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By Graham Shepherd – Lexington, KY
The ‘Cats defeated the Bucknell Bison by a score of 100-72 on Saturday afternoon in Rupp Arena. Koby Brea led the way for the ‘Cats on offense, shooting 6 of 8 from beyond the arc and scoring a team high 20 points. It was a good test for Kentucky heading into a big matchup versus Duke next week. The two teams combined to shoot an astounding 69 threes in the game. It took some time for the ‘Cats to start clicking on offense to begin both halves, but Kerr Kriisa took charge of the offense with fluidity, leading the team with 12-assists (tied career high). Amari Williams highlighted the Kentucky front court, scoring 13 points and collecting 14 rebounds. Overall, it was another successful showing for the new look ‘Cats as they begin their season.
The ‘Cats entered Saturdays matchup versus the Bucknell Bison coming off a big win in the first game of the regular season last Monday. Kentucky defeated Wright State by a score of 103-62. Otega Oweh led the way for Kentucky with 21 points on 8 of 9 shooting from the field. Koby Brea was sharp from beyond the arc, converting all 4 of his three-point field goals and totaling 18 points. Kentucky played very well in their first game under new Head Coach Mark Pope. Another key stat from Mondays game was Kentucky collected 30 assists on 39 made field goals in the game, sharing the ball well to find the open and easy basket. The ‘Cats will look to shoot more threes in their game against Bucknell, with a team goal of attempting 30-35 three pointers per game. Another key for the game and moving forward is offensive rebounding. The ‘Cats have been outrebounded on the offensive game in both of their two exhibition games and their first game against Wright State. Crashing the boards on the offensive end is key to getting more scoring opportunities for Kentucky, and is a point of emphasis from the staff early in the season. Bucknell entered Saturdays game with a 2-0 record early in the season. Their two wins came against Delaware (85-73) and Southern Indiana (75-69). Key players for the Bison include 7-foot Center Noah Williamson, who is averaging 25.5 PPG and 10.5 RPG after the first two game, and Guard Josh Bascoe (16.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.5 APG). The ‘Cats look to continue their early season rhythm as they head into an early week matchup against Duke in Atlanta next Tuesday (November 12).
The spread for Saturday’s matchup versus Bucknell was -28.5 (UK). The Over/Under points total was set at 153.5.
The starting lineup for the ‘Cats featured Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Otega Oweh, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams.
Game Recap:
First Half
The ‘Cats won the opening tip but were unable to score on their first possession of the game. The ‘Cats did, however, pick up 2 offensive rebounds in the possession. Kentucky’s first points of the game came on an Amari Williams free-throw. Bucknell’s Bascoe hit a three for the Bisons first points of the game, then Robinson responded for Kentucky to tie the game at 3. Oweh drove to the paint and was fouled. Bucknell’s leading scorer in Williamson picked up his second foul of the game with 17:48-minutes to play in the first half. Robinson pulled up in transition for a three and nailed it. Williams picked up an offensive board and put it back in for an easy two points. Kentucky led 10-3 at the first media timeout. Bucknell hit a three out of the timeout. Oweh stripped the ball from a Bison player and drove all the way for an easy score. The ‘Cats first substitutes were Kriisa, Garrison, and Brea. Robinson took an athletic and acrobatic drive to the paint for a score and the foul. The score was 14-6 Kentucky after the missed free-throw. Garrison rejected a Bucknell shot emphatically in the paint on the next possession. Brea nailed his first three-pointer of the game. Kriisa responded with his first three of the game to make the score 20-7 Kentucky with 13:08-minutes to play. Almonor put in a Brea miss off an offensive board. Kentucky led 22-9 at the under 12-minute media timeout. Bucknell went to zone but Kriisa found an open Almonor for a three. Williams made an amazing pass to Robinson for an easy score in transition. The ‘Cats led 31-13 after another nifty Robinson score. Kentucky led 35-16 at the under 8-minute media timeout. Both teams went cold on offense until Bucknell hit their fourth 3 of the game to make the score 35-19. The Bison then scored again to make it 35-21 to force a Kentucky timeout. Williams ended the Kentucky drought with a floater in the paint. Kentucky led 37-23 with 3:51-minutes to play in the half. Brea hit a corner three then Oweh converted an acrobatic shot to push the score to 42-23 ‘Cats. Bucknell responded with consecutive threes of their own to make the score 42-29 Kentucky. Brea then hit another three for Kentucky. The ‘Cats led 47-31 at halftime.
In what felt like a lackluster half of basketball for Kentucky, they still led 47-31 at the half while shooting 45% from the field. The ‘Cats converted 6 of 19 from the three-point line, good for a 32% rate. The ‘Cats offense was led by Robinson with 11 points and Brea with 9 points in the first half. Four other ‘Cats added 5 or more points in the half. Kentucky did pick up 12 first half offensive rebounds and added 10 assists to 7 turnovers and collected 4 steals.
Halftime: Kentucky 47 – Bucknell 31
Second Half
The first possession in the second half saw the ‘Cats defense force a shot-clock violation against Bucknell. Williams then collected an offensive board and found Carr for an and-one opportunity. The ‘Cats led 50-31 after the free-throw. Bucknell cut the lead to 14, 52-38 Kentucky. Brea shook his man with a pump-fake and hit another three. Kriisa then pulled up and hit a three of his own to push the lead back to 58-38 Kentucky. Kentucky took a 58-41 lead into the under 16-minute media timeout. The ‘Cats stole the inbounds pass and Kriisa found a wide-open Robinson for a corner three. The ‘Cats displayed incredible passing and again fround and open Brea for a three. Kriisa again found Almonor for another corner three, as the ‘Cats led 67-44. Williams drove down the lane and converted a layup and was fouled. Kentucky led 69-48 with 11:23-minutes to play. Williams converted the free-throw following the timeout. The ‘Cats ran the floor after a Bucknell make and converted an easy layup. Brea converted his 6th three of the game after another quick Kriisa pass. Garrison converted a baby book over the 7-footer Williamson for a score. Oweh then ran the floor again after a Bucknell make and converted an and-one up and under to push the score to 79-52 Kentucky at the under 8-minute media timeout. Wiliams posted up and scored in the paint. Kentucky led 86-61 with 4:17-minutes to play after a Butler putback layup. Williams stayed with a play and put in another basket off an offensive rebound. Chandler nailed a three for his first points of the game. Chandler scored on a layup once again after another offensive board for Kentucky. The ‘Cats finished strong and went on to win by a score of 100-72.
Final: Kentucky 100 – Bucknell 72
Game Stats:
Bucknell FG %: 40% (36% 3PT – 12 of 33) (33% FT – 2 of 6)
Kentucky FG %: 48% (36% 3PT – 13 of 36) (69% FT – 11 of 16)
Rebounds: 57 – 35 Kentucky
Assist/Turnover Ratio: 23:15
Turnovers: UK (15), Bucknell (14)
Bench Points: 46 – 24 Kentucky
Points off Turnovers: 22 – 14 Kentucky
Fast Break Points: 24 – 15 Kentucky
Paint Points: 50 – 28 Kentucky
Player Stats:
Koby Brea – [(20 points) (6 rebounds) (2 assists) (1 steal)
Jaxson Robinson – [(14 points) (4 rebounds) (1 assist)
Amari Williams – [(13 points) (14 rebounds) (2 assists) (1 block)]
Andrew Carr – [(11 points) (3 rebounds) (1 block)]
Otega Oweh – [(10 points (5 rebounds) (1 assist) (2 steals)]
Ansley Almonor – [(9 points) (4 rebounds) (2 blocks)]
Kerr Kriisa – [(6 points) (4 rebounds) (12 assists) (1 block)] [Led team with a +/- of +20 in 21 minutes of action]
Brandon Garrison – [(6 points) (5 rebounds) (3 assists) (1 block)]
Lamont Butler – [(6 points) (1 rebound) (1 assist)
Collin Chandler – [(5 points) (2 rebounds) (2 steals)]
Trent Noah – [(1 rebound) (1 steal)]
Travis Perry – [(1 assist) (1 steal)]
Next Game:
The ‘Cats (2-0) head to Atlanta to take on the No. 7 Duke Blue Devils (2-0) in State Farm Arena. The game is part of Kentucky’s annual participation in the in-season Champions Classic event. The first game of the event is No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks versus the Michigan State Spartans, who tip-off at 6:30 p.m. EST. The ‘Cats are scheduled to tip-off at approximately 9:00 p.m. EST. The game is televised on ESPN.
