Kentucky may own a modest two-game win streak, but the Wildcats have shown some positive signs heading into Saturday’s game at No. 7 ranked Alabama.
Here are five:
1. John Calipari has made up his mind
“I love their mentality,” Kentucky’s head coach said after his team’s 74-71 win over LSU on Tuesday. “And I also told them, ‘You know who else’s mentality I love right now? Mine.’”
After trying first this and then that, Calipari has decided on how and who will play. He’s pushing a more deliberate offensive approach. He has settled on five starters who, if Tuesday is any indication, are going to receive a large chunk of playing time.
Ironmen Oscar Tshiebwe and Cason Wallace both played all 40 minutes Tuesday night. Sahvir Wheeler played 37 minutes, Jacob Toppin 31 and Chris Livingston 29. Only two subs made it onto the floor. Antonio Reeves played 14 minutes; Daimion Collins nine.
Calipari has used basically five-man teams before. Could this be another? ‘We’ll see moving forward,” said the coach.
2. Jacob Toppin has come alive
Preseason prognosticators identified the 6-foot-8 senior forward as a key to UK’s fortunes. Through the first two months, Toppin struggled under the weight of those expectations. He dropped out of the starting lineup. He admitted to struggling mentally.
Then last Saturday against Louisville, Toppin appeared for a career-high 24 points in UK’s 86-63 win over the struggling Cards. Tuesday, Toppin scored a team-high 21, three of which may have been the game’s most important.
Toppin had made just three of his 22 three-point attempts (13.6 percent) on the season before nailing a clutch three-pointer from the left corner with 1:23 left, as the shot clock approached zero — to give Kentucky a 70-66 lead.
3. Kentucky’s offense has found its groove
Since Calipari’s be-deliberate decision, the Cats have been more efficient on offense. UK averaged a sterling 1.346 points per possession in the win over Louisville, then 1.306 points against LSU. It was credited with 18 assists against the Tigers, compared to six turnovers. According to Ken Pomeroy’s advanced analytics, Kentucky is now 15th in adjusted offensive efficiency.
“People keep telling me that they’re struggling, but they’re top 20 in the country in a lot of offensive stats,” said LSU Coach Matt McMahon in his postgame press conference Tuesday. “They shoot 39% from three and have a guy that absolutely dominates in the paint so I really hadn’t seen those struggles.”
4. Kentucky made its free throws
Ranked 309th in Division I free throw percentage (65.9), the Cats went 11-of-14 from the foul line Tuesday. That’s 78.6 percent. That’s the way this team must shoot free throws in what promises to be tight conference games.
Sahvir Wheeler did miss the front end of a bonus with 19.6 seconds left and UK up 72-68. (“I couldn’t believe I did that,” he said later). But with LSU within a point at 72-71, Toppin stepped to the line and made both ends of the bonus with 3.4 seconds left to seal the deal.
5. Kentucky has a better mindset
Let’s be honest. After that 89-75 loss to Missouri, this team was a mess. Mizzou hit the Cats in the mouth in Columbia and Calipari’s team failed to respond. That loss dropped Kentucky to 1-4 in games away from Rupp Arena.
Alabama will be no easier than the previous five. The Crimson Tide easily mauled Ole Miss 84-62 in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday. Nate Oats’ team has a pair of wins over teams ranked No. 1 at the time — 104-101 in four overtimes over North Carolina on Nov. 27 in Portland and 71-65 over Houston in Houston on Dec. 10.
Still, the Cats appear to have gained needed confidence during this mini-win streak. They took care of business against Louisville. They won a possession-by-possession game against a worthy conference opponent.
“It’s all the stuff we’ve been talking and working and they have responded,” Calipari said Tuesday.
The key is to keep it up.
