For nine minutes, it was going so well. Kentucky started this game as the team we started to believe in, running to a 13-5 lead and leading Florida by ten with 10:52 to the break. From there, it fell apart.
The Gators’ zone completely blocked the Cats, who became the old versions of themselves, throwing hot potatoes around the perimeter, too hesitant to drive on the track. The key players made important mistakes and the attack stopped and, once again, an opportunity was lost. Despite the heroism at the end of the game by Davion Mintz and Jacob Toppin, Kentucky lost the game 71-67, dropping to 8-14 in the season, 7-8 in the conference. The SEC Tournament farewell is probably out of reach, which hurt a lot because all the dominoes that the Cats needed to fall in their way for this to happen today have fallen. ECA.
With two games remaining until the SEC tournament, he is “back on the drawing board,” as John Calipari said at the end of his press conference. Let’s talk about.
Davion Mintz and Jacob Toppin did their part
Two players who do not deserve criticism are Davion Mintz and Jacob Toppin, who kept the Cats alive in the final stretch. On his Senior Day (which may not actually be a Senior Day), Mintz ended up with a 21 point high team in 7-14 shots. He was only 2 to 9 out of three, but one of the three helped extend Kentucky’s lead after an 8-0 run in Florida in the first half. Mintz and Toppin scored ten of Kentucky’s last 12 points, with Toppin hitting four consecutive free throws to place Kentucky 6:30 from the end. Toppin had just two field goals, but they were spectacular: a three at the 13:11 mark gave Kentucky the lead and this ridiculous dunk with 3:46 left.
TOPPIN WITH THE THUNDER pic.twitter.com/nRma0o7MDx
– CBS Sports CBB (@CBSSportsCBB) February 27, 2021
Mintz and Toppin also missed the final shot – notably, a supposed dagger for Mintz with 1:02 left – but they are not the reason Kentucky lost tonight. I hope we can see them both next season.
Isaiah Jackson being in trouble was a game changer
What would have been the result of this game if Isaiah Jackson was not in trouble? The super-abnormal freshman played just 16 minutes due to fouls, but he made those minutes count, scoring 11 points (4-4 FG, 3-4 FT), catching five rebounds and blocking three shots. With little work on the attack, Kentucky desperately needed Jackson at both ends for buckets, boards and easy locks. He led the team in positive / negative efficiency by +8. As with any season, the problem is the Achilles’ heel.
Devin Askew and Keion Brooks really fought
It is very difficult to win when two of your main players keep making mistakes. Both Devin Askew and Keion Brooks turned the ball three times, leading to an abysmal ratio of 7-15 assists for turning Cats. Askew finished with a point 0-5 off the ground, 1-2 from the free-throw line, three assists, three turns and a steal in 30 minutes. Brooks hit 1-5 from the ground, 2-2 from the free-throw line for four points, four rebounds, three turns and a block. His more / less efficiency was the worst of the team -14.
“We had a bad move, a bad individual move today and that happens,” said Calipari later. “They are not machines. They are not robots. We had some guys playing one of their worst games, with no power. “
In case there was any doubt, one of the players he was referring to was Brooks.
“Really surprising,” said Cal when asked about Brooks’ move. “I have no idea. He lost a ball and then he didn’t run back and let them dunk a ball when the guys were three steps behind him when they both took off. But, I’ll say that. I love him. He played really well for us. They are not machines. They are not robots. But he was not doing very well today. “
Speaking of that turnover he mentioned …
A 1:16 stretch that meant disgrace
As mentioned, Kentucky was flying high at the beginning, hitting seven of its first eleven field goals, but hit a wall of its own around nine minutes. Three different Cats (Toppin, Sarr, Brooks) handed him over in consecutive possessions, allowing Florida to make an 8-0 run at 1:16, which turned a ten point lead into a two advantage. I have no doubt that the Gators would have had another race later, but it was a huge loss of momentum.
Eight stitches in just over a minute. Sheesh.
What was the final move?
Despite everything, Kentucky had a chance to win in the end. Two lost with 37 seconds remaining, the Cats attempted a pick-and-pop for Davion Mintz, but Devin Askew failed to catch the ball, so he threw it to Olivier Sarr, who fired a three at the bell of the shooting clock. Did not work. Unfortunately, Sarr lost what could have been the game’s winner and it wasn’t even his fault.
A missed golden opportunity
I thought we were past the point of Kentucky wasting opportunities, but apparently not. The Cats receiving a double goodbye at the SEC Tournament – meaning they would only have to win three games in a row instead of four to get an automatic bid – was within reach today thanks to a series of unlikely results. First, Auburn without Sharife Cooper won Tennessee. So Arkansas took LSU down. Finally, the most unlikely of all, Vanderbilt defeated Ole Miss, giving the double bye in front of the Cats like a golden egg. Unfortunately, Kentucky just gave up on that opportunity, which means they’ll play on Thursday in Nashville, which isn’t too bad depending on the draw, but winning three in a row is easier than winning four in a row, especially when it comes group did not do it all season.