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Tuesday night, the audience of Rupp Arena was a little fuller than usual.
However, the Kentucky Wildcats almost did not hold their share of the market. In a home run with the struggling Arkansas Razorbacks, PJ Washington scored two fouls early in the game and the Wildcats saw their offensive flow stalling at 39-28 at half-time.
In the second half, however, Kentucky passed the defensive performance bet to clear a 15-point deficit when winning his return to Arkansas, 70-66.
Kentucky Claws Back
Without the starting center, Reid Travis (knee) and then PJ Washington (two fouls in the first half), Kentucky was an early offensive disaster. The Wildcats made 12 turnovers in the first period and did not regain their identity with the team's star on the bench.
However, Kentucky recovered with strength and intensity his defense while Tyler Herro carried the team in attack. They started playing as a team and gave everything.
The process was not good, but the result was good enough as the Wildcats went on the weekend with the win.
Herro introduces himself
While the Wildcats do not have much to envy in their Tuesday game against the Razorbacks, Tyler Herro certainly came to play. After the freshman scored 12 points in the first half, head coach John Calipari told Laura Rutledge of SEC that Herro had strained his ankle.
In spite of the reported injury, Herro shot out in the second half. He scored eight of Kentucky's first 16 points, including two shots behind the arc.
Herro finished with 29 points on 9 to 10 shots in the competition, playing by far his best game as Wildcat.
Without Herro, this game would have been an eruption in favor of the visitors. He was the pulse of the Bluegrass Tuesday night.
Richards Cashes In
Reid Travis being dismissed, the opportunity for one (or both) EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards emerged to succeed as center of the team. After Montgomery was in trouble early, Richards intervened effectively to control the painted area.
The sophomore finished Tuesday's game with seven points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. He had bad turnovers, but he finally had a positive impact for the Cats.
While Travis is putting a damper on Kentucky's ability to dominate inland, Richards' growth could ultimately benefit the Wildcats as the playoffs approach.
Misery in three points
The tendency of the opposing players to draw random lights at the Rupp Arena had been temporarily put on hold. However, Tuesday, Arkansas brought down the demons by shooting 10-20 as a team. Some of them were challenged, but far too many were open looks that gave the Hogs rhythm and allowed them to shoot lightning in the second half.
Kentucky's attention to detail was neglected, but there were also some difficult blows on which you do not heed. This weekend, Kentucky will have to be much more careful to keep the three on the road. The day in Knoxville will be long if Kentucky allows Flights to shoot like that.
Saturday, Kentucky (24-4) will make the trip to Knoxville for their rematch against the Tennessee Volunteers (24-3). The forecast for the top ten is scheduled at 2:00 pm EST.
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