The Kentucky Wildcats lived on the sting all season. John Calipari’s group was electrical offensively, however appeared to imagine protection was elective because the begin of the 12 months. In contrast to most of Calipari’s finest groups, these Wildcats lacked a dominant large man and infrequently obtained beat up on the boards. When their exterior photographs have been falling, Kentucky regarded superior. However after they have been chilly, this explicit Wildcats group appeared like they may lose to anybody.
Kentucky picked the worst attainable time for one in all 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 event. The Wildcats went from a fashionable Remaining 4 choose (responsible) to a one-and-done event exit. It could be an unbelievable flip of occasions if these Wildcats hadn’t been taking part in with hearth all season.
Kentucky solely has one NCAA event win within the final 4 years, however this one goes to outlive as one thing even greater. With the South Area seemingly extensive open, it felt like UK obtained a simple draw to not less than the Elite Elite. Now, this feels just like the worst lack of the Calipari period in Lexington. It may not 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 recreation. Now, no Kentucky fan will ever overlook him.
Gohlke got here off the bench to knock down 10 three-pointers for Oakland on 20 subject purpose makes an attempt — all from behind the arc. The 6’3 senior was operating off screens and splashing threes at an unstoppable fee. 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 group. As an alternative of making ready them for a novel protection, it felt just like the Wildcats gamers had no concept what they have 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 large males offered nearly nothing on the within. If it wasn’t for a heroic effort from Antonio Reeves (27 factors on 11-of-18 taking pictures), the Wildcats might have been blown out.
Will simply typically say that Cal’s lack of plan for get Rob/Reed into advantageous locations towards the zone that everybody knew Oakland was going to come back in and play feels…regarding.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 22, 2024
Kentucky averages about 90 factors per recreation. They fell woefully in need of that towards Oakland. One group regarded ready to play, and one didn’t.
The lights have been too vivid for Reed Sheppard
Sheppard wasn’t simply arguably Kentucky’s finest participant as a freshman — he might have been the perfect freshman within the nation. The son of two former Kentucky basketball legends, Sheppard picked the worst attainable time to play his worst recreation of the season.
Sheppard completed with three factors on 1-of-5 taking pictures 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 recreation had absolutely turn into a actuality.
Sheppard was projected because the No. 1 total 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 highschool now. That is no approach to exit.
John Calipari is rarely residing this loss down
Calipari signed a lifetime contract at Kentucky in 2019. He’s solely gained one event recreation since, and in addition missed the sector of 68 altogether again in 2021.
Calipari misplaced to No. 15 seed St. Peter’s within the first spherical of the NCAA event solely two years in the past, however that group by no means felt as gifted as this one. This group 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 by way of 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 at all times an extended offseason after you lose within the NCAA event, however this one goes to be significantly painful for coach Cal and Kentucky.