Richards Etches Name in UK-UofL Lore

Nick Richards isn’t normally one for outward displays of emotion, but this moment called for it.
 
“It’s a rivalry game, honestly,” Richards said.
 
Richards – whose junior-year breakout had taken a detour over the last few weeks – delivered a special performance made even more special by the stage on which it came. Overcoming foul trouble and facing one of the nation’s best teams, Richards was outstanding as No. 19 Kentucky (9-3) moved to 11-2 against its archrival since John Calipari’s arrival with a 78-70 overtime victory.
 
“I would probably say this is the most we’ve ever fought as a team,” Richards said.
 
He has had biggest statistical outings than the 13-point, 10-rebound double-double Richards had against the Cardinals. But in terms of impact and the fortitude it required, he has arguably never had a better day in his college career.
 
“Nick is somebody that nobody else in the country has,” Immanuel Quickley said. “He’s 7 feet, can jump out of the gym, block shots and he really just changes the game defensively. For us to have him and for him to play good in a game like is really good for him and for us.”
 
Richards only had one foul in a physical first half, but his second, third and fourth came within five-and-a-half minutes of halftime. Calipari then held him out for almost six minutes before Richards made his return. He would play the final 12:43 of the 34 he played on the day – including the last 2:43 of regulation and all of the overtime period consecutively – without fouling. In fact, he even drew a pair of big charging calls along the way.
 
“Just playing smarter,” Richards said. “I was trying my best just to play smarter. I noticed a lot when they were driving they were just lowering their shoulder on me so I just tried to take charges on those.”
 
It was in overtime that Richards had the moments that will appear on UK-UofL highlight reels for years to come. He had a crucial and-one on a put-back with 1:53 left to tie the game after the Cards had built a 70-67 lead. Richards then made another basket 30 seconds later and two free throws a minute later to give the Cats the lead for good.
 
“Honestly, my teammates, they were just being aggressive,” Richards said. “Tyrese (Maxey) went up for a floater. He missed it. I was just thinking about ‘get this rebound and put it in.’ “
 
Richards was coming off three games in which he barely did any rebounding at all. He had just combined eight boards against Georgia Tech, Utah and Ohio State, including none against the Buckeyes. After scoring just two points in a second straight loss, Richards and his teammates had a three-day break for the holidays. When he returned, he did so with renewed focus.
 
“I just needed that break, that three-day break, to recharge me,” Richards said. “I definitely was more focused when we got back, paid a lot more attention to detail in practice, just tried to be a good leader to my teammates, tried to a be a good leader to the freshmen. I was just trying to be a better overall player.”
 
Along with Richards’ commitment to improve, Calipari has demanded his teammates feed him the ball. That helped open things up as UK scored the most points per possession of any team (1.12) against Louisville’s sixth-ranked defense according to kenpom.com.
 
“If we can get him touches by how we’re playing, we just got to throw it to him,” Calipari said. “And Nick, you got to fight for position, so we must throw it to you. We put in a couple little wrinkle stuff for it. But the reality of it is, it was now we are playing. Proud of them, how he played in foul trouble and he still responded.”
 
Indeed, Richards’ contributions against the Cards were both notable and memorable. Nonetheless, what those contributions could mean for the future is even more important.
 
“Demonstrated performance is how you build your own confidence,” Calipari said. “If you build your own confidence no one can take it away except you by being arrogant, I say, stay humble and hungry. If you get arrogant, you’ll go right back in the hole you were in. But demonstrated performance is how you build your own confidence.
 
“So the same with Nick and his ability to fight and create a position for himself and really have an impact on the game, which was big, even with the foul trouble.”