Photo by Jeff Houchin
The continued struggles by Kentucky football have undermined what has been an unusual start to the 2018-2019 season by the Kentucky men’s basketball team. Head coach John Calipari and his team lost in humiliating fashion to the Duke Blue Devils on opening night and followed their poor performance with a sluggish home-win over Southern Illinois.
On Wednesday, the Wildcats will suit up for their second game of the year on Rupp Arena’s hardwood. They’ll also look to retain their “Bahamas” form, of which was displayed back in August during exhibition action.
Kentucky railroaded teams rostered full of grown men by an average of more than 20 points. The slump came immediately after, though, when the Wildcats returned to the Bluegrass for games against both Transylvania and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The final score disguised Kentucky’s struggles against both teams, which later continued to start the season.
Now, with six home games until Kentucky makes their trip to Madison Square Garden for the Citi Hoops Classic, the Wildcats will look to find a consistent rhythm once again.
A let down for Kentucky to start the season has been sophomore forward PJ Washington, who is averaging just 5.5 points and 4 rebounds in 18.5 minutes. Washington was regarded as Kentucky’s best returning player from the 2017-2018 Sweet Sixteen team, but has played down to that accolade thus far.
A surprise from last Friday’s win over Southern Illinois was sophomore guard Quade Green, who had been mostly lost in the shuffle of freshman talents such as Ashton Hagans, Immanuel Quickley and Tyler Herro.
Green’s efforts to change Kentucky’s pace and provide a tempo for the team’s offense opened up many lanes for his Wildcats. For Wednesday’s game, don’t be surprised if Calipari looks Green’s way to start the action.
Kentucky has yet to put a complete, 40-minute game of efficient basketball together. Until they do, no matter the opposition, wins will be hard to come by.
Tip-off is set for 9 P.M. EDT on SEC Network.
