Kentucky Basketball: 3 takeaways from defeat to Kansas Jayhawks
By Andrew Tineo
Kentucky Basketball couldn’t hold its lead as they fell to the Kansas Jayhawks in the Champions Classic.
The nightcap of the Champions Classic featured two programs, that have gone for similar roster approaches. Kentucky Basketball and Duke were essentially the first programs to begin the factory of signing five-star prospects and sending them directly to the league after one season in college. On the other hand, Kansas has gone for a different approach.
Kentucky’s lineup headlines one grad transfer and four freshmen that ranked in the Top 35 in this past recruiting class. They rely on length as four of their starters have a 6’11+ wingspan. For Kansas, they rely this year on experience and multiple returning starters, with only one freshman starter in F Jalen Wilson.
Huge news from the Jayhawks would drop before pregame that would benefit the Wildcats. NABC Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Garrett would be out, due to sickness not related to COVID-19. Even with him being sick, Garrett would still be inserted into the starting lineup and give it a go.
OK. Marcus is listed as a starter on the official stat sheet. To sumarize: On the pregame radio show Self said Garrett was sick but it was NOT COVID-19. Self said Garrett was out tonite. However, Marcus has been warming up and it says he's playing on the official sheet.
— Gary Bedore (@GaryBedore) December 2, 2020
Both teams would struggle mightily out of the games as it took almost three minutes into the game until either team scored. The teams would combine for 1-12 from the field through the first three minutes. Kentucky would go on an 11-0 run to get an early 13-5 lead halfway into the first half.
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Although the Wildcats could not find a stroke from three-point range (0-6), five early steals lead to baskets and gave them the upper half early. Kentucky would continue to suffocate Kansas with fantastic defense. 2-14 from the field and eight turnovers, lead by two steals from Creighton Transfer Davion Mintz. Wake Forest Transfer C Olivier Sarr would lead the way early with six points and four rebounds.
Redshirt freshman Dontaie Allen would end the drought as he drained a three-pointer to end 17 straight misses. Kentucky would continue to dominate the first half with excellent defensive play
Both teams would start picking up the offense as Kentucky would head into the half with a 35-29 lead. The most impressive player from the first half was Freshman Isaiah Jackson with seven points, ten rebounds, and four blocks.
A crucial moment for the Wildcats early in the half was a 3rd foul for Olivier Sarr. Two minutes into the second half, he would take a seat, creating a shorter lineup. Both teams would struggle from the field again as the teams would combine for just seven points through the first five minutes.
Kentucky would come out of the half, shooting 1-9 from the field, and let the Jayhawks cut the lead to just one, in 39-38. Two free throws from Jalen Wilson would give the Jayhawks their first lead of the game at 42-40. There was never a sense of consistent rhythm on offense and was relied too much on their defense.
The problem for the Wildcats was fouling the Jayhawks in the act of shooting. The Jayhawks went 11-12 from the free throw line in the second half halfway through, compared to Kentucky’s 1-2. One of the bright spots in the second half was Jacob Toppin, brother of Obi. He would add six points in the last 20 minutes.
Both teams would trade the lead back and forth as a missed Sarr dunk, would turn into a layup for Wilson on the other end. With three and a half minutes left, the two bluebloods would be knotted up at 53.
A three-pointer and dunk on the next possession from Agbaji would give the Jayhawks it’s biggest lead of the day at five. It would be the first field goals of the half from someone on Kansas, not named Jalen Wilson.
Bill Self would go with a five guard lineup to close out the second half. The Jayhawks would miss three in a row, keeping Kentucky in the game. Only the third three-pointer of the night would come from Davion Mintz, to cut the deficit to one with fifteen seconds. Kentucky could not do enough as the Wildcats fell, 65-62. Brandon Boston would lead the team in scoring with 12 points on 4-13 from the field. Isaiah Jackson finished with seven points, 12 rebounds, and eight blocks.