For the first time, Kentucky didn’t collapse in the last four minutes, but it still found a way to lose. The Cats fought a six point disadvantage with 2:33 remaining to take the lead with 14 seconds left, but a questionable foul on Jacob Toppin sent Jalen Tate to the line, where he hit both free throws to place the Razorbacks for up. one with 4.3 remaining. From there, chaos ensued.
Toppin passed the ball to Olivier Sarr, who passed to the middle of the court and tried to pass it to Devin Askew. Unfortunately, Davonte Davis, from Arkansas, took the ball – and Kentucky’s hopes for a rare victory – from the air.
I have never seen anything like the Kentucky horn attempt in my life. pic.twitter.com/FwehDONTmw
– Troy Machir (@TroyMachir) February 10, 2021
After that, John Calipari told reporters that the plan was to take the ball to Sarr and then a guard, but the guards were unable to open it. The other option was BJ Boston.
“That ball was supposed to go to Olivier and one of the guards and we kind of didn’t open it completely. But we were also going to look at BJ, which was open and let it pass, if you know what I mean. If you look at it, it was to go to BJ, if it is open, play. He is open, we are not, which is right, we played for Olivier. Olivier is booming, catching, playing for someone and we have our best three-point pitchers in the corners and on the sides. So, this is what we were trying to do ”.
It was a season of disappointments, but losing in that way was especially brutal; however, Calipari said he is proud of how his team fought to the end – even though it was not a foul on Toppin.
“This team is the best that we finished a game, so I can’t be that upset. There were things that happened. I have to go back and see the last call. I mean, it was a high ball, there was body contact, there was – because this game was physical. To give them two free throws to win the game, I don’t know. We’ll see when we watch the tape. “
“This team fought,” added Cal. “BJ played better. We took open photos. We didn’t do them all, but we took open photos. We flew to the court. We post. We added a little wrinkle or two today. We did some things defensively … I was going crazy in this game. I would not let them bow their heads. I had to tell them that we lost four baskets. Five minutes to go. They look like the world is over. What? So, that was an advance in that way. Am I glad we lost? No. I want to watch the end of the game and make sure I know exactly what happened, but what moves and execution did we have? No flaws.”
Except that ending. Ugh.