Stumbling finish at Florida aside, UK’s ‘more than prepared’ for postseason
The final minutes at Florida on Saturday marked the third time in the last four games that Kentucky stumbled to the finish line.
UK led by 10 with three-plus minutes left. Then three turnovers helped Florida close the margin to six points with almost a minute to go.
John Calipari downplayed the significance of the final minutes while acknowledging not being pleased.
“The play that made me mad was Sahvir (Wheeler) trying to throw the lob to Jacob (Toppin), the UK coach said of a pass that bounced off the backboard to Florida. “Why would you do that?”
A high-low pass by Toppin also seemed unnecessary, Calipari said.
The UK coach blamed himself for the third turnover. Keion Brooks threw a contested inbounds pass that Wheeler could not catch.
“I probably wasn’t fair to Keion to have him take it out,” Calipari said. “He hadn’t played too much. That’s on me. C’mon. You’ve got to have a sense of when you’re coaching, a feel for who’s going to be the guy taking it out.”
Brooks played less than 15 minutes.
Against Ole Miss earlier in the week, a 14-point UK lead with less than six minutes remaining was twice narrowed to six inside the next four minutes.
At Arkansas the previous weekend, Kentucky led by one with 2:19 left. UK did not score again until TyTy Washington made a meaningless three-pointer at the buzzer. In that span, UK had two turnovers and had a shot blocked.
Still, UK players spoke confidently about the postseason.
“For me, … I’m good,” Oscar Tshiebwe said. “I’m good. … I’m not letting anybody dominate me. I’m not letting anybody, like, outplay me.”
Toppin echoed that sentiment when asked if the Kentucky team was ready for March.
“Yes, I think we’re ready,” he said. “We’re more than prepared.”
Looking ahead
With the SEC Tournament set for this coming week, Calipari explained the approach he wants Kentucky to take.
“I’ve never put a big emphasis on the conference tournament …,” he said. “We’re playing that for the (NCAA Tournament) seed. …
“We’ve won a bunch because of not worrying about winning them. We’re doing them for the seed.”
In Calipari’s time as coach, Kentucky has won the SEC Tournament six times: 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
He led Memphis to four Conference USA Tournament championships: 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
His UMass teams won the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament five times: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996.
“Play to win,” Calipari said of the approach he wants. “Don’t worry about losing.”
Goodbye to Keyontae
Keyontae Johnson was among seven seniors honored at Florida’s Senior Day ceremony.
He had been an all-SEC first-team selection in 2019-20. Then his college career ended after he collapsed on the court at Florida State in Dec. 2020.
Johnson has served on Florida Coach Mike White’s staff.
The game had a ceremonial opening tip, which went to Johnson. He knelt down and kissed the court before going to the bench before another tipoff to start the game.
“One of the greatest human beings,” White said of Johnson. “As unselfish as I’ve been around. As spirited, as fun to be around, as (well-) liked by his teammates and by this community.”
Calipari said Kentucky had to agree to the ceremonial tip to Johnson. The UK coach said he wanted to take it a step further and allow Johnson to score a layup that would count. He likened this idea to the Wildcats playing a 1-3-1 zone to open the home game against Tennessee in honor of former UK Coach Joe B. Hall, who died earlier that day.
After the ceremonial tip, Johnson walked to Calipari and the two exchanged greetings. “I wish you were playing,” Calipari said he told Johnson.
Wait and see
Broadway Baptist Church pastor Daniel Ausbun said that Oscar Tshiebwe had told him he hoped his mother, Kaya Rosalie Tshiebwe, could come to the United States and attend an NCAA Tournament game.
After the game at Florida, Tshiebwe was asked if his mother would make the trip. “Right now, I’m waiting for God,” he said. “I don’t know yet.”
Cry?
When asked if he cried during Kentucky’s Senior Night ceremony, Kellan Grady said, “I keep hearing the rumor that I teared up, which definitely didn’t happen.”
UK’s Senior Night was a “special” experience, he said, “but I have to refute the rumor that I teared up. Two people have asked me that, two of my friends, but I’m denying that.”
