The Kentucky Wildcats lived on the sting all season. John Calipari’s staff was electrical offensively, however appeared to consider protection was optionally available because the begin of the yr. Not like most of Calipari’s finest groups, these Wildcats lacked a dominant huge man and sometimes obtained beat up on the boards. When their exterior pictures had been falling, Kentucky appeared 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 one among 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 stylish Ultimate 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 fireplace all season.
Kentucky solely has one NCAA event win within the final 4 years, however this one goes to outlive as one thing even larger. With the South Area seemingly vast open, it felt like UK obtained a straightforward draw to no 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 working off screens and splashing threes at an unstoppable fee. Kentucky’s protection merely couldn’t follow him.
Gohlke solely took eight two-point pictures all yr. 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 pictures up for the primary half of the sport. Kentucky’s huge 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 could have been blown out.
Will simply typically say that Cal’s lack of plan for easy methods to 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 staff appeared 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 could 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 recreation of the season.
Sheppard completed with three factors on 1-of-5 capturing with two turnovers and three private fouls. For a participant who was so glorious all season, he ended up having nearly zero affect on the sport. As he missed a deep three with Kentucky’s season on the road late in regulation, Sheppard’s nightmare recreation had absolutely grow to be 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 strategy to exit.
John Calipari is rarely dwelling 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 staff by no means felt as proficient as this one. This staff had two stud future NBA guards with Sheppard and Rob Dillingham. It had some nice veterans like Reeves. It had a transparent path to the Ultimate 4 with a comparatively straightforward draw by 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.
