EARLY KNOCKOUT: Kentucky threw the knockout punch early, sprinting out to a 25-2 lead in the opening 11:06. By far the loudest cheer of the night from the Tech section came when Alvin Jones hit a short turnaround in the lane with 8:38 remaining in the first half. It was only Tech’s second field goal of the game, and its first points in over seven minutes.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT: It could have been worse for Tech. Heshimu Evans, who blistered Maryland for 31 points, only played five minutes in the first half after picking up a pair of quick fouls. Evans finally got on the scoreboard with a layup in the opening minute of the second half. Even more impressive, Kentucky scored 20 points off turnovers without bothering to unleash their press. The Wildcats were content to play halfcourt defense all night and still made 16 steals.
RECORD BREAKING: Tech shot only 15.4 percent (4-of-26) from the field in the first half, a school record for lowest field goal percentage in a single half. Things didn’t improve much in the second half, as Tech finished 15-for-62 (24.2 percent).
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Tech narrowly avoided its modern-era school record for fewest points scored in a game, which is 34 against N.C. State in 1949. The last time Tech was held under 40 points in a game was in March 1982. The last time Kentucky held an opponent under 40 points was January 31, 1987, when they defeated Mississippi State 50-36.
TURNING HIS STOMACH: What was originally believed to be a stomach virus has turned out to be a bleeding ulcer for Tech forward Jason Collier. If the stress of having to carry a heavy load is wearing on him, Saturday’s game will do nothing to settle his stomach. At halftime, Collier was the only Teach player with more than two points. With 12 minutes to play, Collier had 13 of Tech’s 21 points, and the other four players on the floor had a combined three points. Collier finished as Tech’s only double-figure scorer, with 14 points.
LONG SHOT: Tech had enough trouble just getting layups to drop, but they were truly ice cold from beyond the arc. The Jackets shot a frigid 2-of-26 (7.7 percent) from three-point range, including 0-for-11 in the first half. Swingman Jason Floyd and point guard Tony Akins both entered the game in the top five in the ACC in three-pointers per game. On Saturday, Floyd shot 0-for-7 and Akins shot 1-for-9 from long range.
WELL-GUARDED: Tech struggled all night against Kentucky’s bigger guards. Akins finished with eight points, but seven of them came late in the game in a span of under a minute and a half. He had only one point in the game’s first 35 minutes. Shooting guard T.J. Vines also had a nightmarish game, shooting 0-for-8. Vines had to deal with the game’s greatest mismatch, as he was guarded by freshman Tayshaun Prince, who stands 10 inches taller than the diminutive Jacket.
OFF THE PINE: Kentucky went to the bench early and often, unlike their game against Maryland, when four starters each played 33 minutes or more. Eleven Wildcats played in the first half, and eight of them scored. And the Kentucky reserves fared very well, actually outscoring Tech’s entire team, 44-39. Sophomore guard Ryan Hogan scored a career-high seven points in 10 minutes off the bench in the first half and he went on to finish with a total of 15 points on 3-of-5 three-point shooting in 17 minutes. Jamaal Magloire earned MVP honors of the Delta Air Lines Classic for Kids, hitting 6-of-7 shots and scoring 15 points – which equals his total points from his previous seven games combined.
FACES IN THE CROWD: The Georgia Tech football team, including head coach George O’Leary, took time out from their Gator Bowl preparations to attend the first half. Also seen in the crowd: Tech alumnus Stephon Marbury, now of the Minnesota Tomberwolves; Tech alumnus Travis Best and Clemson alumnus Dale Davis, both of the Indiana Pacers; and Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz.
Player Quotes:
“I’ve missed four games and it’s been tough getting in the flow, but I’m there now and it’s only upward from this point on My defense leads to offense, blocking shots and running the floor, I’ll get easy points and rebounds and tip-ins.”– Kentucky center Jamaal Magloire
“The thing coach has been working on with Jamaal is that sometimes he tries to just catch it and throw it up there too quick. Now he’s catching, he’s pausing, he’s seeing where the defense is, he’s recognizing if there’s a double-team or not and if there’s no double-team, he’s making a strong move. I think if he does that, he’s tough to stop because he’s so big and he’s strong. He really does have nice touch around the goal when he takes his time.”– Kentucky forward Scott Padgett
“It’s just one of those games where our shooting percentage wasn’t high.”– Georgia Tech point guard Tony Akins
“We didn’t come with our heads in it. You can’t come out that way against a team like Kentucky, who’s #3 in the country. You’ve got to be focused in all areas. You can’t have any mental mistakes, no mistakes at all.”– Georgia Tech center Alvin Jones
“They just threw our whole offense out of whack. They pressured our guards, they got up on us on the three-point line and it was hard for anybody to even throw the ball in to me and Alvin When you shoot 4-for-26 (in the first half), it’s going to be a long night, no matter who you’re playing. When you’re playing Kentucky, it just adds salt to your wounds.”– Georgia Tech forward Jason Collier
