Big Blue Preview: Kentucky at Vanderbilt
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope was asked on Thursday, during his weekly press conference, if he had a particular memory of Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, where his Cats will face Vanderbilt on Saturday. Pope said that one moment definitely stood out above the rest.
“I ran in and dunked it,” Pope said of his memorable moment. “If I remember correctly, I barely got it over the rim and got fouled. And then Coach P (Rick Pitino) was standing right there, and so I got to go chest bump him. And I don’t think Coach was super happy about that, but I’ve always loved the configuration of the gym since that moment. I think it’s a great venue.”
Memorial Gymnasium is known for its unique setup. From a playing floor that is elevated to the team benches being in the end zones, it’s not the normal configuration that teams are accustomed to seeing.
In addition to a non-traditional setup, playing at Vanderbilt this year is tough because the Commodores have a much-improved team. The Commodores are 15-4 overall and 3-3 in the Southeastern Conference. On the most recent Saturday in Memorial Gym, the ‘Dores upset No. 6 Tennessee. Pope admires what the Vandy staff has been able to do in a short amount of time.
“What an unbelievable job that staff has done on constructing that team,” Pope said. “They’re playing incredibly hard and they have had some real job and toughness in their games. They start with five guys on the floor who can really shoot it. They force you to guard a lot of space. They’re really physical on the glass. They play with great pace.”
Pope’s Cats are embracing going on the road and into hostile environments in the SEC. It’s something that the team had to learn but has now accepted.
“I think the guys know it better now,” Pope said. “I think our guys, right now, can’t wait to get back out on the road and go experience another insane environment and go find a way to win.”
The Cats have been a little banged up, and Pope was thankful for the week his team had to heal some of its ailments.
“It’s better than it was a few days ago,” Pope said. “Everybody’s going to play hurt and play with injured guys. We’re doing better. I’m really grateful for this week.”
The Cats will face one of college basketball’s most unique settings on Saturday and will take on a surging Vanderbilt team. It’s a role that Pope’s Cats welcome and embrace.
Kentucky Drops Shootout vs. No. 4 Alabama
Despite seven players scoring in double figures, No. 8 Kentucky lost to an AP Top-15 team for the first time this season, falling to No. 4 Alabama 102-97 in Rupp Arena.
Otega Oweh led UK with 21 points, matching his season high, while Lamont Butler had 17 points and eight assists and Amari Williams (13 points, 11 rebounds) posted his fourth double double of the season.
The contest was the third-straight for Kentucky against an AP Top-15 opponent, marking just the fifth time in school history that UK played three straight regular-season games against a Top-15 opponent.
Some additional notes from the game:
• The loss was the first of the season for Kentucky at home after winning their first 11 inside Rupp Arena
• It was the eighth time this season that UK has scored at least 95 points. The Cats are 7-1 in those games
• Lamont Butler has had at least seven assists in four of the five SEC games
• Otega Oweh has had multiple steals in six straight games
• Koby Brea continued his 3-point streak – he has made at least one triple in every game this season and 33-straight contests overall dating back to his time at Dayton. Brea also set a new career-best with three blocked shots
Double Figures for Double “O”
Otega Oweh has scored in double figures in all 18 of Kentucky’s games this season. Oweh is one of 19 players in Division I to score in double figures in each of their games this season and one of nine “high major” players to do so. He is the only player in the SEC to accomplish the feat.
“High Major” players to score in double figures in each of their team’s games this season:
• Donovan Dent (New Mexico) – 20 games
• Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue) – 20 games
• Kam Jones (Marquette) – 19 games
• Ian Martinez (Utah State) – 19 games
• Jamal Mashburn Jr. (Temple) – 19 games
• Maxime Raynaud (Stanford) – 19 games
• Otega Oweh (Kentucky) – 18 games
• PJ Haggerty (Memphis) – 18 games
• Javon Small (West Virginia) – 18 games
