Jan 16, 2018; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Chris Silva (30) makes a shot surrounded by Kentucky Wildcats during the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Although the Kentucky Wildcats came into Columbia, S.C. Tuesday night with a 4-1 SEC ledger, they could have as easily been 2-3 or 1-4. It seemed they were living on an edge or teetering on the side of a cliff. They were benefiting from making a play, getting a call or a key missed shot in tight wins over Georgia, LSU, Vandy and Texas A&M.
Kentucky fell off the cliff in its 75-68 loss at South Carolina. The Wildcats went up 57-43 with 11:30 to go and their lack of mental toughness and youth showed. The Gamecocks took advantage of those two intangibles and finished strong. Clutch free throw shooting and a tougher mentality allowed the Gamecocks to go on a 26-8 run late in the second half for the win.
Closing games, especially on the road, is a huge piece of a team growing up. That didn’t happen and the Wildcats unraveled.
“There was an unwarranted arrogance that we are really good or ‘I am really good and I am going to do what I am choosing to do and I am not going to listen to what you are saying’” summarized coach Jon Calipari of the Wildcats’ mentality in the clutch, “They (South Carolina) deserved to win, though – this was not about us. It was about South Carolina.”
Even more troubling for the Wildcats was how South Carolina went over 10 minutes in the first half without a field goal. Kentucky couldn’t seize the game then either. They took their first lead at 26-24 when Nick Richards scored off a rebound. From there, they went to the line and made free throws to keep the two-point lead, 36-34, at the break.
“It started at shoot-around today where you have got a bunch of guys who don’t know that having a great shoot-around doesn’t guarantee a great game,” said Calipari, “But going through the motions and not paying attention and not having focus guarantees what happens when the game is in the crunch.”
The lack of mental preparation showed when a flagrant foul was called on Hamidou Diallo, who had lost the ball with Kentucky nursing that 14-point lead. He grabbed Maik Kotsar and took his jersey out of his shorts before Kotsar could advance the basketball.
“We got up 14, had the ball, P.J. (Washington) throws a pass across the court and that was not what we had called and then Hami fouls intentionally,” said Calipari, “‘I didn’t do it; I didn’t do it.’ … You pulled the guy’s shirt out of his pants, so don’t say that you didn’t do it.”
That lack of focus and not taking ownership of the team is a bother at Kentucky. The Wildcats have not found much chemistry yet. Quade Green was out once again with an injury on Tuesday night and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played on the point and struggled. He played 28 minutes and was 3-of-9 from the field with no assists and six turnovers.
“Coach was trying to get us to make winning plays down the stretch,” explained Knox, “We were just going and doing our own thing and see what happens and they came back and won the game.”
South Carolina’s Chris Silva controlled the game as Wildcats’ big men would not listen to the game plan. Silva scored 27 points in 35 minutes as he went 9-of-17 from the field and 9-of-13 at the line.
“The second half they said, ‘We are throwing it to him’ and you would believe this, my big guys stayed behind him,” noted Calipari, “Every time out I was saying, ‘Don’t stay behind him. At least get beside of him so he has to catches it out.’”
The free-throw line was a nightmare as well as Kentucky was 6-of-14 in the second half and 23-of-36 for the game. It was a game that was officiated much too closely as the two teams combined for 59 personal fouls and 74 free throws attempted.
“We are not there yet,” Calipari reminded, “Hopefully – I hate to say it – you have to take some losses to get guys to listen.”
