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Kentucky beats Texas Tech, 76-74

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That game took about ten years off my life. But, in the end, it was all worth it because Kentucky got a huge win against a pretty good Texas Tech team tonight. A win that will be huge when it comes to seeding in March.

The Cats got off to a decent start, then the Red Raiders battled back to take the lead. It was back and forth for most of the first half before Immanuel Quickley nailed one from half-court to give the Cats the lead going to halftime. The second half was a lot more stressful.

Kentucky got a ten point lead early in the second half and that’s when I knew they were in trouble. Texas Tech slowly clawed their way back into the game and eventually tied it with just under three minutes left. Neither team could hit a shot, then a free throw from Nick Richards and Davide Moretti sent the game to OT.

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Over-time was very, very chaotic. Kentucky got out to a 72-66 lead on a Nate Sestina three-pointer. Once again Texas Tech fought back and tied the game. They had a chance to win, missed a good look, and the refs called a foul on TJ Holyfield that sent Nick Richards to the line and won the game.

Let’s look at what went right and wrong in the game.

Nick Richards Abdul-Jabbar

Junior Nick Richards was a beast tonight and basically won the game for Kentucky. He had 25 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks.

He’s the first Kentucky player since Anthony Davis to have that kind of stat line.

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To address the call at the end that sent him to the line, I didn’t think there was a foul. I thought Kentucky was going to get a possession to win the game then I saw him at the free-throw line. I haven’t seen the play, but I don’t care. The refs screwed Kentucky the whole game.

Kentucky’s guards not named Immanuel Quickley were terrible

Ashton Hagans and Tyrese Maxey almost lost the game for Kentucky. They were 4-16 from the field, committed seven fouls, and committed nine turnovers.

Immanuel Quickley

Yes, Quickley had six turnovers, but he played great otherwise.

Quickley had 21 points, six rebounds, and four three’s. I think it’s safe to say that Nick Richards and Immanuel Quickley won Kentucky the game.

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Only two guys in double figures and Kentucky still won

The only two players in double figures for Kentucky were Immanuel Quickley and Nick Richards who combined for 46 points. The other three in the lineup combined for 16 points.

Now, Kentucky won tonight with all but two players playing bad. You aren’t going to win many games playing like that, especially in March.

The Officials

Here we are. Once again.

The refs were total garbage tonight. I don’t know what else to say. They have been terrible all year and it was exceptionally bad tonight.

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The Immanuel Quickley charge, moving screen on Sestina, back-court violation on Nick Richards, missed moving-screen on the Texas Tech player, and I don’t think that even names them all.

Kentucky got screwed in the 2015 Final Four and got screwed against North Carolina by an official I will not name in the Elite Eight in 2018.

Those are two horribly officiated games that Kentucky has been in. This year, it seems like every college basketball game, the refs are taking control and ruining the game. I don’t know what will happen, but somehow it has to stop.

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball Players Say They Think About Winning National Championship “Every Second”

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Kentucky basketball players celebrate after their big over Duke.
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The expectations at Kentucky are the highest of any school in the country, and there is good reason why. The winningest college program ever. Eight national titles, under five different coaches. Seventeen Final Four appearances. You get it, a lot of success.

Fans want the players to have those same expectations. Despite not having the elite talent or preseason hype of great Kentucky teams past, this year’s team still has their eyes set on doing something “people will remember forever”, winning a national championship.

Asked on social media, if hanging banner #9 was all the players thought about “every second”, Ansley Almonor had a response.

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“We do.”

It takes a lot to win a national championship, including some luck, but this team is certainly going to be loved for their desire to live out their dream of playing at Kentucky and their unselfishness. Those two things can take them a long way this season .

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Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart Seemingly Takes Shot at John Calipari, “Anybody Can Recruit”

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Mitch Barnhart sitting next to basketball coach John Calipari.
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John Calipari and Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart had their differences over fifteen years, but success can hide a lot of things. Not that they hated each other, but they each had vastly different personalities. As that success weaned towards the end of Calipari’s tenure, those issues started to be noticed publically.

If you need evidence of that, despite their efforts to dispute it, there is the infamous press conference where Barnhart talked about “entitled” coaches, shortly after Calipari publicly called for a new practice facility. Then, there were multiple times when Calipari expressed that the administration was not on the same page and that he was facing “headwinds”.

That said, Calipari is now at Arkansas, but those differences and some disdain remain. During an interview on the Kentucky Football pregame show, Barnhart seemingly took a shot at Calipari when asked about Mark Pope’s recruiting philosophy and prioritizing fit.

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“I tell people all the time, ‘Anybody can recruit, not everybody can evaluate,’” Barnhart said. “You can recruit. You can be phenomenal at bringing people to your program. But if it does not fit you, it’s really not helpful.”

Of course, Calipari is one of the best, if not the best, recruiters in college basketball history. At times, he prioritized talent and athleticism over fit.

Quite the coincidence.

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ESPN’s Jay Williams Gives Message to Kentucky Fans, “You’re Not Going to Like It…”

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ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams gives a message to Kentucky fans after the Wildcats win over Duke. "You won't like it."
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Back in April, opposing fanbases like Duke, told Kentucky fans to “cope with Pope” following the hire of Mark Pope and the corresponding initial shock. On Tuesday, those same fanbases had to watch as Mark Pope outcoached Jon Scheyer and Duke in the final minutes of the Champion’s Classic to get his first marque win in just his third game at Kentucky.

Of course, shortly after the game, Duke fans began to rationalize the loss by highlighting their team’s youth. While true, it sounded like an echo chamber of what Kentucky fans said for years under John Calipari. One notable example was former Blue Devil Jay Williams.

At halftime, while Duke was leading 46-37, Williams called this year’s Duke team the most talented since the 2001 team that he was a part of at halftime. To his credit, he complimented Kentucky on the comeback victory, specifically on their offense and maturity, but then 36 hours later he posted a message to Kentucky fans on social media.

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“Let me put you on to something,” Williams started. “Whether you like it or not, networks are going to sell Cooper Flagg. He’s going to be the number one pick in the draft. You’re going to talk about whether he won the or whether he lost the game, regardless of the outcome.”

“You’re not going to like it. There should be more kudos to Mark Pope and Kentucky,” Williams continued. “Regardless of whether you won the game or not, they’re still going to sell Cooper Flagg because he is selling the sport. Sorry.”

William’s statement is true. That said, it comes off as ‘sour grapes’ about losing. Cooper Flagg is a great talent and will likely be the first pick in the NBA Draft, but most Kentucky fans would say they would much rather have the win than the marketing.

Futhermore, Kentucky and its ‘brand’ has raised the level of multiple players and coaches, and will continue to do so. A deeper impact than Cooper Flagg will have on Duke in just one season.

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