John Clay's Sidelines

A few quick thoughts about the Kentucky win:

• It was Kentucky’s best rebounding performance of the year. The Cats grabbed 44.8 percent of its available offensive rebounds, a season-best. UK had a 44.2 in that category in the win over Washington in Maui, and a 44.0 against lowly Boston University. This was different. This was Louisville. This was also Josh Harrellson grabbing 14 boards, including six off the offensive glass.

• What in the world is going on with John Calipari? His teams are supposed to be horrific free-throw shooting teams. Yet this team has made 27 of 32 free throws over its last two games.

• Brandon Knight’s 25 points are the most by a UK freshman against Louisville since King Rex dropped 26 on the Cards, prompting Eddie Sutton to give the thumbs-up sign back at Freedom Hall in way back when.

• Knight is averaging 19.1 points per game over his last eight games.

• DeAndre Liggins went 1-of-7 and scored a season-low two points, but may have been the difference in the game with his defense on Peyton Siva.

• Eloy Vargas played a season-low two minutes. No other UK player needs to get better as quickly as Vargas does over this holiday break.

• After all the talk — some from me — about teams not shooting well in this series, Kentucky made 50.9 percent of its shots, including 68.2 in the second half.

• I think Pitino is a great coach, but there is a certain amusement in watching him become so frustrated he just sits down in his seat as if he can’t stand it any longer.

• Terrence Jones said there were times in practice earlier this year in which Harrellson was so bad he caught himself thinking, “I sure hope Enes can play.”