UK MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY vs. WOFFORD
NCAA TOURNAMENT, MIDWEST REGION SECOND ROUND
VYSTAR VETERANS MEMORIAL ARENA | JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
MARCH 23, 2019
ATTENDANCE: 14,250
Final Score: Kentucky 62, Wofford 56
Team Records and Series Notes
- Kentucky is 29-6 overall. Wofford is 30-5, ending a 21-game winning streak.
- UK entered the game ranked No. 7 nationally and the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region.
- Wofford entered ranked No. 19 nationally and the No. 7 seed in the Midwest.
- This was the first meeting between the teams.
- Next for Kentucky: the Wildcats advance to the Midwest Regional (Kansas City) on Friday against the winner of tomorrow’s Houston-Ohio State game.
In the First Half
- Kentucky started the combination of Ashton Hagans, Tyler Herro, Keldon Johnson, EJ Montgomery and Reid Travis for the second straight game.
- Wofford grabbed an early 5-0 lead, and other than an 11-11 tie, the Terriers led until the final minute of the half.
- Trailing 24-18, UK closed the last three minutes of the half with a 10-2 run.
- UK got its first lead, 26-24, on a short Hagans jumper with 53 seconds left.
- Travis sent the Wildcats to intermission with a 28-26 lead on a pair of free throws with one second left.
In the Second Half
- Kentucky began the second half with the starting lineup.
- Trailing 35-32, Kentucky went on a 13-2 run for a 45-37 lead. UK never trailed again.
- With 8:42 left, two free throws by Herro gave the Wildcats their largest lead at 50-41.
- Wofford rallied but with 5:10 left Herro’s 3-pointer gave UK some breathing room at 57-51. It would prove to be UK’s final basket of the game.
- Wofford closed to within 58-56, but with 17.8 seconds remaining, Travis’ two free throws made it 60-56 and two more by Herro made it 62-56.
Team Notes
- Kentucky’s defense made the difference.
- Shooting over 49 percent from the field for the season, Wofford shot 37.5 percent today. UK is 181-15 (.923) under Calipari when keeping the opponents to 40 percent or less, including 17-0 this season.
- Shooting over 41 percent on 3-pointers for the season, Wofford shot 29.6 percent today.
- UK is 172-7 (.961) under Calipari when limiting the opponent to 63 points or less, including 20-0 this season.
- Kentucky won the rebounding, 36-30. UK is 24-4 this season when outrebounding the opponent.
- Free throws also were a significant factor. UK sent Wofford to the line only nine times, making six, while the Wildcats made 17-of-20 for 85 percent.
In the NCAA Tournament
- Kentucky has an all-time record of 128-51 in the NCAA Tournament, more wins than any team in NCAA history.
- UK is making its NCAA record 58th appearance in the tournament.
- UK is 24-7 as the No. 2 seed in the tournament. UK is 5-2 vs. No. 7 seeds.
- UK is 30-7 in the NCAA Tournament under Calipari.
- UK will be making its 27th NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, second-most in NCAA history. It is UK’s eighth in 10 seasons under Coach John Calipari, most of any team in the nation during that span. Calipari has made 12 of 14 Sweet 16s, dating to his time at Memphis.
Player Notes
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Reid Travis led the Wildcats with 14 points and 11 rebounds, his third double-double of the season.
- He made 4-of-4 at the foul line, two key free throws at the end of each half.
- Ashton Hagans tallied 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.
- Tyler Herro didn’t have a great offensive day with nine points, but had a solid floor game with six rebounds and four assists.
- Made 4-of-4 free throws and has made 66 of his last 67 at the charity stripe.
- Jemarl Baker had back-to-back career-high games with eight points today after getting seven points vs. Abilene Christian.
- His 15 points over these two games are more than he scored in the previous 10 games combined (14).
- Kentucky’s leading scorer and rebounder, PJ Washington, sat out his second straight game with a sprained foot.
Calipari
- Calipari is now 304-70 at UK.
- Calipari has a 749-210 all-time on-court record.
- Calipari has a 55-18 record in the NCAA Tournament.
- UK is 58-30 vs. ranked competition under Calipari.