2019-2020 Kentucky @ LSU (Game 26)

what's in the way it's been a quart a year with more blemishes than a middle school class picture that includes both teams tonight Kentucky's November loss to Evansville hangs over these Wildcats like that blue moon and Elvis croon dibalan in LSU the Tigers lost to Vanderbilt whose Commodores righted the ship to snap a 26 game conference losing streak so here we are Baton Rouge on Super Tuesday Kentucky and LSU hoping not to stub a toe this is a Super Tuesday sonic blockbuster and tonight the SEC a battle for first place we're at the Meritage Center and tonight Kentucky comes calling to take on an LSU team then all of a sudden two weeks kill found itself two games clear of the field and that looks up at the Wildcats who are in sole possession of first place Kentucky baby playing its best basketball of the season they're 10 and 2 over 9 and 3 LSU 9 and 3 Florida 9 and 4 Mississippi State and South Carolina both out of the NCAA tournament according to Lunardi but both on the rise we have Jay Bilas Carl Ravitz Marty Smith you already heard him stub his toe ellis used up that still in the last three games kentucky's playing really well what a huge opportunity tonight for both SEC Championship implications just like last year when these two teams played and it's a team that both teams can really score and attack the paint off the dribble with playmakers and they can really get to the free-throw line with that being said let's take a look at tonight's sonic blockbuster and let's take a look at the play makers first for LSU Mays the outstanding guard that scored over 1500 points the point guard javante smart and trend in Watford all of them big-time scorers in Aston Higgins one of the best defenders in the country and best assistant Tyrese Maxie a big-time scorer especially in big games and Emmanuel quickly has taken over the scoring lead for Kentucky their best three-point shooter and by far their best free-throw shooter credit for our tip of our sonic blockbuster matchup you'll see the size advantage Nick Richards has over anybody wearing an LSU uniform Emmett Williams will jump he's 66 Doug Simon's will throw the ball it's controlled by Hagen's in Kentucky in their blue LSU of their home whites Nick Richards is going to be a huge piece in this game can't Kentucky get the ball inside to him let him go to work they do initially he's quickly double-teamed Hagen's try to throw the alley to Montgomery it ends up in the hands of Richards in traffic Montgomery there to pick up the offensive rebound Richards drew so much attention that opened up the offensive glass for Montgomery it's big for him to start off well Connor Mesa Player of the Year candidates he's number four Williams days in Watford in the front four shot missed offensive rebound Montgomery with the block they're by Darius days take a look at the Kentucky lineup JP you meant to the three guards they're terrific Hagen's Maxie and quickly Montgomery will be spelled by Sistina mate Sistina and Keon Brooks will see Johnny juice ain't coming off the bench as well Brendan Watford's news about six nine is guarding Ashton Higgins that way he doesn't have to really go out and cover Higgins he can be a a help defender that just plays center field in the middle of the lane Maxie kept it alive fan the shot by Hagen's no good so a couple of three-point shots off for Hagen's and maxeen neither one of these teams a great three-point shooting team well Darius days we've got that first offensive rebound that's the penetration by Javonte smart and the play making ability and what a finish by Williams that gets the crowd into this game early and as you would expect it's a huge crowd there used to championship type play here having just won a football crown when Emmet Williams was not guarding Richards out on the perimeter he's got to set a ball screen out there Hagen's richards kicks it around keeps it alive poor on the shot clock montgomery finger roll vise played by AJ Montgomery's let Montgomery see the ball go through the basket a couple of times and now he's a much more confident player he's the type of player you can't allow to get going Hagen's terrific offenders Avante smart soft-touch off the window and even against the defender ravi as good as ashton Hagen smart can put his head down he's so strong he's got some long legs but a bad path by Hagen no thought that Watford it turned his panty had not megasis that trouble with turnovers the last five games in fact been up and down in the last five the kentucky players already looking each other go what are you doing top drive days in the middle and LSU will make a living on the offensive glass smart three too strong he's been off most of the year with that career they expected big things for them against LSU all five guys have to go to the glass Marty Smith is with us martini good evening gentlemen today had shoot around for Kentucky John Calipari told me that as it pertains to his team's performance potential he felt like they maxed out three weeks ago inter Super Tuesday two weeks ago when Mississippi State came calling in Lexington and EJ Montgomery had a breakthrough night the next game against Tennessee guard Johnny Jews hanging had a break tonight and suddenly Calipari said hey our issues aren't schematic our issues are everyone making sure they accept the role that makes us the best version of this team he did say though if one guy doesn't do that it kills us we've already seen Montgomery really acted tonight active good shot there by Tyrese Maxie absorbing contact couple games ago J that's what John Calipari said you've seen the growth and Maxie's ability to absorb the contact and play through it and there he made the basket just a ball screen and Darius days had to switch can't keep up with him Maxie was smart to go right into his chest to draw the foul and complete the play and both these teams are a B shoot a ton of free throws he up is about 25 free throws a game in Sec play so whichever team is able to get to the free throw line more often they both knocked down a high percentage that's going to be a Hispanic they're trying to take advantage of Montgomery working in the lane that's blocked and they're gonna get a foul it's getting a paint touch-friendly Watford is such a good driver he's an outstanding offensive player just a freshman but he even though he's got 21 double figure games and he's averaging 14 15 points a game he leads LSU in turnovers and Kentucky's got to go after him when he puts the ball on the deck younger brother of Christian Watford of course had a huge shot for Indiana a few years ago against this Kentucky program I was back in 2012 as we see trend in watford shooting these free-throws it's interesting guys he struggled mightily to begin the season so what coach will wait started to do was demand of him after every single practice to make 22 of 25 at one goal and if he didn't do that they moved to another goal with that same goal wage stood there he stands there he rebounds for Watford passes the ball back to him in if he doesn't go 22 of 25 they do it again that's an interesting free-throw routine he does a little rocker step and then steps forward to the line with a really wide stance till two to one three-quarter court pressure here Kentucky should beat this to score quickly has a wide open three units in the air ball just to cap that Marty story Watford only had a shoot at one basket today so he made the 22 of the 25 he didn't have to go to the other end to shoot 25 more will every practice and shoot around will Wade stands there with just the two of them and he watches him do it and you put this bit of better Road a three-point shoot does it at home in fact Kentucky's been much better on the road shooting the three Jen at home and they've launched three of them in a fist all of them today what produces his body and quickly tries to run with Hagen's nice job by Montgomery to make him take a tough job good hands by Watford it deflects off Maxie and it goes out of bounds second turnover for Kentucky Kentucky going a little bit too fast that was one take an easy shot fake and then go nade Sistina comes into the game he's one point shy of 1,000 for his career many of those most of them came at Bucknell who had transfer here at kentucky Sistina is a good shooter he hadn't hit a three since January he's off of Watford gave him a wide-open three will pick and pop and Watford cannot only hit that shot but he can put it on the deck and drive it from there [Applause] Tayler 14 in the game he's at the top of the key is Sistina that ball was deflected and Nick Richards picked it off the rim and threw it down anytime that Nick Richards defender goes to block a shot all you're doing is opening up the offensive glass terrific you're better off not coming over from the weak side lesson know you have it because that's asking a lot that apart and rotate down sometimes when you think shot blocking is a strength if you don't get it it becomes a weakness because it opens up the offensive glass Sistina one-on-one of the post against Watford Williams tries to come over and Javonte smart can't get down there to block out Richards almost like a pass Richards having an amazing year 94 feet with LSU Skylar maze tell me about your major oh I'm a pre-med canuse major can you speak English can East meets what Canadians just kind of like physical therefore someone who can easy ology yeah so you gonna be you want to be a doctor yeah that's the plan now how many siblings do you have I have seven siblings where do you fall on that list third oldest and what was a meal like at your house it started to get repetitive but my mom does a great job my parents in the best you have any pregame superstitions no just get your work done and you stick to your strengths favorite player growing up Chris Paul 94 feet I love when they say favorite player growing up and it's a guy that's like 27 and still flying yeah exactly what a what a smart young man he is he changed his major from biology to kinesiology and he said when he did that he lost he lost 30 hours which is the equivalent of two cement yeah yeah but he made it up in no time with summer school and all that but just a dedicated student and what a terrific terrific young man having a terrific year too on the court as well as in the classroom one of 10 candidates for the Jerry West shooting guard of the Year award and they scored over 23 in each of his last three games had 30 against alternates nine eight Kentucky over LSU ten and two Wildcats nine and three Tigers tied with Auburn in second place at nine and Tilly in the SEC your job I made starting that pin down that they tried to get from Maxie that was being run for Tyrese Max's Sistina just barreled into the defender and sent him to the floor that's an offensive foul with position by Marlon Taylor is a six five senior yet offseason foot surgery so he didn't play on that trip they took the Spain that he had 13 points 10 rebounds against Ole Miss he's just trying to get back to a hundred percent where he can be consistent with that kind of performance every game Jamar 'ln Taylor back from an injury Charles Manning played 16 minutes he's back from an injury and not a lot of depth on this LSU team man he gets on a good defender but he's trying to get his Lakes back as well missing so many games smart gun held up in the air nice rebound and it's a block by Richards how about that Reba that's a big three and they need that from him [Applause] Manning is a de lockdown defender but he knocks down the three first one of the game for either team right before he got hurt he got hurt against Texas A&M that the game before against Mississippi State he put up 15 points and he's a capable scorer quickly top shot and got the benefit of a late foul maybe on Emmett Williams but that was somewhat out of control and wild Kansas and Baylor Saturday noon Eastern Time that's another sonic blockbuster this one will have a huge impact like this one does on the SEC on the big 12 title JB the game day crew will be there what do you got on that game well Baylor is the real thing and Kansas is playing as well as any team in the country right now Baylor beat Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse which is no small feat so they're gonna try to protect their home board in Waco but both Kansas and Baylor are expected to be number one seeds and I'm not sure that the loser of this particular game falls off the one line the one team I think they can get up to the one line is Duke and lots going to depend obviously Gonzaga plays BYU in Provo coming up that's gonna be a huge game for BYU I think they need to run the table to stay on the one line at San Diego State needs on the table preseason will wait played the Baylor team and as he self-deprecating he said you know I left that preseason game it was really I thought Baylor be lekha forth the chips plays team to dig Club tugged um am i well they lost the game i I saw him in in Alaska they lost to Washington now Washington was full strength at the time had a green is going to play Kentucky up became ineligible at Washington what a move I've got foul that's a beautiful move by Marla Taylor just one step and gone and you just can't allow middle drive their second foul on EJ Montgomery and you're seeing here just in the last two trips down J having Manning back makes three Taylor back drives and is going to go to the free-throw line valuable minutes and with Nick Richards out of the game LSU is going to be even more resolute to get the ball to the cop they want to get to the rim [Music] here comes kion brooks calipari told us earlier today you got montgomery you got kion brooks you got Johnny juicing and you get Nate Sistina of those four is Marty sort of started to allude to it I need two of them to play really well I need two of them otherwise we're really playing for guys yeah or or at least just don't just don't hurt us he's saying he's sort of the players taking the Hippocratic oath with the basketball do no harm tough one for Brooks right into the game and off the bench and he shoots and misses Schuyler Mesut all right dish on the baseline they rushed it worried about a block shot let's go up quickly that's gonna be a goaltend on Taylor they're gonna go up and try to block everything and rebound everything they can jump through the roof my manual quickly has been outstanding in Sec games yep he's averaging close to 18 points in Sec play shooting about 43 percent from three even though he struggled last couple of games and he's getting the free throw line about seven times a game to see games that's a big numbers he's good defensively theorem this is a technical matchup between in Emmaus two big bodies here Sistina days just worked his way in but he gets called for the steps [Applause] boy the first to look for LSU your point to about quickly getting a free throw line who doesn't miss when he gets to his shoots almost 92 percent from stripe and he's been great on the road averaging almost eighteen and a half the game [Applause] another job to keep that ball alive who keeps us Tina from getting that Kentucky's a pretty good rebounding team they go after it with two hands but they've got to have Richards on before that's a block from behind by Higgins that's why he is a prime candidate for national Defensive Player of the Year quickly kick corner no good task quickly kept clapping his hands he wanted it and he buries it Bacon's made that play with that little ball fake gave a little ball fake that opened up the drive through the defense and then he's able to kick it to ball side corner one thing Rabi you cannot do is you cannot help off ball side corner Watford swatted by Sistina fourth block of the game for Kentucky May's steps into a three no good [Music] [Applause] how about that block a couple plays ago by Ashton Hagen's he makes more basket saving plays whether it's a block a steal you name it you can turn around plays in a hurry yep that know where he is all the time like a free safety Christina in traffic they're gonna get Manny who came down and got him on the hand Higgens average is close to seven assists a game now that little ball fake got Watford to move got into the lane and drew the defense everybody in the lane and quickly makes them pay great shot great play by Higgins ESPN's exclusive presentation of college basketball presented by progressive insurance gets slam dunk savings today visit progressive.com free throws coming up for Kentucky and they try to build on their biggest lead early they're up by four the one versus three one of the biggest games in the big 12 in recent memory game day we'll be there and he'll be rocking the house waiting for that one to start new east an early start little breakfast in basketball depending on where you're watching it 1612 year what are the Blue Bloods in college basketball Kentucky leading by four and you talked a little blueblood you think about Kansas and their duo of Dodson and Madoka as a Pookie the bookies play great lately well he's leading the nation in field goal percentage and I think he's got a few more attempts to go and he'll be the all-time leading field goal percentage shooter in NCAA history passing taco fall Steve Johnson of Oregon State Fame but Devon Dotson is having a spectacular year just came off a twenty nine point game last night against Iowa State he'd not been shooting the free ball well but he certainly did last night against the Cyclones and it's gonna be hard to find a better guards our great guards in this game but I'm not sure anybody's brothers have on dots on her has been timeout Nick Richards misses the baseline jumper see the game Jared butler going of course Baylor that's a sonic blockbuster that's Saturday noon eastern time back here 1612 May's been so good lately finally drives and he prints the steal well days did a really nice job of twisting that ball screen they thought initially he was going to set it those bring maize to his left and he switched to bring it to his right and that opened up mains to his left Hagen's found a lane and he lays it in the big body of Sestito don't clear the way well when you're not gonna guard Ashton Higgins that means he can get downhill a little bit easier on it and take up that space just a smart play by Higgins was drive four blocks kick wide open three no good and how about that effort by Emmett Williams left oh that's just pursuing the ball because Emanuel quickly at the inside track to that ball took it away from days to the hole finger roll Richard Scott ending my days to get that up quickly rather than try to take it in dunk it or get it off the glass is just a little finger roll but got it up quickly almost like it was a floater and Richards was so close to the basket it is going to be automatically all the way down [Music] [Applause] after taken stakes let's break Maxie will run the point Johnny's using in the game as well number 10 who's running Maxie off of all kinds of screens now a high ball screen bad pass and that's a turnover Calipari quickly looks to Hagen all he had to do is throw it back to Richard's let him convey it it wasn't a bad idea to get the shake action try to find Jews Hank it was just a bad pass but the easier path just throw the easy pass to Richard's maze we're gonna have something Paul it's going to be an offensive foul on Skyler Mays the drive before this calipari looked at his defenders and said if we just did still we would have gotten a charge on that day's Drive at this time Maxie did plant his feet and drew the charge yeah the drive there just it didn't make the the defense move they're playing against a set defense you're gonna drive it against that you can drive right into traffic it's made by hit rippers back back now he's gonna come up again quickly floaters to strong Sistina we got a hit gonna kick Richards went up like a volleyball player picks it out of the sky 14 on the clock three no good and they're gonna get Nate Sistina with a push or a walk first foul Sistina across the arm well he was going up now it costs st no foul right one Sistina got that rebound he went up and watchword got him right on the arm [Music] amazing you were talking about Nick Richards setting screens and then moving and coming out to set a high screen how much how much work he does on every offensive trip sometimes never notice that you you of course picked it up but when he works a lot on the offense that's something he never touches the ball it works really hard and then sounds like a head order on the White Sea days carry the ball through the line like that he had to carry through like a running back yeah it's so much different to play a big guy role in today's game college basketball because you're out setting ball screens you know it used to be you know you ran down the floor got low post position maybe you'd set a cross screen or down screen or something and then defensively now you're guarding all these ball screens he's guarding all over the night or and then you have to get back and protect the rim so it's always it's a lot easier as a big guy to pick up a foul now than it was 25 30 years ago Hagen's into the paint bumped bangs who's that off stays with Kentucky not true but it stays with Big Blue Nation NBA players get a couple more days off for the all-star break and then the playoff push will start ESPN's Friday night doubleheader okay CEO pitch and the Nuggets take on Paul and the thunders and Zion and the pelicans battle the Blazers says the shot from juicing is missed Maxie's Lakes gave out from underneath when they threw up an air ball our coverage starts NBA countdown 7:00 Eastern on ESPN and the app another block for Richards five in the game for Kentucky's high-arcing three Falls and that's the second of the game for Charles Manning what a play by Williams got his shot block did not quit on the play and wound up getting it out that's how it got the offensive rebound and that would gives you a wide open three as a result good pastor richards who hits a little jump hook in the lane Nick Richards is he's not drawing at his opponent but he wanted to let him know that there's going to be more of that coming he's got a look on his face that he's ready for a fight in a good way he's ready to the fight the right way on the basketball court to make plays the coach has made it quite clear to Nick this morning during their shooter on whoever is guarding you is going to be six six and no taller as the three from Watford Goes Down and you're 611 all of a sudden LSU the Tigers hitting their fries and Wofford is so versatile on the offensive end [Applause] it's beyond Brookes block from behind that's Manning it'll go on a balance off LSU but how about the activity from Charles Manning in his second game back [Applause] 2220 ESPN's exclusive presentation of college basketball is presented by Progressive Insurance get slam-dunk savings today and in part by the car hop classic only it's Sonic they have a classic brewing here I think what drives me is my world to win I don't like losing I like doing whatever it takes to win the game she's rebounding scoring guard the best player whatever it takes I want to win again my goal is here to win a national championship and just get better in the day building relationships my friends need coaches freshmen on a Garland Texas Tyrese Maxie putting in a heck of a lot of effort trying to win college basketball highest individual honor the Wendy's wooden watch tonight he plays so hard and he's doing such a better job over the last 15 games or so playing through contact an excellent driver especially to his right but he's finding a lot of resistance getting to the basket now and he's got to be able to make those plays through contact doing a much better job of it holds own look one three one right now for LSU out of the timeout take it to the max e3 no good Brooks battles for it tries to keep it alive and it's off the foot scholar man so you look at the NBA mock drafts ESPN doesn't actually is like number six yeah well there's still a long way to go this is not a great draft year which may chase a few players out thinking that they got to go now they'll be drafted higher maxie certainly has a lot of ability to play arrivee you better get them as glass in this game both teams are getting a ton of offensive rebounds and I'm sure both hope is the same you got to keep them off the offensive glass the message is probably the same in both Huddle's you got to get all five all five guys for the defensive glass ten for Kentucky seven offensive rebounds for LSU in this launch ALS you've got ten second chance points we gotta start putting Nick Richards and some ball strands move him around a little bit getting away from the basket [Music] that falstaff luck gets the turnover [Music] got water they walk on Brooks didn't get it in the rebound LSU to tuck pass Hagen's presented the Brooks there it he was either ready for it or were so close to him yeah that's on Hagen's forgiven that ball out to a big guy in a position where he can't really do much with it man he's really given some excellent minutes thus far Drive no good Richard's got whacked in the face when he grabbed that rebound that he cleared it yeah Brooks leaves he did on the other end but Kentucky is so good in transition they get out and run it's for about 30% of their points in transition we've got so many playmakers from the guard spot see all their points coming in the paint 16 only one three-pointer tonight that's a tough shot over the stretched arms of Keyon Brooks javante smart with the sophomores days physical and has such strong legs changes speeds really Wells last five games he's played really well for the walk defense that time down smart this this wasn't just going a thousand miles an hour just a little one-two step at the end and Kentucky didn't do a bad job of making him take it difficult - going away from the rim with just a really good offensive play by javante smart not to getting a lot of minutes two of the last three games to play forty is Nick Richards John Calipari get into a little discussion on the sidelines you know I will wait and taken smart out he's just too valuable days can shoot the three not that time there is day shoot 50% to three and this is not a small sample side to take it over 200 is the tough shot by Maxie and one it was a difficult to in transition against the set defense foul there that's a flush [Applause] LSU is sticking with it rally and their plan to the end of place the question is can they keep it up and can they continue the defensive intensity Sistina hasn't done that in three games attempts of three and he can't get it to go in fact he's made one in his last five games unless you've got to keep attaching the pain off the furball [Music] I'm not sure that was the shot even though it Devante smart can make that you take a bad one and it leads to a layup on the other end it's remarkable how that works it is used to having having great success attacking the paint so keep going at what's successful and then if you draw the defense pick it out for an open shot that's a lot different Macy's the lane ping Google can't get it to go he'll go to the free-throw line and shoot two or he's a good free-throw shooter said days was a good three-point shooter I gave him a little too much credit each it's about 28% not 50% big time rebound and they are going half to the ball and not settling excellent job our exclusive presentation of college basketball brought to you by wendy's try a big bacon classic today the SEC on ESPN back after this hi guys thank you very much look forward to the halftime report coming up still 3:12 to go here this is the SEC on ESPN Marty Smith Jay Bilas karl ryebeck Super Tuesday and a sonic blockbuster what's it like to go Blockbuster to blockbuster you're gonna have a game at noon which is a while you're just living in the blockbuster world it's a lot of tops baby a lot of sonic pop Marty Smith what do you have in every single huddle tonight gentlemen I think John Calipari has implored his young men to try to contain the dribble drives he said in this huddle just a moment ago on these ball screens that LSU continues to set force them into that ball screen so that you can have help on the other side and try to contain that dribble drive it's killing Kentucky right now when Skyler Mays and his teammates go the rim well Skyler Mays has been refusing he refused to double drag got all the way to the to the rim and at least when you force your guy into the ball handler into the screen then the the screeners defender knows exactly what to do but it can really screw you up if you let him go either way same with cutters he got a force a cutter one way you can't let the cutter make up his mind you got to make up his mind for him mace is going to get called for the foul they push on Johnny Tuesday that's his second and one number four to another Richards in the slow start tonight but it feels like in most games Kentucky start slow and maybe Richards does and he ends up around 18 and you know 12 rebounds yeah the difference in Nick Richards this year if he does get off to a slow start he doesn't let that get to him in the second half yes big second half they got the ball I was a set play to get the ball right into Richards got inside position he let it get to feet in the paint and it's all over he's such a good finisher especially this year he's matured so well to flex that ol giant Jews ain't could have had it didn't beep touch that richard has had [Music] put these quick hands choosing ahead of the field he finds him and he waited a little too long and it's Givat day smarter comes out of the field with the basketball he just took it right away from Sistina [Applause] Richards block back Sistina picked it up when Richards has like four blocks already and he's blocking and changing everything when he's around the rim so tough to get it over him team has seven blocks tonight Kentucky they're the same play trying to give it into Richards duizhang launches of three bodies are flying everywhere jiae's is open in the corner look out Jobar didn't do that once this year for LSU that definitely sailed Richards just a little duck in right into the chest of Emmett Williams and he catch it with two feet in the paint it's all over and smart tries to go over him with the jump hook or the running hook and he's able to pick it right out of the air that's the way shots are supposed to be blocked out of the air and he has had just a great junior season 611 with a seven-foot v wingspan Richard just matured the way it's sort of old school there's a high-low he's got to get the ball right there he was wide open that was a mistake by quickly watch out he recovers from the state by coming from behind to steal the basketball kentucky's gonna call a timeout here with 52 to go down by two where he's being told right now give him the ball give him the ball will give you a 30-second timeout come back after this soon as we're done here Sports Center kennyman John Anderson Rachel Nichols interview with the Grizzlies rookie phenom John Moran Plus live in Vegas for Beyonce wilder and Tyson Fury's arrival Mel time for juniors mock draft 2.0 baseball sign stealing LeBron James and Aaron judge chimed in today Sports Center is right on ESPN as soon as we are done in the course on the ESPN app you get a plate coming out of the break here well I don't know exactly what they're gonna do but you have to think that John Calipari wants to get Tyrese Maxie started a little bit and going inside to Nick Richards he should have gotten the ball the last time down so if you can get it inside great I think Maxie's got to get going and guarded by Taylor right now one of six in the game Hagen's 105 62 105 there's a pin down for Maxie there it is we've got on the shot they wanted just didn't make it Hagen's launches a three right online and it buries it gives Sistina credit for the offensive rebound it is just remarkable Ravi anytime there's an offensive rebound that is the best time to shoot a 3 because LSU's thinking about grabbing the defensive board and going the other way they are not thinking about playing more defense now you can get a step in three if you are smart and kick it back out that's a big-time play by Sistina [Music] coming out of that last time out Kentucky was given a delay warning they weren't ready to get on the floor Jimmy yeah the official officials came over to tell us what has just happened to lay a game warning for not getting a huddle fast enough too bad there's no delay of game warning for I love to call some technicals on replay review too long yeah this game last year led us to even more replay because of the tip in its buzzer the missed basket interference last-second opportunity here for LSU down one got a little not only guard the initial shot but the offensive rebound get going those good offensive rebound days that'll do it no foul called on the floor Kentucky will have a one-point lead 29:28 Marty Smith corralling John Calipari coach how do you assess that first half before crazy thing about this game the interesting thing is the whole point of it is to put the ball in that basket up there and when you miss heavy shot and you're up one I'm whistling and skipping going in and half done got to make shots that's two games I mean gods wide open nobody near a guy you mention it's okay part of this they're not robots they're not machines but at some point you've done this your whole life Thank You coach now there were two of 22 from three last game there 2 of 10 in this one and 12 a 38th overall 31% it looked like he was skipping [Music] this is Super Tuesday presented by progressive [Applause] [Music] [Applause] they just told coach Powell's at LSU win [Applause] dokin going to win the SEC title last year all part of our sonic blockbuster history tonight Big Blue Nation Kentucky goes to the purple and gold of LSU it has been a close competitive basketball game it has not been a game in which you've seen very many shots go in a total of 22 by both teams 12 for Kentucky and 10 for LSU Marty Smith in a moment Jay Bilas here well you tell me bad offense good defense what is it a little bit of both I mean I think John Calipari was right there have been some open shots missed but most everything else has been contested but the real battle has been on the offensive glass that when the the first shot is taken that's when the fight has begun and there have been 21 offensive rebounds in this game 11th for Kentucky 10 for LSU both teams have scored 10 points off those offensive rebound chances and you had better be strong and going after that ball and with two hands and the difference in the game really is gonna be rebounding and Nick Richards got off to a good start on the glass was blocking shots EJ Montgomery with the stick back all five guys have to get to the defensive glass to be able to to end the defensive possession not all American spotlight the McDonald's all-americans quickly 7 Richard 6 maxi three Mary's maxime 1 of 7 from the floors we're ready for the second half of our sonic blockbuster matchup scholar Mayes ranks to the whole Richard sets off the backboard school tending Marty's folks Calipari who had a walk-off which was great what did will wait tell you I didn't have the opportunity to talk to will wait at halftime Ravi and he said we have to be more physical we have to hit him low and established that physicality we have to finish in the paint and we have to take care of the ball ain't turnovers in the first half that's far too many we want to win a game against the team of this caliber various days couldn't run as you said tour coach oh he can also do the hurdles if they need him to do that one thing I think we'll Wade has to be fairly pleased with us the defensive effort his team put on the first half is a team that's been given up 90 points a game over his last five teams with scoring on LSU at will and they've just been out scoring folks if they win a game Hagen's 3 he's open and he knocks that one down right in front of the bench Calipari gives a fist bump that's big for Ashton Higgins his last six games coming into this one he's only averaging 8 points a game 5 assists and 4 turnovers Williams they're going to get Montgomery with touch foul it's gonna be Montgomery's third watch pals Perry's reaction to the three really good screen by EJ Montgomery that freed up Ashton Higgins to take his time and John Calipari with a little fist bump there to celebrate Ashton Hagen's not going to shot down just anybody not gonna shot down he always says Calipari is really funny always says look you don't have to make them all but you can't miss them all the two of 22 from three-point land on Saturday now there are 3 of 10 3 of 11 in this game huge game in the SEC with Kentucky on top at 10:00 and 2:00 LSU in awkward sitting there at nine and three to get Alabama at six and six you get a South Carolina team that's playing a lot better big game with Mississippi State tomorrow night is able to see Mississippi State South Carolina Alabama A&M tomorrow night on the SEC network and cajoled and Artie's bracketology Alabama and Mississippi State were the first four outline so Carolina's gaining some steam to just opportunities at the free-throw line one of the things Jeff said is going to be a huge factor in this game how to shoot the free-throw line I did that with ton of free throws in the first test my guess is you can see these teams attack the paint even more in the second there it is pretty move with Nick Richards in that dunk spot along the short corner if you help up Manuel quickly just lobs it up to the rim otherwise he's out got one-on-one coverage all the way to the basket and he took advantage of it he's got a pretty good job of defending against that you see that four or five six times a game for Kentucky haven't seen it with him I think one time tonight they get numbers here about the pass to Maxie Chucky's came away with nothing on that lawns up taking a jump shot instead of getting all the way to the rim Skylar mace says see you later Sestito with a block call Maxie gets it to go on a block he'll go to the free-throw line really difficult first there he stays to stay in front of Tyreese Maxie with that little Euro step that one - that's a ton of contact they're going up at Sistina gets all ball on the block and it is awfully difficult try to back up he wound up backing up into the restricted arc that never really was able to get set smart play by Tyreese Maxie they take it all the way to the bucket put the officials at a decision score of mentality huh Tyreese Maxie's one of seven he just charges to the rim you could never tell from the body language in his face if he's having a one for seven night and they get their largest lead of the game by seven well they know quickly Maxie they know they've got the green lights as long as they're taking good shots that Kentucky has to have them aggressive to score I just don't want to settle past download and at Williams Maxie may have hurt himself by quickly I should say right in front of a puppet right in front of the LSU cheerleaders about the cheerleader exhibition at halftime those are cheerleaders they're athletes were unbelievable and speaking to that Dwayne Peavy who works at Kentucky also has worked with the SEC Office his daughter Kaitlin Peavy is having her high school cheerleading senior night at Lexington Catholic High School Dwayne's here wants to be there yep I don't know why he should have faked an injury stay at home to watch Kaitlyn her can either go cheerleader at Lexington Catholic Williams free-throw first one it's good it's just me on me right there the right knee just on the inside of it yeah [Music] Williams an 80% free-throw shooter as quickly gets that knee looked at and knocks down the second one versus two two one reporter torque pressuring that's gonna set a screen to open it up to get a advantage situation on the back side Johnny juice egg finds the bottom of the net wide open good pass from Maxie to fight him for a three for that screen that was set by Nate Sistina all the way at the opposite free throw line kentucky calls that a smack we're gonna run smack and that really opened it up to get a three on two that's really what basketball is about just hitting advantage situation Skylar maze answers with a three of his own he's got nine this is where Mays Watford smart they've got to take over on the offensive end Maxine nearly got that thing to spin in but numbers for LSU maxi's got a cell that tall there was contact there watch which was wide open on that slip baseline days wraps his arm around Maxine they'll call follow-on Tyrese Maxie after Nate Sistina set this Oh here's the he sets a screen here ball screen and that allows Ashton Hagen's to get through the middle and they get an advantage scramble situation Jiu Zang with the corner three that was just really well done to break that pressure by Kentucky to leave Watford alone he's three is way off the mark but a foul here Tech they're gonna get Johnny juicing as he got his body on various days if you think early telling the official that's like calling holding thirty yards right behind to play on in a football game how did the football team here do by the way you keep asking that huh what would you what is your memory of that I wasn't paying attention memory was that was one of the Flex action that's one of the best football teams I've ever seen Bentley was when the best quarterback seizures history go borrow beep talking about on SportsCenter Z came out talked about leverage three-point game quickly back in the game so the D appears to be okay as he tried to set himself up in the corner style of maze will get called where this out-of-bounds play there's a little screen here this is called flex action and the flex action gets them wide open for trend and Watford it's a play they call Turpin and they call it turf because that's what Gary Williams used to run a lot of flex after roaming Maryland coach no foul on Mays on that trip down I just out of bounds off LSU Maxie floater in and out Richards paddles for it keeps it alive look out collision from two Kentucky players can't tie your own guys jeans are planned so hard quickly blow-by wanna play by a manual quickly it's a little in-and-out move that guy's got some shake to his game I think just he does when you've got players that can go get a bucket when you need it Kentucky's got two of them and I think LSU's got three we're just looking at guys that are a few players on the floor that can make better plays offensively than the defense can stop that was just a heck of an individual play by Mays falling another one by quickly no good quickly harder to the floor we'll have some free throws for the second time in the last couple of minutes Emanuel quickly is slow to get up 15 straight game for quickly in double figures he's got 11 we'll take a timeout ESPN's exclusive presentation of college basketball is brought to you by wendy's try a big bacon classic today [Music] welcome back to Super Tuesday he Manuel quickly has been an offensive burst here for the Kentucky Wildcats he is a great energetic player but his greatest contribution will one the head coach John Calipari is the fact that he's Kentucky's attitude and by that I mean he's willing to be held accountable and hold his teammates accountable Calipari told me recently that they need that if they want to take that next championship step hold one another accountable don't make the coaches do it you guys do it and he said to one guy on the roster who has no qualms telling anybody what he thinks is he manual quickly well Marty quickly has played so well since the Louisville game he only got started in Louisville game defensively when he tried to Jordan Mora and really was was the first player this year to shut aura down he's been shut down the last couple games actually shut himself down quickly plays on both ends of the and he struggled shooting at the last couple games he's eight of 27 from the field in his last two coming into this one he just doesn't quit never hangs his head just keeps playing through it and he never stops playing defense he's guarding Skyler Mae straight up in this one gets over the screen forces a tough shot makes the tough shot his man is good offense let's quickly go over that ball screen got back in front and force them to take a tough to it maze made us quickly is a +9 when he's on the floor tonight nobody else is in a higher plus category than quickly triple-teamed is Richards that will stay with Kentucky [Applause] watch quickly comes a side ball screen he gets over it gets into maze put his forearm right into him and then got right back in front the maze just made a good offense there's that James Harden quickly watches a lot of a lot of film of NBA players to see how they get fouled because he shoots 92 percent from the free-throw line if your arm is out he's gonna go right into it now watch the arms out it's a little hand check and he goes right into the hand check just a really smart play did that - three times against barber the officials didn't buy that it was a shot attempt harden gets that call well that is a shot attempt I don't know how they if you're going to call it a foul it's got to be a shot maxi's open and kentucky shoot-'em-up better in the second half pagans found him the key officials gives up on the floor that makes no sense that's so ridiculous almost like they don't like making the call so they're gonna call it on the floor that's just a bad call if you're gonna get the foul you got to give it the appropriate way he was shooting pagans moves to maze dunk down [Applause] Williams wound up to throw it down and Kentucky wouldn't allow it well Williams use that off arm in order to shield off the defender and that's honestly an offensive foul the officials dismissed it I think they'll call this one the act of shooting dammit Williams six six to twenty five out of Fort Myers Florida trying to throw it through Nick Richards he misses the free throw Saturday noon Eastern ESPN the app as well Baylor at Kansas one versus three at the Ferrell Center it's sonic blockbuster big time impact on the big 12 Kansas playing really well Baylor getting more votes than anybody for number one a lot of people including will way it's a San Diego State can't score again they just make life miserable the San Diego State from talking about sending us at Vail nope San Diego State is really good defensively but they can score and Malachi Flynn is an NBA player will two-three zone now LSU just really good getting the ball in the middle immediately out too quickly that's just good offense against the zone simple but collapse anytime the ball goes in the middle man you got a fan out the best shooter offensive foul Emmett Williams but how big has quickly become as far as their offense goes he's got 16 in this game seize the replay on but a TV monitor that hangs above this floor that only Jay Bilas has a bigger monitor in his house this thing is enormous above center if I was at this game as a spectator I think I would just watch the big screen that's fantastic I'm gonna get Richards on the illegal screen here's the offensive foul I'm not sure I see that let's not somebody fell down they call a charge I still think they need to change the charge signal the official should not be able to use the air punch there's the look at that screen the only thing that would be better if our pictures were on it this one you thought our heads couldn't get any bigger they're kinda 50 by 80 screams just what so don't you think the charge signal needs to change no more air punch they should just have to get in downward-facing dog or something see charges they wouldn't be called enforcement days the offensive rebound good tonight he is such a good offensive rebounder Darius days it's only six six and he gets almost three offensive boards a game the big body under the basket he's got a second third jump Kentucky 404 from three second half shooting 70% in this half and now a SS in his Aegon's knocks that down what a different tap for Kentucky offensively the Caston Hagen's was back he playing with a lot more confidence looking for his job oh my goodness javante smart the playmakers are starting to play rabi the playmakers are starting to play both teams shot 31% in the first half Kentucky's at 72 and now let's use it 63 in the second half against being guarded by Watford [Applause] watford Hagen's will go to the free-throw line and he will say with him an 81% free throw shooting percentage last two games kentucky second half for or for the previous three halves they missed 28 so this is better a lot better this looks good on a big screen small screen any screen if here a fan of the Kentucky Wildcats four threes four threes made Sixpoint game 1129 to go to the SEC on ESPN in the blockbuster let's appreciate that LSU as the SEC on ESPN home team goes stack we had a fan cam and finally we got kind of fed up with it said forget we're done we're not shooting us let's move on Hagen's 80% free-throw shooter misses the lead stays six well the good news for Ashlyn higgins he's knocking shots in being guarded by Trenton whoppers we've been playing off of them and instead of just conveying the ball setting screens Hagen's is going after the opening said that these fans provided a little two-three zone right now for Kentucky got to be able to drive the caps of this screen it overload it but you have to get into gas can't just windshield wiper to round the perimeter smart try to get in the gaps he sees Taylor on the baseline now open for a three can't get it to go I'm gonna keep it right here foul on a manual quickly maybe speaks to the athleticism of a guy like Marlon Taylor they're very aggressive offensively and they're causing some problems for Kentucky's defense now Taylor looks so much better we talked about the fact that he had an injury over the summer but he's such an explosive athlete and he looks like in this game he's got his Lakes firmly on him because he's made some really positive plays against Kentucky throws the shorts up perhaps a way to show how strong those legs are we watched some old footage of Kentucky LSU games and said on the SEC network earlier today knows on ESPN not ESPN no it wasn't on the big net but it was they showed some old LSU's Kentucky games and Betsy Travis forward in a Kentucky uniforms Sutton back when he brought he played guard for his dad Eddie Sutton who was one of the finalists for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame he brought it up because the shorts that the way that Taylor wears in this sort of the way that everybody had to wear them back then in the 80s there's Dale Brown sitting next to his buried actor Jim Caviezel Jay Bilas his new best friend I didn't know that Caviezel was a he's played high school basketball on the state of Washington played against Quin Snyder with the George ravans basketball camp the first three in February for Nate Sistina first in five games and Kentucky's three-point shooting his opened up their largest lead of the night with nine they have been great from three-point land second house Kayla will try his own that's a two and they will look at it that was a big bucket for LSU against that zone [Applause] lSU has to yeah they have to be able to answer this and that includes getting stopped GJ Montgomery camped out in the paint and they're gonna call Emmett Williams for grabbing him yeah Williams got the second file the first foul now the officials say they're supposed to call this you rap if the offensive player wraps his arms around the defensive player that's supposed to be a foul and if you're gonna let that happen then you gotta let the defender fight him so that was the they call the second foul [Applause] it is Williams second foul EJ Montgomery had the first four points of the game for Kentucky and he hasn't scored since Megan gets it to him and he'll have a chance to add to it and an air ball but Sistina with Hiro on the shotgun counted for quickly we will look at that as well well what a great play to save that ball by Nate sestina to get it to quickly it's just a question where they got it off before the shot clock went to zero air ball and then what a fantastic play I don't think he got that off it looked like it was still in his hands when I went 2-0 it was awfully close you know that was he didn't get it off so just a question of how long it takes the officials to figure this out [Applause] so they went to look for two things whether that was a basket and then that called down the other end on the tailor shot and the sign of that was a two so that was a two-for-one for the officials well the the SCC does a better job of replay than any other League because they have collaborative replays so they go to they go to Birmingham Alabama there's somebody there to help them was the replay it is much more efficient usually replay can be a nightmare but not in this Lou Williams volleyball Dick's as he left it on the way up offensive rebound no good they continue to battle days misses it and Kentucky comes away with it where that first exchange for the foul is just one call that was his final to contact Maxie plays throw it gets it to go with big difference in tyrese max down be able to finish that play earlier in the season he probably wouldn't have done that [Applause] [Music] and it Williams picks up his third Tyreese Maxie has an advantage on javante smart goes right in his body there was no legal guarding position that was a foul just one uncalled it's a smart play to create that contact against a defender that wasn't legal that was really good job by cyrus maxine in transition 856 to go and dear point LS you need some stops down by nine Maxie with eleven in the game so much positive movement by quickly and maxie they they don't just stand they move so you got to chase them around if you get if you get into a chase mode when you're trailing them they're gonna cut you up loader for Maxie no good days pulls it down get out left javante smart bounce past the hands of push wait there to intercept it just tried to get a little bit too cute now an advantage situation for Kentucky's pagans watch that and he threw it away I see your I see your dumb play and I raise you [Applause] that was one where Kentucky could have stretched this thing out now LSU gets a score here this game takes on a little bit of a different complexion with a nice finds a cutting Wofford and he gets it to go with the soft touch but you really have to stay down on face what a turnaround because of that turnover by Ashton Higgins now John Calipari wants to talk it over [Applause] seven point game Kentucky a game ahead of LSU in the standing sleet it 58-51 you're watching the SEC on ESPN Super Tuesday presented by progressive very aggressive game take a look at LSU now getting the ball and watch this offensive rebound days brings it down maxi rakes right across his arm as he's going up and there's no call down I mean it's remarkable you've got to be very strong with the ball the officials need to see that I mean with all that contact underneath I mean you can't work that hard and not be rewarded when you're going up with a shot but it just shows how strong you have to be in this game to complete a play because this is a very physical contest that has been from the opening tap Kentucky 7 to 15 in three-point land 5 for 5 in the second half and on the bricks she will play John Calipari tries to design looked like he wanted to get it to Richards oh they got two he's got days off Davis 6 6 [Applause] actually launched it and that's going to be a foot race lose it off the flipping went off Hagen's foot this is you said and Hagen's is limping off the floor and he's kind of banged up a lot of bodies on the floor tonight ESPN's exclusive presentation of college basketball is presented by 4s of insurance get slam-dunk savings today visit progressive.com and apart by Zaxby's hand Britta chicken and fresh ingredients made to order only at Zaxby's disco game so far tonight Kentucky up by 7 nice ball scrum that guy wanted and Hagen's felt the pain of it well Higgins had inside position for this ball and he you see he gets fouled like there's no question about it who's dismissed now some might tell you in defense of the official that there was no possession therefore it's incidental contact that's not the incidental that's about that needed to be called they addressed Higgins left leg injury but certainly you saw him come back onto the court and it looks like he's kind of in that quad area he's banged up a little bit maybe Schuyler maze has some blood on his uniform or if you quickly put some blood on his uniform something so Hagen's is gonna have to come out of the game as you try to go and he's in some serious pain well fortunately Kentucky's got other point guards out there [Music] good pass stays open three hi are Curt no good Nick Richard sort of fell asleep a little bit there he's got a wide open shot thank you pagans by the way to the locker room we'll keep an eye on that party get an update both Maxie and quickly have played point in their high school careers days just pushed Nick Richards from behind by the way Richards you have to go into Richards when he's got this matchup they're trying to isolate him inside but you have to it's easy to say but hard to do you have to break contact and get around in front to try to discourage that pass you get austin wiley for Auburn but Nick richer's presents unique problems for Kentucky [Applause] in this conference in them in the waterways in the country they allow kion Brooks to step in yeah just wasn't well administered [Applause] Richard's free-throw good he certainly improved in that that's the first point of the second half for Nick Richards a totally different team in the second half for Kentucky from the perimeter seven of ten and they've hit all five of their three-point attempts [Applause] now let's see with the ball down 8 conference champion last year one seed in the tournament with six games to go you got a handful the teams still trying to win the SEC regular season title Watford from behind the ball was nearly blocked he goes back up then he'll get fouled and go to the free-throw line you got hit the first time didn't get called but made sure he got fouled the second time kept the ball alive and where the offensive glass has been such a big factor in this game so hard to get a box out with these quick athletes that go after the ball that have second and third jump capabilities freshman Trenton Watford out of Birmingham Alabama not very unique free-throw shooting style this is the first what for another McDonald's all-american when he grabs a defensive rebound he's so skilled he can just rip and run and take it on his own last eight games he's been in double digits and that free-throw gets him to panting this game trouble with full-court pressure again little one two one one [Applause] [Music] lucky does have a unique advantage of having literally three guys that can handle the ball maxi quickly and pagans who went to the locker room to get that quad checked I'm gonna get a foul riches we'll go back to the free-throw reach-in from Marlin tailored to the problem with Higgins out of the game is now you don't have both maxi and quickly running off screens you only got one of them French so it cuts your offensive weapons essentially in half as far as your your cutters but it certainly has made them more resolute to get the ball inside the Nick Richardson Richards has been really active trying to get position down low he's been really hard to guard the last five minutes seven points in the game for Nick Richards [Music] the players that have improved Richards dramatically quickly pneumatically this year Calipari says you can argue there are other point guards better than you got to show me who they are well he's one of the best if not the best but I would still say Devon Dotson Richard Richard Soph their trade Jones at suits I would put up there Malachi Flynn of San Diego State we're lucky we've got a fiction a great crop of really good point guards nationwide and then the SEC got some - now that we're loose chain Eurus Alabama is a big time point guard jayvon Atomics on a great job in Auburn Sistina that one is another three that he drops down and Calipari whacks his assistant coach on the leg as they see knew this was II know I'm not sure that LSU was particularly concerned about Kentucky's 3-point shooting and Kentucky only makes four and a half threes a game on average they're gonna burn you in the paint and off the dribble with their mid-range games but they've done in the second half from the three-point line six and six he knocks down his third they made seven I don't think we'll wait very happy that was a four foot stomp timeout he was all over the place mad gotta believe he said you got to get out on number one if he's hot and he certainly has become very hot from free a little ghost screen and you can't come off a ball side corner shooter you just can't do it you're not doing any good on the drive and that's to that the freshman Watford gives up the Sistina look in his defense Sistina couldn't hit water if he fell out of the boat the last three games but he's still a really good shooter and he was great against Ohio State earlier in the year the pick and pop ability went over a thousand points for his career in this game then yep he needed one coming yep and tonight made sistemas get 11 again he had not attempted a three in his last three games and in his last five had made just one came here as a good three-point shooter didn't have a three in February before tonight and now he's feeling it and all of a sudden this because of the three-point shooting in the second half 15-point 15-point game that's a lot of stops to ask your defense to get especially as a defense in LSU that hasn't gotten a lot of stops of late Williams can't get it to go he went after it hard though and he was able to pick up an offensive rebound nick richards fell asleep at the wheel and they're gonna get richards there for fouling taylor when i talk about quick to the ball Emmit williams explosive quickness Sistina a big story in this game that there certainly is another story the Ashton Higgins leg injury he has gone to the locker room here to hurt that left leg left quad area try to come back in a good and Sistina out of the game everybody's like all right man that's that's what we need out of you yeah just make every three but what a positive contribution on both ends and he's dead sisty they've done a really nice job in the glass as well yeah so how do they new in Eastern Time the villa strain will be and Baelor they host number three Kansas the Farrell center of a sonic blockbuster of course the big 12 title is up for grabs so the number one seed perhaps in the country in the tournament they may still both stay on the number one line if Kansas wins that game but I think they both can you know my goal is to see another great game and also to see if chip and Joanna Gaines will redo our bathroom for 20,000 bucks never watch a fixer-upper fantastic I've watched many a fixer-upper but how they can redo a bathroom over and I'll never know don't they get like those companies to sort of get some free ads at the end of it and that allows them to kind of gratis new stuff they get you they're paying for all that stuff I have no idea but when they give those quotes I'm like man I'm moving to Waco ring on the way Manning said a very good games he's gonna eat gonna really help LSU a good defender adds a different dimension athletic and he could knock down a perimeter shot he's knocked out three of them in this game but it's been few and far between right now Kentucky going to be smart use of clock here because they've got a with double-digit lead they don't have to be in any hurry Richards open walk out this is - did he just roll this ankle when he came down after that dunk I think he said he's okay but boy that scared him and he came down awkwardly on that right ankle on the same night that Hagen's is currently in the locker room dealing with a left leg injury just at the end of a clock they go with the high ball screen and nobody picks him up and Richard slams at hole we upped on the ball ouch [Music] let's hope that's not serious that would be awful [Music] crazy thing about this game the interesting thing is the whole point of it is to put the ball in that basket up there and when you miss heavy shot and you're up one I'm whistling and skipping going in and after 30% they shot in the first half-hour Capital One rewarding performance is how they about-face to the second half Kentucky shooting 73% overall and a hundred percent from three-point land they are seven of seven in the second half but 14 point lead with 347 to go as I pull away further from LSU in the conference as Calipari likes to say you don't have to make them all but you can't miss them all but I won't complain if you make them all and in the second half Kentucky has made them all from three-point range really what a shooting exhibition and even with Ashton Hagen's out of the ball game there aren't many teams that can boast a perimeter like quickly Maxie and Hagan [Applause] quickly and it's an 11-point game Marty listened in of the huddle from Kentucky Marty in a year when Kentucky struggled a bit to close out games they've been inconsistent in that department Calipari just told his young men how well are you gonna close out this game without your point dog you know they're gonna press make sure you space well and be patient let's close this thing out Maxie no Sistina can't grab it not the shot that Kentucky wanted Wow what a block DJ Montgomery from behind euro-step and montgomery knocked it off the continent the left-hander blocking it with his left hand javante smart never saw the Grich Ertz ankle okay Hagen's has yet to return to the bench Kentucky picks up their ninth block of this game big trip for LSU every trip is a big trip but three minutes to go you get it to ten or nine with a three now there's still plenty of time left in the game to mount a comeback Tyler maze again the time he took quickly to the hole really strong move right into the chest of quickly by Skylar maze and he is a player Maxo tried to dribble through three guys and succeeds yeah Brooks slid his left foot there but his right foot was a pivot point so it wasn't a walk it's tattling down low with days that was a good job by days to break contact get around this front quickly lease it is the dais is right there but he was worried about humping up on quickly because it would lead to a just a quick lob to Richards days and a quick timeout from Holzem within nine how will they close this game out quickly 20 points on 7 of 12 shooting just a little pick and pop to get days open you don't even have to set the screen you just run to the spot that's awfully difficult for Nick Richards the guard but the question is can you and he gets tops here LSU needs to get stopped in lost of Andy 9990 you look at these scores there was a six point six game stretch in which they won by an average of three points never by more than four so they have been involved in all sorts of close games I can see over in the corner Ashton Hagen's is slowly making his way back to the Kentucky bench walking gingerly a very Kentucky bench that's a huge blow to Kentucky not only in this game I mean if they had Ashton Higgins then you've got Maxie and quickly able to just look for their offense instead of worrying about getting the ball up but he's got ice on his step on his thigh there now it's about ball security can't turn it over if you're Kentucky got to get a shot every time down chance to get to the free-throw line the value of a second point guard and Maxie Richards was wide open they didn't see him that didn't need it they ate the clock as their friend still want to take the clock down to under 10 ice cream from Richards maxi eggs what up it gets it to go what a shot from Maxine will you talk about slippery and crafty Wow javante smart will go but how about maxi with 13 quickly with 20 high ball screen goes right after the secondary defender and Euro steps past him and is able to get that on the other side of the bucket that's just a big-time offensive play by Tyrese Maxine you know we started the game ran be talking about playmakers yep and that's what we've seen in this game Skylar Mays has been a playmaker we've seen Maxine and quickly be playmaker Ashton Higgins when he was in made plays you're not gonna see that many games that boasts arts that can make plays for themselves like in this ball game my makers have played in fact it's been the guards that have really hurt LSU and the SEC now you're looking at some really good ones even Lee of course he's got a fit from jr. here's a turnover Sistina Oh with a block without Ian McCormick for Auburn had 49 points and tonight these guys Maxie and quickly you're doing it Nate Sistina cannot catch the ball and put it over his head and let a trap come to him that's exactly what he did on that last play caught it along the sideline and then just put it right over his head where he couldn't make a play watch this the ball comes in and then he puts it right over his head and then throws it away I mean that's how you get that's how you get beat on the road and he's played so well it's just you know when you when you put it over your head like that you've got no chance of making a positive player really the worst you want if you're Kentucky is you get fouled go to the free-throw line where Taylor makes him both will press again again no Ashton Higgins a big ice pack on his left leg Sistina but another turnover Hagen's looks like he's ready to rip that ice bag off of this leg Johnny's Jews ain't gonna come into the ballgame get Sistina out just get another ball handle even though he's a freshman [Applause] Montgomery takes Sistina out Brooks jr. out for juicing gotta get to the rim smart yeah he's got Richards on them open free it's a five-point game [Applause] they go back into the press and this is where not having Hagen's is playing a big factor three on the shot clock double-team quickly to Richard's foot pass him quickly to Richard's and a beautiful cut by Richards to get to the front of the rim that's a game saving play by a manual quickly and give Nick Richards great credit for having the presence of mind to get to the rim he doesn't just stand when his man goes to to get the steal gets to the front of the rim and gets the bucket great execution at the end of a clock that was a huge play foul on Richards that's the last thing you want to dip in this situation is put LSU on the line where they get to score with no time coming off the clock and set up a press gentlemen the official word from the Kentucky staff is a five contusion on this play that you see right here and he will not return you know to drive either way it looks like Taylor's need may have gotten into that thigh quad area of Ashton Hagen's may very well be a bad charley horse that he's got there but he's out there each day is a good free throw shooter she was about 78% [Music] he shoots a football great rotation on he's got a terrific stroke double-double four days his eighth of the season 12 points 11 rebounds he here for Kentucky if he makes this as inbound the ball cleanly [Applause] if what Williams in take days out this gives them a quicker better defender using can run the baseline let's have to think about fouling hey there it is maxi will go to the free-throw line he's an 82% free-throw shooter wild stuffs on the last three Tuesday's in the SEC Missouri was down by 20 and won all the schools on the Left were down double digits and won the game Kentucky led this one by 15 so it's now but Tuesday and on LSU to overcome the double-digit deficit this is where Kentucky is a different team this year yeah you know they knock free-throws down at just about 80% cliff as a team that's 5th in the country their car especially their guards get fouled at the end of the game you can count on them usually to knock their free-throws down Skylar maze to the right threw it up with his left hand couldn't get it to go I think it's off Kentucky it'll stay LSU basketball amazed thought he's gonna get a foul because quickly had his hands on him so I think he figured okay well I'll get a foul call and just went in and threw that thing up six-point deficit 26 to go Taylor and Manning and Mays three-point shooters are on the floor Mays right into Richards tough shot Richards to flex it out and LSU gets the basket Nick Richards through that one deflected out to LSU what a play by Manning LSU really attacking the basket that shows the presence of Richards to be able to go straight up and block that shot but Manning right there and fearless Lee goes back to the basket to get it off the glass Manning the really good games really been a big lift both defensively and with his offense go double figures with 11 points boy how big is the offensive glass been in this game both teams really generate a great deal of offense off their own top 22 offensive rebounds for LSU that's incredible 24 second chance points for the Tigers again a huge game in the SEC as far as the standings go Kentucky 10 in to battle plan tomorrow LSU's 9 in 3 Florida with a win tonight Mississippi State and South Carolina play tomorrow night Alabama in action tomorrow night A&M in action tomorrow night both on the SEC network at 7:00 and 9:00 Eastern a lot of work to do for Alabama Tennessee I think still Mississippi State if they want to make the field Kentucky playing the last couple of minutes without Ashton Hagen's that left leg injury look like a charley horse he's been a big ice pack on so they've been doing this without him the last six minutes that's a four-point ball game they inbounds it to Richards quickly is a terrific free-throw shooter and he's got a foul breaks the press with 12 seconds to go left way to out way too long 15 seconds came off the clock they couldn't get to Richard's fast enough and Richards did a great job to get the ball out of that corner but Schuyler may have an opportunity to foul quickly on the sideline didn't do it it's way too much time to come off now you got a you foul a 90% free-throw shooter so the top five or six in the country you have to hope he misses for a for tonight earlier in the season he was closing his eyes before he shot down it he stopped doing that I don't know exactly when that young man has got ice water in his veins money on a team that has Maxie and Richards and Hagen's quickness becomes the go-to guy and here's another night in which he's going to end up with 20-plus points he's got 21 now so sixth time this year he's gone for 20 or more he does it on the road they miss one five point game Taylor launches a free no good rebound as the shot clock and game clock are down two point three man Kentucky is gonna end up winning this ballgame long inbounds picked off but that'll do it Kentucky comes into Baton Rouge and walks away with a three point win our final score 79-76 Kentucky boosts two games ahead of LSU in the SEC party Smith Jay Bilas Mike Ireland and Scott Matthews at our truck i'm karl ryebeck saying so long time for SportsCenter all right Thank You men I hope to have God on my side but I must have Kentucky big blue Road dog in Baton Rouge a winner improved 11 and 2 now in the SEC s must SEC basketball right there

Channel: O__BALL__O

Views: 13,632

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Id: v4v2LHi81Fg

Length: 96min 46sec (5806 seconds)

Published: Sat Jun 20 2020