John Clay's Sidelines

(H-L photo/David Perry)

Five quick thoughts about UK’s 84-67 loss to UConn in the Maui final:

• Calm down. Everything will be ok. This is a young team that was playing its third game in three days, and its fourth game in six days. Washington was an emotional game for this team. Seemed to take a lot out of it. Plus, it’s a young team that for two weeks has been told how good it looks. It doesn’t hurt a young team like that to get its butt kicked in its fifth game of the season. Opens ears.

• Brandon Knight did not have a good tournament. He turned the ball over eight times against Washington, was 4-of-15 from the floor against Oklahoma. He was 3-of-16 against UConn, and turned it over four more times. But you know what they say, travel is broadening. Knight is a terrific student. He will learn.

• Thing that did concern me going in was UConn’s Alex Oriakhi. Said so on the liveblog before the game. I was impressed with the way the 6-foot-9 sophomore played against Michigan State. And I haven’t been all that impressed with UK’s interior defense. Without Enes Kanter, this is a concern. I have no idea about Kanter’s defensive ability, but he would give a presence. Josh Harrellson played great against Washington. But he returned to earth against the Huskies. This could be something this team fights all year long.

• Going into the game, buzz all day was that DeAndre Liggins would shut down Kemba Walker. Didn’t happen. I had my doubts about Walker, too. The boys from Bristol fall in love easily, especially with someone in Hartford. But have to admit. Walker is good.

• Three games in Hawaii confirmed one of my beliefs. Terrence Jones is the key to the team. He sits most of the first half – I had no problem with that, by the way; team has to learn to play without T.J. – and Kentucky falls hopelessly behind. When Jones was on the floor, you could make the case he was the best player on the floor. Heard one broadcaster say that an NBA scout told him that Jones was the best prospect in Maui. I think that’s still true.