KENTUCKY 125, MOREHOUSE 40
Exhibition Game
Nov. 7, 2011
Rupp Arena; Lexington, Ky.
SUMMARY
Spike Lee was expected to be in Rupp Arena for Kentucky’s final exhibition before its quest for an eighth national championship officially began.
The famed movie director missed out on a blockbuster, albeit at the expense of his alma mater. Kentucky overwhelmed Morehouse College 125-40 after racing out to a 61-point first half lead.
This wasn’t Clockers but simply a clocking.
Kentucky was up 34-4 less than eight minutes into the game and finished with 11 dunks in the first half as the Rupp crowd roared with delight. The Maroon Tigers finally reached double figures with 1:29 remaining in the first half and found itself down 74-13 at the break.
Kyle Wiltjer led the Cats with 26 points. Terrence Jones chipped in 22, while Anthony Davis added 21 points and seven rebounds.
CALIPARI TALK
“We played really well and that’s why the score was what it was. Morehouse lost to Georgia (in an exhibition) by 24. We hit in the mouth to start the game. They’re not a bad team, it’s just that we were really good.”
OPPOSING VIEW
“The (Anthony) Davis kid is special. And (Terrence) Jones. Both of those kids are special. They shot 72 percent from the field so everyone looked good. I believe if my sister was playing in Kentucky blue she probably would have done well too.” – Morehouse coach Grady Brewer, on which Kentucky players impressed him.
FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
“We weren’t too happy with the last exhibition game. Obviously, we won, but we know we could have played a lot better. We really came in with the mindset that we needed to bring energy.” – UK guard Jarrod Polson
GAME BALL
Kyle Wiltjer has often been the forgotten man in John Calipari’s latest top-rated recruiting class but he reminded everyone just how talented he is in his own right with a clinical 26-point performance. The 6-foot-9 forward made 10-of-13 points, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, and even showed off his famous hook shot with a deft flick of his wrist in the second half. Wiltjer added four rebounds and an assist in his 20 minutes of playing time.
TURNING POINT
There really is no such thing as a turning point in a game where one team leads by 30 points barely seven minutes into the contest but it was clear from the opening tip that Calipari’s decision to start Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in place of Doron Lamb provided an emotional sharpness lacking in the first exhibition. While Calipari believes the Cats could have as many as seven deserving starters there is no debate as to whether Kidd-Gilchrist’s tenacity already sets the defensive tone for this team.
DID YOU NOTICE?
Jarrod Polson doesn’t particularly like the fact that fans in Rupp Arena took to screaming ‘Shoooooot!’ as soon as he would enter the game last season but even he couldn’t have ever envisioned a time when that playful cheer would take place before halftime. That’s what happens when the ninth player in the rotation checks into the game in the first half with his team boasting a 50-point advantage.
UNSUNG HERO
Eloy Vargas arrived at Kentucky hailed as the potential space filler the Cats needed in the paint last season. While that never panned out because of Josh Harrellson’s emergence, Vargas could still provide an important role this season as a physical rebounder who could spell the frail Anthony Davis. Yes, it was just Morehouse College, but Vargas’ 12 rebounds and two blocked shots provided a glimmer of hope that he could be a serviceable piece to the puzzle this season.
KEY NUMBER
91.2 – Kentucky shots 72.7 percent from the field as a team and yet that was not aware close to indicative of just how well-oiled the Cats’ offense machine performed on the night. UK’s five starters – Terrence Jones, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Anthony Davis, Darius Miller and Marquis Teague – made an absurd 91.2 percent of their shots (31-of-34), with Jones (9-of-9) and Davis (8-of-8) finishing the game perfect from the field. The starters finished with 77 of the Cats’ 125 points.
FINAL THOUGHT
What can you possibly say about a game that was 34-4, 69-9 and 82-15 at various points of the evening? Kentucky proved not only is it almost unfairly talented but if its willing to play the type of ball-hawking, tenacious defense it dropped on Morehouse then the talk of hoisting banner No. 8 at the end of the season isn’t just bluster. Save for North Carolina you won’t find a more athletic, more menacing squad than John Calipari’s group.
NEXT
Kentucky (0-0) tips off its 109th season of basketball when Marist comes to Rupp Arena for a 7 p.m. start on Friday, Nov. 11. The game is part of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament.
