First takeaway I have is a pathetic performance by Kentucky. It's an inexcusable loss by the Cats. There is very little positive to take from this but here we go:
MISSED LAYUPS, MISSED LAYUPS, MISSED LAYUPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You're a college basketball player you have to MAKE LAYUPS!!!
Nick Richards regressed big time tonight back to his freshman and sophomore ways no question. He had 2 early fouls but as a junior you have to recover and be better. He should have dominated the offensive glass tonight. Six points and six rebounds is inexcusable for a 7 footer with a 7'4" wingspan playing against 6'6" guys. He missed a one footer tonight. A ONE FOOTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Big disappointment tonight.
Nate Sestina is not a low post player. He's a pick and pop and that is it. He was being taken off the dribble consistently tonight. It will be an ongoing problem as teams will take him to the perimeter and kill him off the bounce. Nine points and five rebounds tonight is not near enough. He should have dominated in the paint area.
Coach Cal has to start Tyrese Maxey who is by far the best player on the team. He missed a clutch one and one down the stretch but scored 7 points in a row in one stretch. He had 15 points off the bench with 3 rebounds and 2 steals. He has to be more aggressive scoring the basketball on a consistent basis.
Where was Ashton Hagans tonight? He's still not finishing layups at the rim and scored exactly 3 points tonight with 3 assists and 4 turnovers. He still can't hit the three pointer but is good defensively. Another big disappointment tonight as a sophomore point guard under Coach Cal.
Immanuel Quickley gave a pretty good performance tonight with 16 points 9 rebounds 5 for 5 from the free throw line but only 1 for 4 from three. He has to shoot better from out there and be more aggressive hunting shots on the perimeter.
Johnny Juzang hit a three pointer tonight but Coach Cal has no confidence in keeping him on the floor for extended periods of time because of his bad on the ball defense. He'll have to step that up if he wants to play.
Keion Brooks Jr had his moments with 6 points and 4 rebounds but he should have dominated on the offensive glass against a small mid major team like Evansville.
Kahlil Whitney 6 points 3 rebounds and 2 steals but he has to work on his three point shooting and free throw shooting with he was 3 for 6 from the line. He should have had more rebounds against this team.
Synopsis: Kentucky should have beaten this team by at least 20. Evansville did not play that well as a whole but was clutch. That is the scary part going forward with this Kentucky team. Yes the performance was pathetic but still should have won this game. Evansville shot 38.3% from the field, 30% from three and hit 12 of 13 free throws to Kentucky's 20 for 25 and still won the game. Kentucky shot 4 for 17 from three but got outrebounded 38 to 35 by a mid major slated to finish 7th in the Missouri Valley Conference. This was as embarrassing of a loss as I've seen in my 50 years as a Kentucky fan. Yes it's November but not real bullish on this team doing anything in the NCAA's. I could be proven wrong but this is as worse a loss as any I've seen in awhile. I'll say it again Pathetic and embarrassing.
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