The Kentucky Wildcats lived on the sting all season. John Calipari’s staff was electrical offensively, however appeared to consider protection was elective because the begin of the 12 months. In contrast to most of Calipari’s finest groups, these Wildcats lacked a dominant massive man and infrequently bought beat up on the boards. When their exterior photographs had been falling, Kentucky seemed superior. However once they had been chilly, this specific Wildcats staff appeared like they might lose to anybody.
Kentucky picked the worst doable time for considered one of its very worst performances of the season. And now their season is over.
No. 14 seed Oakland beat No. 3 seed Kentucky, 80-76, within the first spherical of the 2024 males’s NCAA match. The Wildcats went from a fashionable Remaining 4 choose (responsible) to a one-and-done match exit. It might be an unbelievable flip of occasions if these Wildcats hadn’t been taking part in with hearth all season.
Kentucky solely has one NCAA match win within the final 4 years, however this one goes to outlive as one thing even greater. With the South Area seemingly broad open, it felt like UK bought a straightforward draw to not less than the Elite Elite. Now, this feels just like the worst lack of the Calipari period in Lexington. It won’t be one thing he can come again from.
A March Insanity legend was born for Oakland
Nobody knew who Jack Gohlke was coming into this sport. Now, no Kentucky fan will ever neglect him.
Gohlke got here off the bench to knock down 10 three-pointers for Oakland on 20 discipline purpose makes an attempt — all from behind the arc. The 6’3 senior was working off screens and splashing threes at an unstoppable price. Kentucky’s protection merely couldn’t persist with him.
Gohlke solely took eight two-point photographs all 12 months. Kentucky knew they solely needed to defend him on the arc, however they nonetheless couldn’t do it.
Kentucky’s offense cratered towards Oakland’s zone
Calipari needed to know Oakland was going to play throw some zone at his staff. As a substitute of getting ready them for a novel protection, it felt just like the Wildcats gamers had no thought what they had been doing with the ball.
Freshman guards Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham struggled to even get photographs up for the primary half of the sport. Kentucky’s massive males supplied nearly nothing on the within. If it wasn’t for a heroic effort from Antonio Reeves (27 factors on 11-of-18 capturing), the Wildcats might have been blown out.
Will simply usually say that Cal’s lack of plan for find out how to get Rob/Reed into advantageous locations towards the zone that everybody knew Oakland was going to return in and play feels…regarding.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 22, 2024
Kentucky averages about 90 factors per sport. They fell woefully in need of that towards Oakland. One staff seemed ready to play, and one didn’t.
The lights had been too shiny for Reed Sheppard
Sheppard wasn’t simply arguably Kentucky’s finest participant as a freshman — he might have been the most effective freshman within the nation. The son of two former Kentucky basketball legends, Sheppard picked the worst doable time to play his worst sport of the season.
Sheppard completed with three factors on 1-of-5 capturing with two turnovers and three private fouls. He made so many unhealthy performs down the stretch, together with throwing the ball away for a turnover, and fouling a three-point shooter on protection. As he missed a deep three with Kentucky’s season on the road late in regulation, Sheppard’s nightmare sport had absolutely turn into a actuality.
Sheppard was projected because the No. 1 general NBA draft choose this June by some shops. We had him within the top-10. Will probably be fascinating to see if he considers coming again to high school now. That is no approach to exit.
John Calipari isn’t dwelling this loss down
Calipari signed a lifetime contract at Kentucky in 2019. He’s solely gained one match sport since, and likewise missed the sphere of 68 altogether again in 2021.
Calipari misplaced to No. 15 seed St. Peter’s within the first spherical of the NCAA match solely two years in the past, however that staff by no means felt as gifted as this one. This staff had two stud future NBA guards with Sheppard and Dillingham. It had some nice veterans like Reeves. It had a transparent path to the Remaining 4 with a comparatively simple draw via the bracket. Now their postseason run is over earlier than it ever actually started.
This feels just like the worst loss Calipari has ever endured. It’s the kind of L somebody doesn’t simply bounce again from. It’s all the time an extended offseason after you lose within the NCAA match, however this one goes to be significantly painful for coach Cal and Kentucky.
