Olivier Sarr had 14 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks for UK against Mississippi State. (SEC Photo)
Think about if I had told you before the season started that in a must-win Southeastern Conference opening game for Kentucky that the Wildcats would go with a lineup of Devin Askew, Davion Mintz,, Jacob Toppin/Lance Ware, Olivier Sarr and Dontaie Allen with the game on the line. You probably would have thought I was on the same drugs Kentucky coach John Calipari said he was when he made out the “stupidest” schedule he says he’s ever had for a team.
Oh, and throw in that Calipari was ejected from the game and assistants Tony Barbee, Bruiser Flint, Joel Justus and Jai Lucas were running the team.
Yet that’s just what happened Saturday night at Mississippi State in UK’s 78-73 double overtime win over the Bulldogs that snapped Kentucky’s six-game losing streak.
In overtime, Flint and/or Barbee put five-star recruits Brandon Boston and Isaiah Jackson on the bench. Another touted five-star prospect, Terrence Clarke, was already there because of an ankle injury that kept him from playing.
Clarke and Boston were supposed to be UK’s go-to players this year. Jackson was being touted as a likely first-round draft pick this summer, too.
But the assistant coaches did what fans have been wanting — they went with players playing harder/smarter and who could make shots.
Obviously Allen was the star. He scored 23 points on 7-for-11 shooting from 3-point range. He had 20 points in the second half when the SEC Network touted him as a “rising star” with this performance.
Think about this. In 252 minutes this year, Boston has made five 3-pointers in 33 tries. Clarke has gone 5-for-22 from 3 in 218 minutes. Allen went 7-for-11 in 32 minutes in one game.
Ware got 12 rebounds in 35 minutes and had four points on 2-for-4 shooting and also had two assists and one block. Toppin had five rebounds and six points.
Calipari said he hugged Ware and told him his fight was “unbelievable” all 35 minutes her played.
“He went after balls and was physical. He is really intelligent and smart. His execution on offense and defense is always on point because he focuses in and knows it,” the UK coach said.
Sarr shot two 3-pointers — and made them both. He finished with 14 points but more importantly had 12 rebounds and two blocks.
“I told Olivier, ‘I believe in you, just get 10 rebounds and see how this stuff starts changing for you,'” Calipari said.
Askew finished with 11 points on 5-for-11 shooting along with six assists, four rebounds and two steals and played 43 minutes with only three turnovers.
Now what will Calipari do Tuesday when the Cats host Vanderbilt. Will Boston and Jackson go back to their normal spots in the rotation playing as much as they have been? What about Clarke — who tried to play “through pain” at Louisville in the loss but did not score or have a rebound — get his customary playing time if he is healed?
It would certainly seem hard to leave Allen sitting and watching. Same for Ware and Toppin.
Calipari said there had been “signs” Allen was ready to help the team but he he was playing behind some other players.
“Again you are playing behind some guys that you are proving now they should be playing behind me,” Calipari said about Allen’s play. “He changes our team. The reason we couldn’t score is that guys couldn’t make shots. I told the team after the game he has earned more minutes and some guys are going to play less.”
Why not? It sure worked against Mississippi State.
