UK MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY AT AUBURN
AUBURN ARENA | AUBURN, ALA.
FEB. 14, 2018
ATTENDANCE: 9,121
 
Final Score: #10/11 Auburn 76, RV/RV Kentucky 66
                                                             
Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is 17-9 overall, 6-7 in the Southeastern Conference. Auburn is 23-3 overall and atop the league standings at 11-2.
• Kentucky leads the series 92-19, including 30-15 at Auburn. 
• Next for the Wildcats: Kentucky plays host to Alabama on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be televised by CBS.

 
In the First Half

• Kentucky’s starting lineup featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hamidou Diallo, Wenyen Gabriel, Kevin Knox and Nick Richards for the second time this season. UK is 1-1 with this lineup.
• Kentucky opened the scoring when Kevin Knox hit a 3-pointer at the 18:50 mark, extending UK’s streak of 1,039 consecutive games with a 3-pointer.
• UK got off to a good start on defense, as Auburn made only 1 of its first 16 shots, including 0 of 9 from 3-point range. That helped the Wildcats to an early 10-4 lead. 
• Auburn got hot and went on a 12-2 spurt, taking the lead at 16-12.
• The Tigers stayed in front the rest of the half and went to intermission ahead 39-33.
  • After missing the first nine 3-point tries, the Tigers hit six of their last eight of the first half.
• Knox led the UK effort in the first half with 12 points.
• UK is now 6-6 this season when trailing or tied at halftime.

 
In the Second Half

• Trailing 48-42, UK went on a 7-0 run and regained the lead with 13 minutes remaining. 
• UK was still leading, 59-55, when Auburn struck with a 13-2 run for a 68-61 Tiger advantage.
• UK fought back within 68-64 but got no closer as Auburn went on to win. 

 
Team Notes

• Kentucky has its first four-game losing streak since the end of the 2008-09 regular season. It is Coach John Calipari’s first four-game losing streak since Memphis lost four in a row to end the 2004-05 regular season. 
• UK is 42-12 in “bounce back” games under Calipari following a loss. 
• UK is 51-26 under Calipari against ranked teams.
• UK did not win tonight despite holding Auburn to 36.7 percent field-goal shooting. UK is now 162-14 under Calipari when keeping the opponent under 40 percent from the field.
• Auburn shot 29.6 percent from three-point range today, 8 of 27.  UK entered the game third in the nation in 3-point defense at 29.1 percent.
  • UK opponents also are attempting threes at a record rate. Opponents are averaging 25.4 long balls per game, well ahead of the UK opponent record of 23.2 3-pointers attempted in the 2007-08 season.
• UK used its size advantage to win the rebounding, 36-34.
  • UK grabbed nine offensive rebounds and won second-chance points 12-7.  It is the first time this season that UK didn’t win the game despite leading second-chance points.
  • UK also won points in the paint, 36-20. 

 
Player Notes  

• Kevin Knox led the Wildcats with 19 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.

  • He is averaging 17.6 points over the last eight games.
• PJ Washington came off the bench to collect 13 points and five rebounds. It is his first double-figure scoring game since Mississippi State on Jan. 23.
• Jarred Vanderbilt grabbed 10 rebounds in only 21 minutes of action, adding three points, three assists and two blocked shots as well.
  • Vanderbilt has 60 rebounds in 132 minutes this season, an average of one carom per 2.2 minutes of action, an incredible ratio.

 
Coach John Calipari

• Calipari has a 711-202 all-time on-court record.
• Calipari is now 266-62 at Kentucky.
• Calipari is 9-2 vs. Auburn in his career.