Kentucky players outplayed Alabama most of Tuesday's game but could not finish when it had a chance to a huge upset. (SEC Photo)
For 32 minutes Kentucky looked like a team UK fans had seldom seen this year. The Cats played better defense, had more passion and showed a physical presence they had been lacking and outscored No. 9 Alabama 49-39. Problem was that Alabama outscored UK 13-5 to open the game and 18-5 to close the game to beat the visiting Cats 70-59 and add to Kentucky’s misery.
The Cats dropped to 5-10 and have not got to 65 points in any of the losses. Kentucky missed seven of its final 10 shots, including two 3-pointers, and also had two turnovers. On the defensive end, Olivier Sarr got called for goal-tending and Alabama just kept knocking down free throws.
Kentucky coach John Calipari said his team lacked the mental or physical toughness to finish what could have been a season-changing win.
“We got the ball where we wanted (at the end) and did not have the toughness to hold on to it,” the UK coach said. “You have to be strong with the ball. We don’t have a guy to throw it to who can just go by people.
“We had the ball with a two-point lead. Missed a shot (a corner 3 by Dontaie Allen), they make a shot, we come down and we don’t execute. We did stuff at the end when we had our chances.”
Before the game if anyone would have told Calipari his team would hold Alabama to just 35 points the first half and then only one 3-pointer the second half, the UK coach — and UK fans — would have been thrilled. But that’s exactly what UK did. Alabama, one of the nation’s most productive 3-point shooting teams, was 1-for-4 from long range the second half.
Kentucky had as many 3-pointers as Alabama. UK was 6-for-14 from 3 and Alabama 6-for-20. Allen was 4-for-7 for the Cats and Davion Mintz 2-for-5.
Allen, Mintz and Olivier Sarr all had 12 points for Kentucky. Allen also had two rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in 24 minutes — but also had three turnovers. Mintz had five rebound, four assists, one steal and one block in 35 minutes — also had four turnovers.
“They fought like crazy. We changed how we played them. They are one of those teams that scores all those points and they are in the 60’s (scoring). We guarded different, played different,” Calipari said.
“We again got out-toughed. Makes me sick. Not throughout the game but the last three minutes dudes backed away and were playing not to lose versus playing to win.”
Alabama played to win. It had 52 points with four minutes to go and was obviously frustrated. But when the Cats faltered, Alabama charged with a will to win that Alabama football coach Nick Saban had to love.
Sarr, who had four rebounds and two steals, didn’t make excuses or question Calipari’s assertion that the Cats were not tough enough at the end to win.
“Results show it I think.” Sarr said when asked about Calipari’s comments. “They scored eight points in a row. We didn’t (get) no stop. Yeah, that is pretty much it.”
What about on offense? Is not having a go-to scorer the problem or is there a way to overcome that with the game on the line?
“You execute. We showed that five players on court playing together executing and sharing the ball (can succeed),” Sarr said.
After Kentucky lost at Georgia a week ago when it had the same issues the final few minutes, Calipari admitted he was discouraged. This time it was more disappointment and hurt.
“The reality of it is this team is not giving up. They are Fighting. They just don’t know how to finish a game mentally or physically,” Calipari said.
And they just don’t know how to win.
