No. 9 Kentucky climbs back in win against Vanderbilt
No. 9 Kentucky climbs back in win against Vanderbilt:- Coach John Calipari was livid at his players for digging another hole before beginning another climb.
The deficit was deep and required the biggest climb of the Calipari era by Kentucky against Vanderbilt at Rupp Arena on Tuesday. The Commodores led by 19 in the first half and double-digits in the second.
Calipari yelled at Malik Monk for taking bad shots. He benched De’Aaron Fox for making turnovers. He complained to the officials and was given a technical foul.
And then the No. 9 Wildcats did what they do. They rallied and for the third time in four games, Kentucky successfully pulled off a second-half comeback.
The 73-67 victory clinched at least a share of Kentucky’s 48th Southeastern Conference title and kept the Wildcats in the mix for a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Fittingly on lay-up and jumped higher than 7-foot center Luke Kornet for a rebound.senior night, it started with a senior and Kentucky native. On three straight plays midway through the second half, guard Dominique Hawkins drew an offensive foul, beat the shot clock with a
That was the surge the Wildcats (25-5, 15-2) needed and the freshmen stars took over from there. Monk (27 points), Bam Adebayo (16) and Fox (13) did most of the scoring down the stretch, tying the game at 54, and again at 56 and finally the Wildcats took the lead.
Fittingly, senior Kentucky native Derek Willis nailed a 3-pointer with 4:47 to go to give the Wildcats their first edge of the game.
Again the statement was made: Kentucky can turn it on at any time and win any game. No hole appears too deep, no climb too steep. But that brings forth another question: Why do the Wildcats do this to themselves?
Recently, it took 10 points by Fox in the final 2:14 to win at Georgia. And Monk poured in 30 of his 33 points in the second half to get by Florida. The heroics settle the nerves that the Wildcats themselves busted, but can this work later in March?
We'll find out. The Wildcats travel to Texas A&M this weekend and can use next week's SEC tournament to better position themselves for the Big Dance. Vanderbilt (16-14, 9-8), meanwhile, is on the bubble and in doubt of making the 68-team field in Bryce Drew's first season.
Source:- http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2017/02/28/no-9-kentucky-climbs-back-win-against-vanderbilt/98477108/
