Kentucky Brutalized in 88-73 Defeat to Arkansas, Snapping Six-Game SEC Winning Streak
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky and Arkansas both began the season with mountainous expectations, most of which surrounded hanging banners before the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign.
Each team began the season ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll, but those numbers slowly got bigger as the year trekked onward. Before long, neither the Wildcats nor the Razorbacks held a number next to their name, and hopes of winning the NCAA Tournament quickly dwindled down to hopes of just making the NCAA Tournament.
Tuesday night's affair served as a reminder why both teams entered November so revered, but it also reminded Kentucky why it's still got a long way to go if it wishes to partake in March Madness.
What began as a knock-down drag-out quickly morphed into another ugly showcase on both ends of the floor for the home team, as the Razorbacks claimed their third straight win over UK, running the Cats out of their own gym in an 88-73 statement. The loss is Kentucky's third in Lexington this season and the second-worst home loss of the coach John Calipari era.
All a defeated Calipari could do postgame was pass along his tiresome kudos.
"Give Arkansas credit," he said. "They were physical, they drove the ball, our rim protection was awful. Can't get guys to body up ... they did a great job of bodying up us."
Five Hogs poured in 10-plus points, headlined by 20 from junior guard Ricky Council IV and 19 from freshman standout guard Anthony Black. As a team, Arkansas (17-7, 6-5 SEC) shot a season-high 62.7 percent, each bucket more painstaking to UK's (16-8, 7-4) tournament hopes than the next. The second half alone saw 18 makes in 25 attempts, a 72-percent clip.
"Come on, you're not going to win a game if they're shooting 72 percent," Calipari stated. "We tried zone, we did some different things. They got downhill and just no one in there wanted to body up, which is what they did to us, but we'll learn. They were way better than us today."
"Just defense, bro," freshman forward Chris Livingston said when asked about the second half collapse. "You're not gonna win a basketball game if the other team is shooting 70-plus percent from the field, it's not possible."
The freshmen tandem of Cason Wallace and Livingston did what they could, combining for 37 points, five assists and eight rebounds. Wallace led the team with 24.
The first half featured balanced and testy back-and-forth action, as eight players managed seven or more points in the first 20 minutes. Wallace continued his scoring spurt, adding 11 on five made shots, but it was sophomore forward Daimion Collins who lit the fuse for the Cats, adding seven points on 3-3 shooting, including a buzzer-beating jumper to bring UK down just 41-40 at the break.
Arkansas found its way on top thanks to a Calipari technical foul, leading to a pair of makes from the free-throw line. Kentucky's skipper met his yearly quota for jaw movement in just a few moments, as neither he — nor an outraged Rupp Arena — were particularly enthralled by some foul calls that went the way of the visitors.
Junior guard Davonte Davis attributed nine points for the Hogs — who shot a perfect 10-10 from the charity stripe in the half.
Momentum appeared to be with the Cats coming out of the locker room, as Big Blue Nation was amped and active while midnight slowly crept with every cheer and jeer.
That life was quickly sucked out of the building as the Hogs swiped a 6-0 run in the matter of moments, as lackadaisical ball-handling and passing led to two easy steals and dunks for Black, followed by a timeout from an infuriated Calipari.
"Just do disappointed," he said of the opening of the half.
Kentucky settled back in, but the Razorbacks continued to fill the cup, slicing through the Cats' wilting defense with ease, much to the delight of Arkansas coach Eric Musselman.
“We did a really good job moving the basketball tonight," Musselman said. "I thought it was our best transition offense all year.”
Black's fifth basket in the back half grew the Arkansas lead to 10 for the first time all game, 68-58. That lead continued to grow as BBN filed out for the exits, serving a cold, hard dose of reality to a team that had previously won its last six games in SEC play.
The Wildcats were without point guard Sahvir Wheeler, as he was ruled out with a right ankle injury that was suffered earlier this week in practice. Calipari opted to play just seven, but it felt like much less as shooting guard CJ Fredrick went scoreless, while center Oscar Tshiebwe was again held to a mortal stat line of seven points and seven rebounds.
Calipari disclosed postgame that Fredrick was dealing with "rib problems" and — like Wheeler — was "another one that probably should not have played."
"We were trying to get it into him," Calipari said of trying to get Tshiebwe going. "I thought he worked at times, and at times they were getting around the post, they trapped him or they just bodied him ... he's got to be better for us, and he will be."
Kentucky will return to action on Saturday afternoon, hitting the road for a second meeting with the Georgia Bulldogs. Tipoff inside Stegeman Coliseum in Athens is set for noon EST and will be televised on ESPN.
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