">It’s unclear if all of the Wildcats are wearing them or if it’s a select group of players. </p>
<p id="u6gCGJ">This comes just a few weeks after former Wildcat and current <a href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/">Kings</a> guard De’Aaron Fox was one of the few basketball players marketing the new shoes and presumably Fox may have hooked the Wildcats basketball team up with the new Adapt’s: </p>
<div id="oO3WJ2">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Debuting Nike Adapt BB tonight! The future is here. Get yours in SNKRS February 17. <a href="https://twitter.com/nikebasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nikebasketball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nikeadapt?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nikeadapt</a> <a href="https://t.co/qYdVgf7gTi">pic.twitter.com/qYdVgf7gTi</a></p>— De'Aaron Fox (@swipathefox) <a href="https://twitter.com/swipathefox/status/1085950211883585538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="qmIPzN">The shoes aren’t available to the public until February 17th and they will cost you a cool $350. It will be interesting to see if these have any kind of affect on tonight’s game. </p>
<div id="4qKzqw"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uZJ2bq12JSI?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="75Mm4R"><em>Go</em><a href="https://twitter.com/aseaofblue"><em> follow our Twitter page</em></a><em> to get all of the latest Kentucky Wildcats news and views. And be sure to go </em><a href="https://breakingt.com/products/party-like-its-1977-shirt?rfsn=278838.c1ca6" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>check out our latest Kentucky shirt</em></a><em>. </em></p>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18212772/college-basketball-kentucky-nike-self-lacing-shoe-wildcats-usc-gamecocks-2019Ianteasley2019-02-05T17:25:37-05:002019-02-05T17:25:37-05:00Kentucky vs. South Carolina Game Thread
<figure>
<img alt="Ashton Hagans" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6jqtjDrduqJpnbiUtI47L1KCQhM=/242x333:2689x1964/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63003229/IMG_7304.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jamie Boggs - Sea of Blue</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Wildcats and Gamecocks clash in primetime at Rupp Arena. </p> <p id="0U37K9">Another day, another SEC matchup for the <a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/">Kentucky Wildcats</a>. This time, they’re gearing up to play the <a href="https://www.garnetandblackattack.com/">South Carolina Gamecocks</a> at home. </p>
<p id="encyQL">Kentucky has been on a complete tear over their last eight games, winning several of them over some talented opponents. They’ve also won 11 of their last 12, which has propelled them back into the top-five teams of the country. </p>
<p id="NrtQpq"><span>PJ Washington</span> has developed into the star this team needs over the last 4 games. He is averaging 20.5 PPG, 10.8 RPG, shooting 51.7% from the field and 46.2% from beyond the arc. If he continues to play like this, not only will Kentucky be considered a legitimate championship contender, but he will inch his way into the lottery come draft day. </p>
<p id="fHabtC">South Carolina had a horrendous start to the season, but they bounced back in a big way in conference play where they are 6-2. It will be a fight, but it’s a fight that Kentucky should win. </p>
<p id="Xbs2vc">The game starts at 7:00 pm EST on the SEC Network. You can watch it online using<a href="http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3421244/transylvania-vs-kentucky"> Watch ESPN</a>, the<a href="http://www.espn.com/watchespn/apps"> Watch ESPN app</a> and<a href="https://fave.co/2yN4Yrs" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> fuboTV</a>. You can listen to an online radio stream via<a href="https://ukathletics.com/signingday/general/general/3/"> UK Athletics</a>. </p>
<h2 id="MEflJM"><strong>Pregame Reading</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="pKUwS5"><a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/3/18209263/kentucky-basketball-south-carolina-gamecocks-game-time-tv-channel-online-steam">Kentucky vs. South Carolina: Preview, viewing info & what to watch for</a></li>
<li id="PmrxvU"><a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18210862/uk-wildcats-basketball-john-calipari-keldon-johnson-kentucky">John Calipari opens up about Keldon Johnson’s recent struggles</a></li>
<li id="4Xlppe"><a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/4/18210566/college-basketball-top-25-poll-ap-coaches-net-rankings-ncaa-bracketology">Kentucky keeps rising in new top 25 rankings, NET & bracketology</a></li>
<li id="7ZpzLE"><a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18208862/ncaa-basketball-sec-standings-uk-wildcats-schedule-2019-tennessee-vols-lsu">Updated SEC standings as the schedule ramps up again for Kentucky</a></li>
<li id="HCH8qh"><a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18211615/uk-basketball-tyler-herro-ashton-hagans-2019-nba-draft-anthony-edwards">Tyler Herro & Ashton Hagans expected to go pro; will it help with Anthony Edwards?</a></li>
<li id="INsYR7"><a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/3/18208632/uk-basketball-pj-washington-leadership-florida-sec-wildcats-kentucky">PJ Washington’s leadership on full display in comeback win over Florida</a></li>
<li id="bh1uDh"><a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/4/18208639/uk-basketball-kentucky-season-2018-19-miss-state-bulldogs-lsu-tigers-ut-vols">Kentucky’s season has dramatically changed during 8-game winning streak</a></li>
<li id="65msIG"><a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/4/18211011/kentucky-wildcats-south-carolina-basketball-2019-analysis-betting-prediction">Kentucky vs. South Carolina: Analysis, betting trends & prediction</a></li>
<li id="QJwlfZ"><a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/4/18210836/john-calipari-joel-justus-uk-wildcats-south-carolina-gamecocks-basketball">John Calipari, Joel Justus & Wildcats preview South Carolina</a></li>
<li id="T9AzDi"><a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/4/18210633/pj-washington-sec-basketball-tennessee-vols-jordan-bone-2019">PJ Washington earns weekly SEC award</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/2/5/18211213/how-to-stream-uk-basketball-south-carolina-gamecocks-2019-live-blog-updatesTJ Barnett