UK MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY vs. GEORGIA
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT | SCOTTRADE CENTER| ST. LOUIS, MO.
MARCH 9, 2018
ATTENDANCE: 16,364
Final Score: RV/RV Kentucky 62, Georgia 49
Team Records and Series Notes
- Kentucky is 22-10 overall. Georgia is 18-15 overall.
- Kentucky leads the series 126-26 and has won 11 in a row vs. the Bulldogs.
- Next for the Wildcats: Kentucky takes on Alabama in the SEC Tournament semifinals Saturday at 1 p.m. EST (noon CST in St. Louis). The game will be televised on ESPN.
In the First Half
- Kentucky’s starting lineup featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hamidou Diallo, Kevin Knox, PJ Washington and Nick Richards for the 12th time this season. UK is 7-5 with this lineup.
- Wenyen Gabriel hit a 3-pointer with 13:23 on the clock, extending UK’s streak of 1,045 consecutive games with a 3-pointer.
- It was a back-and-forth first half until UK closed with an 8-0 run to take a 30-23 advantage into intermission. It was the largest lead of the half for either team.
- UK is now 15-3 this season when leading at halftime.
In the Second Half
- Gabriel opened the second half with a 3-pointer, sparking an 11-3 run that made the score 41-26 and coaxed a Georgia timeout at the 16:28 mark.
- Shortly thereafter, UK increased the margin to 17 points on three occasions, the last at 47-30.
- At that point, the Wildcats went cold and Georgia got back in the game with a 6-0 run to make it 47-36.
- UK kept the lead in double digits until Georgia scored with 1:27 left to make it 58-49 but the Bulldogs got no closer.
Team Notes
- The story of the game was UK’s defense, holding Georgia to 49 points – a season low for the Bulldogs and the lowest point total of the season by a UK opponent.
- Georgia shot just 28.3 percent from the field, again a season low for the Bulldogs and the lowest percentage this season by a UK opponent.
- Georgia shot 26.1 percent from 3-point range today, 6 of 23. UK entered the game third in the nation in 3-point defense at 29.7 percent.
- UK held Yante Maten, SEC Player of the Year, to nine points and four rebounds. He came into the game averaging 19.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest.
- UK is 64-0 under Coach John Calipari when keeping opponents to 55 or fewer points.
- UK is now 165-14 under Calipari when keeping the opponent under 40 percent from the field.
- UK had a season-low five turnovers today and is 11-0 this season when committing 11 or fewer miscues.
- UK is 12-1 this season when the Wildcats have more assists than turnovers.
- UK led by as many as 17 points today. The Wildcats are 229-5 under Calipari when leading by at least 10 points during a game.
- UK is 44-12 in “bounce back” games under Calipari following a loss.
In the SEC Tournament
- Kentucky has an all-time record of 131-25 in the SEC Tournament, and has won 10 in a row, including the last three championships.
- UK is 44-11 in quarterfinals games.
- UK is 12-1 vs. Georgia in the SEC Tournament, including 6-0 in quarterfinals games.
- Coach Calipari is 20-3 in the SEC Tournament.
Looking Ahead to Saturday
- Kentucky will take on Alabama on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST (noon CST).
- UK is 41-2 in SEC Tournament semifinal games.
- UK leads the Alabama series, 111-37, and has won nine in a row vs. the Crimson Tide.
- UK is 15-2 vs. Alabama in the SEC Tournament, including 6-0 in the semifinals.
- This will be the third year in a row that the teams have played in the SEC Tournament. UK defeated Alabama 85-59 in the 2016 quarterfinals and 79-74 in the 2017 semifinals.
- Earlier this season on Feb. 17, UK defeated Alabama, 81-71, in Lexington. PJ Washington and Donta Hall led their respective teams with 16 points each.
Player Notes
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PJ Washington continued his steady play, leading the Wildcats with 18 points and adding seven rebounds.
- He has scored double figures and grabbed at least five rebounds in each of the last seven games.
- Kevin Knox tallied 15 points and led the Wildcats with nine rebounds.
- He is averaging 17.9 points over the last eight games.
- He has 501 points this season, 12th-most by a UK freshman in a season.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander often was able to drive and score, finishing with 15 points and a game-high nine assists.
- He is averaging 16.2 points and 7.6 assists over the last five games.
- Hamidou Diallo scored seven points, including a huge 3-pointer when Georgia cut the lead to 11 in the second half.
Coach John Calipari
- Calipari has a 716-203 all-time on-court record.
- Calipari is now 271-63 at Kentucky.
- Calipari is 16-2 vs. Georgia in his career
