The Kentucky Wildcats went head-to-head against UNC Wilmington on Saturday afternoon.
A significant event took place inside Rupp Arena as the new floor was finally installed, and Aaron Bradshaw made his much-anticipated Kentucky debut.
Due to an injury, DJ Wagner was unable to play, resulting in Reed Sheppard making his first career start.
Kentucky faced a slow start and struggled to convert easy opportunities, leading to Calipari calling a timeout with a 13-4 deficit at the 15-minute mark.
The team continued to struggle offensively and had a higher turnover rate than in any previous game this season.
At the 7-minute mark, UNCW maintained a 22-17 lead.
Unfortunately, despite the timeout, UNCW extended their lead to 32-22 with under 4 minutes remaining in the first half.
Although Kentucky showed signs of life towards the end of the half, they still trailed 41-33 at halftime.
The second half saw the Cats making a strong comeback, taking a 48-46 lead after a Reed Sheppard three.
Sheppard’s impact continued with another three, putting the Cats ahead 55-49 with just under 13 minutes remaining.
UNCW fought back, closing the gap to 56-55 with two and-one conversions and two free throws.
At the under-8 timeout, the Cats found themselves trailing 62-56.
With a little over 5 minutes left, the Cats reduced the deficit to 64-62 and fought hard to secure a win.
Unfortunately, the Cats fell short, as UNCW emerged victorious with an 80-73 win.
Here are six key takeaways from the loss.
Kentucky debuts new floor in Rupp Arena
Kentucky recently unveiled a new floor inside Rupp Arena, replacing the old floor adorned with giant blue stickers.
Following the conclusion of home volleyball games and the volleyball team’s advancement to the Elite 8, the new floor was finally installed.
Check out some stunning pictures of the revamped Rupp Arena floor.
Aaron Bradshaw makes Kentucky debut/ DJ Wagner out with injury
After a long wait, Bradshaw made his debut for the BBN, scoring his first points as a Wildcat in the game.
However, his high school teammate DJ Wagner was sidelined due to an injury suffered in a previous game.
Bradshaw’s debut performance included 3 points, 2 rebounds, and a block.
Wagner’s absence was felt as Kentucky struggled and experienced significant turnovers during the game.
Kentucky looked young on Saturday
Unlike previous games, Kentucky’s young players appeared to be still adjusting to the college game, displaying signs of inexperience on the court.
Hopefully, the team regroups and rebounds in their next game.
Miami game hangover?
Following a dominant performance against No. 8 Miami, the Cats seemed to struggle, falling behind in the game, missing easy shots, and committing numerous turnovers.
Could the team have been impacted by the aftermath of their big win over Miami?
Reed Sheppard bounces back in second half
Although Sheppard had a rough first half in his debut start, he delivered an outstanding performance in the second half, scoring 17 of his 25 points during this period.
Sheppard’s remarkable performance made him the sole consistent option for the Cats in the second half.
Kentucky caught the turnover bug
Kentucky, known for its disciplined play and low turnovers, unexpectedly accumulated 14 turnovers in the game, a departure from their usual performance.
Now, let’s discuss what just happened.
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