The Clarion team was outmatched in every category and it showed from the start when Kentucky came out and scored 12 points in just over 2 minutes. Had they kept that pace, the boys in Blue may have scored into the 300s.
The first exhibition left some scratching their heads. The team seemed to look hesitant. No hesitation tonight from all I’ve read. I won’t get to watch the game for a couple of weeks when it’s mailed to me (I’m in Afghanistan). Can’t wait to see this game.
I’m very excited to watch this UK team get the season started. I haven’t been this excited about a season since 1996. With Wall, Cousins and Patterson on the court, this should be a fun season. And a dominant one. Kentucky Coach Calipari has been taking the team through two a day practices this week so I fully expected a big improvement over the 4 November performance. The Cats did not disappoint.
Here’s the official box score from UKAA:
HOME TEAM: Kentucky
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
15 Cousins, DeMarcus… f 9-12 0-1 2-4 3 3 6 3 20 2 3 2 1 21
54 Patterson, Patrick.. f 6-12 2-2 0-0 1 5 6 4 14 0 2 3 0 26
01 Miller, Darius…… g 3-5 1-2 4-4 1 3 4 4 11 7 1 1 2 27
03 Dodson, Darnell….. g 3-11 1-5 4-4 3 6 9 2 11 4 0 0 1 22
11 Wall, John………. g 10-14 1-2 6-7 2 2 4 1 27 9 4 1 1 28
04 Hood, Jon……….. 1-3 1-1 4-4 3 1 4 0 7 1 1 0 1 15
05 Harris, Ramon……. 5-6 1-2 0-1 1 6 7 1 11 2 0 1 1 21
12 Krebs, Mark……… 2-2 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 7
21 Stevenson, Perry…. 2-2 0-0 4-4 0 2 2 2 8 1 1 1 1 19
33 Orton, Daniel……. 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 4
55 Harrellson, Josh…. 1-4 0-0 1-2 2 1 3 0 3 1 0 1 0 10
TEAM……………. 1 1
Totals………….. 42-71 8-16 25-30 17 30 47 18 117 27 12 10 9 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 21-36 58.3% 2nd Half: 21-35 60.0% Game: 59.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-8 37.5% 2nd Half: 5-8 62.5% Game: 50.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 13-15 86.7% 2nd Half: 12-15 80.0% Game: 83.3% 2,1
The Final Score was 117 UK to 52 Clarion. I can’t remember the last time that UK scored 117 points. Perhaps ’96 or ’97. Tubby didn’t score in the triple digits too often and Gillispie only had one game in the 100s. He lost that one. And I don’t remember a time that UK defeated a team by 65 points.
It is possible that this UK team will produce many firsts. I’m looking forward to seeing this season unfold.
I’m glad Patterson came back for this season. I understand Meeks leaving and the reasons he gave for leaving. Still I wish that he’d have come back. He deserved a season like the one forthcoming.
From KentuckySportsRadio: Kentucky wins this not-a-game 117-52. Best practice of the year, guys. Next time it counts.
From ESPN:
LEXINGTON, Ky. — John Wall proved to be worth the wait.
The heralded Kentucky freshman scored 27 points in his collegiate debut as the fourth-ranked Wildcats rolled past Clarion 117-52 on Friday night in an exhibition game.
“I asked him, ‘Is that your ‘A’ game?” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “He was pretty good.”
Maybe even better than advertised after Wall was forced to sit out Kentucky’s exhibition opener on Monday as part of an NCAA suspension for accepting improper benefits from his former AAU coach.
He didn’t waste any time getting comfortable against the Golden Eagles, an NCAA Division II school in western Pennsylvania.
Wall nearly outscored Clarion in the first half and showcased a little bit of everything, from a dunk to a 3-pointer to a nifty behind-the-back dribble for a layup.
“He’s the real deal,” Clarion coach Ron Righter said. “I hope (Kentucky) can keep him because he’s in another league.”
GO BIG BLUE!!!
