Rushed Reactions: #1 Kentucky 72, #5 Kansas 40
Posted by Tommy Lemoine on November 19th, 2014Tommy Lemoine (@hoopthink) is in Indianapolis for the Champions Classic games tonight.
Three Key Takeaways:
Kentucky was clicking on all cylinders against Kansas tonight. (Photo: AP Photo/James Crisp)
- Kentucky’s size is peerless. Kentucky ranks first in the nation in effective height, but it doesn’t take an advanced statistician to know that the Wildcats are really, really big. That size and length proved the difference against Kansas tonight, as Bill Self’s club was unable to find consistent looks near the basket and shot poorly from the outside – an obviously lethal combination. Altogether, Kentucky blocked 11 shots and held the Jayhawks to eight – yes, eight – two-point baskets on the night (19.5% 2FG). With five contributors standing 6’9’’ or taller, including two seven-footers, the Wildcats’ interior defense is seemingly impregnable. The only way to beat Calipari’s group may be from the outside, and even that remains to be seen.
- The platoon remains for now. After the game, Calipari noted, “we’ll figure it out as we go, as far as ‘are we going to be able to play this way?’” and suggested that a more conventional lineup – one based on performance – could develop over time. But after a 32-point thrashing, on a night filled with so much national attention and fanfare, the fact that postgame conversations seemed less about ‘egos’ and ‘one-and-dones’ and more about “just how good can this team be?” suggests that the platoon system will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Five guys in, five guys out.
- This is more about Kentucky and less about Kansas. Sure, the Jayhawks were dominated, but Bill Self’s club is and should remain a top-10 team and perceived Big 12 favorites. Fact is, Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor and Cliff Alexander will be far more productive against normal-sized front lines; the team won’t shoot 20 percent from behind the arc each night; and Frank Mason will develop into a more consistent point guard. Considering Kansas’ talent and Bill Self’s track record, there are numerous aspects about tonight’s game that his staff might be better off just ignoring, moving on from, and chalking up to the fact that Kentucky is just ridiculously talented. There are better days ahead in Lawrence.
Star of the Game: Karl-Anthony Towns. There are no stars in Calipari’s platoon system! Or, there are many stars in Calipari’s platoon system! Either way, freshman center Towns was excellent tonight, logging nine points, eight rebounds and four blocks in just 17 minutes and 34 seconds on the court. It’s all about efficiency for Kentucky this year, and efficient he was.
Quotable:
- “We’re not that good. Next question” – Kentucky head coach John Calipari, before sitting down at the podium and before anyone had asked a question.
- “We kind of bum-rushed ‘em a little bit. Every time they looked there were more tanks coming over the hill.” – Calipari, on his team’s performance.
- “I was hoping that was vodka!” – Kansas head coach Bill Self, after opening his water and taking a swig to begin his postgame press conference.
Sights and Sounds: Not that it probably made a huge difference – Kentucky fans will show up anywhere – but Indianapolis is just a three-hour drive from Lexington, and my goodness did Big Blue Nation show out. Whether it was the roaring “Blue! White!” chants or angst-ridden yells after questionable calls in favor of Kansas, it became quickly apparent that Wildcats fans accounted for most of the blue in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
What’s Next: Kansas plays an unbracketed home game against Rider next Monday before heading to the Orlando Classic main event over the holiday weekend. The Jayhawks will take on Rhode Island, Santa Clara or Tennessee, then possibly Michigan State in the championship contest. Kentucky returns to Lexington for games against Boston University, Montana State, and UT Arlington before welcoming Providence on November 30.
