Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)
LEXINGTON, KY.,
For the first time since January 30th, the Kentucky Wildcats get to celebrate a victory. An 81-71 victory vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide ends a four-game losing streak, which is the longest of the John Calipari era.
The Wildcats were leading 67-61 when the Tide hit back-to-back shots to trim the deficit to two points. After Colin Sexton’s jumper off the glass, John Calipari called a timeout to prevent the meltdown that had occurred in previous games.
Calipari has said at multiple times this season that because of their youth, he can’t allow this team to just play through tough moments down the stretch. The decision was a good one, as the Wildcats closed the game on a 14-6 run.
During that stretch, Jarred Vanderbilt was on the floor making game-winning plays. His dunk with 3:15 remaining gave the Wildcats a four-point lead and two possessions later, he hit a layup to extend the Wildcats lead to, 74-67.
Vanderbilt has struggled with his shot since returning from an injury that sidelined him for the first three months of the season but he was able to get a few easy shots to fall today, which gave him confidence in the final five minutes.
“I saw a couple of them drop. That obviously boosts your confidence,” said Vanderbilt. “I missed some early in the game but I just kept playing and they ended up falling late in the game.”
Vanderbilt’s biggest bucket of the night was an offensive putback with 1:26 to play. The bucket extended Kentucky’s lead to seven and helped the Wildcats close out the Tide down the stretch.
Vanderbilt scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds in 19 minutes of play. Five of his 9 rebounds were offensive, which helped the Wildcats rack up 20 second-chance points.
“Any extra possessions we can get for the team, I try to go after them. I just tell my guys, we go up that way. We can get them off the rim. With shots coming off the board, it gave us the chance to offensive rebound.”
In all, the Wildcats held a 44-27 advantage on the glass, something that Vanderbilt said was a focus going into today’s game.
“It was just mental. It was like we are going to kill the boards. That was our mindset going into the game and told the guards if they can get it up, obviously try to make it. But, if not, we are coming right there for the putback.”
It’s only one win but that’s what this team needed at this point and if you were looking for signs of life that this team can make it run, you found a pulse on Saturday.
