The Cats drop their first game of the Mark Pope era.
The Kentucky Wildcats traveled to the Clemson Tigers tonight for their second big test of the season. In what was a tough game from the jump, the Cats came up just short, dropping to the Tigers 70-66.
In the first true road test of the year for the Cats, it was a nightmare first half for the team overall. The Tigers came out and played their style of basketball as they slowed down the tempo and utilized their physicality to really get this squad off-balance. Add that in with a wild amount of fouls called throughout the first 12 minutes of the half, and Kentucky could not get anything rolling.
Similarly to the Duke game however, Clemson went on a run to end the half and took at seven point lead into the locker room.
Unfortunately for Kentucky this games second half did not play out like the one against Duke in early November. The Cats offense never got rolling and the physical play of Clemson really altered the style of play that this Kentucky team looks to play. Add in a rowdy crowd at Littlejohn Coliseum, and it was the perfect storm for the upset win the Tigers pulled off tonight.
This week is not over however, as now the Cats will prepare to travel across the country for a matchup with the Gonzaga Bulldogs in Seattle. Pick up a win there and a lot of people will completely forget this loss.
Box Score
Game MVP
It wasn’t pretty by a lot of the roster but tonight we have to give this one to Lamont Butler.
He finished the night with 16 points on 6/9 shooting and 2 of 4 from deep. Butler also added five assists, two rebounds, and a steal while bouncing back from an in-game injury that had the BBN scared for a few minutes.
While dealing with foul trouble throughout the entire game, it was obvious that when Butler was on the floor, the offense operated at its peak. With a knack on the defensive end of the floor, Mark Pope and his staff are going to have to get him to reign that side of the ball in so he can stay on the floor and lead the offense.
Butler will have another tough test against the Zags this weekend. Should be a fun one to watch.
Kentucky vs. Clemson Twitter Reactions
Rocking the blue pic.twitter.com/9n9r1Nseft
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) December 4, 2024
Mark Pope who is very, very calm with officials already unhappy with them.
— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) December 4, 2024
No Double Dribble here is NUTS
— Mario A Maitland (@MarioMaitland_3) December 4, 2024
Can you turn a GIF into a tattoo? Asking for a friend. https://t.co/868fpkZLvd
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) December 4, 2024
How do we get Koby Brea some looks?
— Steven Peake (@StevenPeakeKSR) December 4, 2024
I think the bald official has called every foul on UK
— D9NSTY-UK (@scoutingU) December 4, 2024
Running the fast break
– ESPN pic.twitter.com/9XFzYgLtwE
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) December 4, 2024
We need to turn on the gas and pump it up. pic.twitter.com/5gc0Y6tme4
— Rare Rookies #BBN (@rarerookies) December 4, 2024
Lamont Butler is the most important player on this team
— Barstool Kentucky (@BarstoolUK) December 4, 2024
In the game of basketball an accidental banked in threes should count as two points. I like that.
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) December 4, 2024
Isaac Humphries rule says that should be a technical
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 4, 2024
These guys are going to start a friction fire the way they’re banging in the post.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) December 4, 2024
VEGAS ALWAYS KNOWS https://t.co/ipnHRKj8aV
— Owen (@75toRupp) December 4, 2024
No reason to overreact, but Kentucky just got outworked tonight.
Clemson played their style and did not allow Kentucky to find any rhythm.
A lot of unforced errors in the first half, made it very difficult to come back in the second half.
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) December 4, 2024
Your best player got three wide open threes in the final 90 seconds and none of em fell. Basketball Happens.
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) December 4, 2024
This is what we call “college basketball.” No other sport has a bigger home/road discrepancy on fouls. https://t.co/4qFMjtBKzv
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) December 4, 2024
There will be plenty to critique in the next 24-48 hours. However, I am VERY proud of how Kentucky answered the halftime challenge to take care of the glass.
Defensive Rebounding 88.3% of Clemson’s misses in the 2nd Half. That is BIG time, but 51.9% in the 1st Half got them beat
— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) December 4, 2024
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