Red-Hot Start Lifts Cats Past Chippewas

In last Friday’s win over North Florida, Kentucky got off to a very slow start. The Cats were only able to hit four of their first 19 shots from the floor as the Ospreys led by as many as five points early in the game. Kentucky, of course, eventually warmed up and went on to an 86-52 win.

On Monday night against Central Michigan, Kentucky did not have any similar issues. In fact, it was almost exactly the opposite scenario.

The Cats hit their first six shots from the floor and 11 of their first 12, on their way to a 25-5 lead less than seven minutes into the game.

It started with a TyTy Washington Jr. basket. After CMU took it’s only lead of the game at 3-2, it was Washington again, followed by a Kellan Grady layup and a Keion Brooks Jr. three-pointer, making it 9-2.

CMU would cut it to 9-5 on a Jermaine Jackson Jr. basket before the Cats scored 16 in a row to essentially put the game away with 13:25 still remaining in the first half.

It wasn’t just one player who was feeling it early. Kentucky’s first 11 baskets were made each of the five starters (Brooks, Grady, Oscar Tshiebwe, Washington and Sahvir Wheeler).

Kentucky would go on to win 85-57 over former UK assistant coach Tony Barbee and his Chippewas. What turned out to be an easy victory can be directly attributed to the fast start.

“We came out a little nervous,” Barbee said. “Attribute some of that to them, their pressure. We dug ourselves a big hole.”

As for Kentucky head coach John Calipari, he continues to see glimpses of just how good his team can be when clicking on all cylinders.

“How good can we play?,” Calipari said. “There were stretches today when we were really good.”

After the hot start, Kentucky would cool down a bit, making only nine of its last 26 shots from the floor in the first half. Still, the Cats built a 51-25 lead through 20 minutes.

Barbee has now seen Kentucky and former No. 1 Gonzaga this season. When he was asked, in Monday’s postgame press conference, if UK was in the same league as the Zags, Barbee gave a definitive answer.

“100 percent. They’re as physically imposing as Gonzaga is,” Barbee said. “They’re on Gonzaga’s level.”

After such a cold start on Friday, it was a welcome sight to see the Cats open up on fire in Monday’s contest. It was the kind of start that ends games early, and that was the case against CMU.