Photo by Mark Cornelison.
Six quick thoughts on Kentucky’s crushing 90-85 loss to Georgia tonight at Rupp Arena:
- What happened to the Kentucky defense? Georgia averaged 1.212 points per possession, the most by any team against the Cats all season. And this was a 2-12 Georgia, remember. The previous high was VMI with a 1.211 in that season-opening shocker. But then I’m sure there are those who will say the VMI loss started the year, and the Georgia loss pretty much ended it.
- The Billy Gillispie gambit of pulling Patrick Patterson, Jodie Meeks, Perry Stevenson and Ramon Harris early in the second half for Kevin Galloway, Josh Harrellson, Darius Miller and Landon Slone. He left Michael Porter in. By the time, Gillispie got Meeks, Patterson and Co. back in it was 61-53 Georgia and the visitors had regained momentum. Gillispie is a horseplayer, but this one was a longshot that ran way up the track.
- Kentucky made 26 of 28 free throws for 92.9 percent and still lost. That’s the best on a night in which the Cats have shot 20-or-more since they made 19 of 20 from the line against Appalachian State at Freedom Hall.
- Kentucky has now lost seven of its last 10 games. I’d like to know the last NCAA Tournament team that played so poorly down the stretch. With Florida losing at Mississippi State, the NCAA door may now be open for Auburn, which is 9-6 in league play. Plus, Auburn gets LSU at home this weekend. A win over the Bayou Bengals would impress the committee.
- After the year Georgia has had, you have to feel good for interim coach Pete Hermann, who said, “I thought it was a terrific win for our players. . . . I thought they really maintained their poise down the stretch.” Remember, in its last game, at Arkansas, Georgia suffered through a first-half stretch in which it was outscored 22-2 by the Razorbacks and ended up losing 89-67. And Georgia lost to UK 68-45 in Athens on Jan. 18.
- Billy Gillispie says he values toughness. He’s going to have to be pretty tough to take what’s coming after this loss.
John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky and graduate of UK, he covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. He lives in Lexington with his wife and two sons. You can e-mail him at jclay@herald-leader.com.
I agree 100% with the last point. Hell hath no fury like Big Blue fans without a tournament team. 7 years and counting (maybe less if Gillispie gets the program put on probation). These last few years certainly have been a dark time for Kentucky basketball.
Billy G. is off his rocker, and the team is mirror image of his erratic behavior
He cannot handle the pressure here at UK, we must let him go soon.
I question his coaching at this point!!
Billy G’s in over his head. His erratic playing time decisions and substitution patterns defy all logic. Good thing he never signed his contract. Let him go!