Alabama coach Anthony Grant was not happy near end of Alabama's loss at Vanderbilt. (AP photo/Mark Humphrey)
At Thursday’s UK basketball media opp, John Calipari was asked how much of an advantage was it that Vanderbilt had to play a game on Thursday night before entertaining Calipari’s Cats about 36 hours later?
Ever the kidder, Calipari said, “I don’t think it gives them that much of an advantage.”
Ever the thespian, Calipari kept a straight face. When informed the question referred to Kentucky owning an advantage in the calendar discrepancy — the Cats did play on Tuesday, after all — the coach said, “We took (Wednesday) off,” before starting Thursday’s practice.
Vanderbilt did more than practice Thursday, edging Alabama 81-77 in a bare-knuckles battle at Memorial Gym. The Commodores made 22 of 27 free throws and nine three pointers on the way to overcoming a 77-76 Crimson Tide lead with 25.8 seconds left.
Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean wrote:
Brad Tinsley always tries to get his shot on the rim after being fouled.
“You never know what could happen,” he said. “It could rattle in.”
Or simply swish.
Vanderbilt’s junior point guard peeled off a screen, sank a 17-footer while taking contact from Trevor Releford and completed the three-point play to lift the No. 23 Commodores over Alabama 81-77 in an SEC men’s thriller on Thursday night at Memorial Gym.
Continue reading ‘Vanderbilt tunes up for UK by beating Alabama’
