Rhyne Howard (10) is coming off one of her worst offensive games against Tennessee. (SEC Photo)
Kentucky’s season got jolted Sunday when it lost 70-53 at Tennessee. The Wildcats not only got dominated on the boards but All-American Rhyne Howard had a rare off game. Howard got 14 points but needed 16 points and she missed 13 of them. She did have three rebounds and three steals.
Tonight Kentucky plays Alabama and the game will be in Rupp Arena and perhaps provide a burst of energy the Cats lacked at Tennessee.
“We hate that there is not going to be a lot of fans, but we’ve talked about this all year. We have to bring our own energy. We have to be a team on a mission,” Kentucky coach Kyra Elzy said. “We’re coming off a very disappointing loss, so we’re going to play hungry.
“We have to play with a chip on our shoulder, and we have to take advantage of the things that we do well. Go back to what makes Kentucky, Kentucky.”
Elzy, a former Tennessee player, didn’t deny that it was a “disappointing” loss at Tennessee but her team has responded the right way.
“We took that personal, and where we go from here is we have to lay that game to rest right now, and the next game is the most important game on our schedule,” Elzy said. “The things that we talked about is being mentally tough. We let our offense affect our defense. No matter what happens, we have to stay together, we have to lay our hat on our defense, and then do the things that we know we’re capable of doing.
“We played a little panicked at Tennessee, so when those things happen, we have to be able to battle the adversity.”
What about Howard? What happened to her at Tennessee?
“It happens. Sometimes the ball just does not go in the basket. It doesn’t happen to her often, but it did in that particular game,” Elzy said. “So one thing that I challenged her is you still have to be able to do the other things. Still rebound, still play defense, make sure you’re talking to your teammates.
“She is disappointed, like all of us, but just challenged her, go back to work, and she’ll bounce back, sheis a competitor.”
Alabama is 12-2 overall record, including 5-2 mark SEC play. Like UK, Alabama lost to No. 5 South Carolina. The other league loss was Tennessee and the Vols also pounded Alabama 82-56.
Jasmine Walker leads Alabama in scoring and rebounds, averaging 19.6 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game.
“We have to deny her the ball. Our best defense is trying to keep the ball out of her hands. When she does catch it, we have to make her score over defense. Obviously, she can play inside and out, so, keeping fresh bodies on her, and then we have to finish our defense with a box out. Make her take tough, contested, shots, and finish with a box out,” Elzy said.
