Three takeaways as Kentucky basketball extends winning streak to four games vs. Albany

LEXINGTON – Kentucky basketball desires tune-up games, John Calipari insists. Following a 86-61 get over Albany the motor seems to be nearing leading form.

Freshman guard TyTy Washington led Kentucky with 20 factors. He was joined in double figures by junior ahead Keion Brooks (17), tremendous senior guard Kellan Grady (14), junior issue guard Sahvir Wheeler (15) and junior ahead Oscar Tshiebwe (12). Brooks included 8 rebounds. Wheeler contributed seven assists. Tshiebwe recorded his fourth double-double in 5 game titles with 14 rebounds.

In this article is what you need to have to know from the sport.

TyTy Washington appears to be like Kentucky’s go-to scorer

It did not take extensive for Wheeler to cement his role as the Wildcats’ principal distributor or Tshiebwe to prove he was a dominant power on the glass. Kentucky did require a pair of months to figure out which player would be the beneficiary of all those lunch-pail playing styles however.

With back-to-back 20-stage performances, Washington has gone a prolonged way to answering that problem.

The freshman guard strike 7 of 14 pictures versus Albany, converting 2 of 3 3-issue attempts. He included six rebounds and a few helps with two turnovers.

“I experience like I’m modifying really nicely and just permitting the activity come to me, just obtaining out in changeover,” Washington mentioned. “I really feel like just one of the excellent facets of my recreation is just acquiring out, beating everybody on the ground, and earning uncomplicated performs for me and my teammates. I sense like as we maintain going, my condition is only likely to get much better, and this is heading to support me and my crew.”

There will be evenings exactly where Wheeler and Tshiebwe direct Kentucky in scoring. Kentucky’s 3-point shooting experts also have the capacity to set up massive issue totals.

At this position, it would be a shock for any individual other than Washington to guide his crew in scoring at the stop of the time while.

Kentucky basketball: How United kingdom proved it was far more than Oscar Tshiebwe and Sahvir Wheeler vs. Ohio

Story continues

Foul problems a concern for Oscar Tshiebwe

Tshiebwe recorded his fifth straight double-digit rebound efficiency to open up his Kentucky occupation regardless of being confined by foul hassle for a next consecutive match.

When Tshiebwe picked up his second foul with 4:48 remaining in the very first half, he experienced currently tallied 6 points and 9 rebounds. He was whistled for a 3rd foul just 75 seconds into the next 50 percent. His fourth foul arrived at the 13:43 mark in the second 50 % shortly right after returning to the activity.

It was the fourth foul that drew the ire of John Calipari.

Given that the get started of the year, UK’s mentor has introduced a preemptive campaign to try and sway officers from contacting fouls in opposition to Tshiebwe on rebound attempts only due to the fact he is far more physical than the opponent. Replays showed tiny foul-worthy get in touch with on the enjoy, and Calipari was noticed even now arguing with officials about the phone quite a few minutes later on.

“It really is his advantage staying 255 pounds,” Calipari said before this season. “Other guys’ advantage is they are 7-foot tall. That ain’t him. You should not get away his advantage.”

Kentucky basketball: John Calipari defends Oscar Tshiebwe after Bob Huggins’ shot

Injuries give Dontaie Allen an possibility

Jacob Toppin (shoulder) and Lance Ware (ankle) ended up joined on the unavailable listing Monday by Davion Mintz (disease). With Mintz out, Kentucky was down to just 8 nutritious scholarship players to facial area the Excellent Danes.

Mintz’s absence led to a period-substantial 13 minutes for sophomore guard Dontaie Allen, who has struggled to break into the primary rotation through the 1st four online games.

Allen is most know for his taking pictures skill, but he missed all five of his 3-stage makes an attempt against Albany. However, Kentucky outscored the Fantastic Danes by 9 factors when Allen was on the court docket.

Calipari has made it crystal clear it is the non-shooting parts of Allen’s video game that will ascertain his minutes, but he simply cannot forget about who he is either. When Allen is actively playing, he has to strike photographs.

“I told him immediately after the recreation … ‘When I go to my workplace tonight, I will most likely see you in the gym taking pictures, correct?'” Calipari reported. “‘Because you are obtaining your opportunity. Now you have got to choose edge.’ We need him.”

E mail Jon Hale at [email protected] Stick to him on Twitter at @JonHale_CJ.

This posting initially appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: TyTy Washington prospects Wildcats to earn in excess of Albany