(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)
Ten quick things from UK’s 108-58 season-opening win over Marist:
1. Terrence Jones was adamant after the game that he was not drinking prior to being involved in a 2:30 a.m. crash in which he was the passenger of a car that was hit by an alleged drunk driver. Jones said he left he scene because he was afraid that head coach John Calipari would find out. And Cal did find out, of course.
2. Jones did not start, played 25 minutes, scored eight points and grabbed nine rebounds. He appeared to be sleepwalking early on, but then if you are out at 2:30 a.m. on a weeknight, you probably need your sleep.
3. Now, back to the game, Anthony Davis had 23 points, 10 rebounds and blocked five shots. He was 10-of-13 from the floor. He can run the floor. His teammates can find him running the floor. This leads to many lobs and may jams. It will be interesting to see Tuesday night how Kansas chooses to try and defend that at Madison Square Garden.
4. Calipari said he was not as happy with Marquis Teague tonight as he was during Monday night’s exhibition win. Cal said that when his point guards have “listened to me they have success.” So, said Cal, “stop arguing with me.” Then Calipari was quick to say that Teague was a good kid.
5. Darius Miller was not much of a factor until the final 10 minutes when he played well. Cal said he can’t understand why Miller can’t do that at the beginning of the game.
6. Kentucky’s defense was poor in the first half. Marist shot 50 percent. The Cats’ defense was outstanding in the second half. Marist shot 17.1 percent. UK led 45-36 at the half. It outscored the Red Foxes 63-22 in the second half. End of story.
7. Doron Lamb contributed eight assists. He scored 15 point, but then you expect that. It was the eight assists that stood out in his stat line. Lamb is basically the back-up point guard. Some thought that might be a problem. It doesn’t look like a problem right now.
8. Kansas beat Towson State 100-54 tonight, by the way. Thomas Robinson did not start, but led Kansas with 18 points. Six Jayhawks were in double figures.
9. Kyle Wiltjer scored 14 points off the bench, hitting seven-of-12 shots. He wears No. 33, which made me think of Randolph Morris, and how much more advanced Wiltjer seems to be than Morris at this early point of his career. And Wiltjer can’t crack the starting lineup of this team.
10. Sam Malone cannot be stopped. The walk-on scored a basket in the mauling of Morehouse on Monday. He scored two baskets tonight in the mauling of Marist.
