LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky has come a long way from the young team that was embarrassed by Duke in an embarrassing 30-point loss in November at the Champions Classic in Indianapolis.
The fifth ranked Cats (21-4, 11-2) showed flashes of emerging as a Final Four contender here last night, taking it to top-ranked Tennessee, 85-69, and breaking the Vols’ 19-game winning streak before 24,467 at Rupp Arena, the third largest crowd in school history.
“It shows everybody that we can still play with great teams in this league and the country,’’ Cats forward PJ Washington said.
The slimmed down 6-8, 228-pound sophomore, who scored Kentucky’s first seven points and finished with 23 points on 9 for 12 shooting, dominated the smaller Vols (23-2. 11-1) inside in this SEC showdown, constantly backing down his man in the post and to set up his lethal weapon jump hook, has now scored 20 or more points in seven of his last eight games.
“He was in our heads all game,’’ Tennessee’s more hyped 6-7 junior forward Grant Williams admitted.
Washington is one a personal mission to show he is the best player in the SEC and took a step in that direction by outplaying Williams, who finished with 16 points but only got off just four shots.
“Being a competitor, I would say, ‘Yes, I am,’’ he said when a member of the media brought the subject up. “And I think we’re the best team in the SEC.’’
Washington couldn’t have made a personal statement like that last year when his lapses in effort and his struggles at the foul line typified an under achieving Kentucky team that was eliminated by Kansas State, 61-58, in a Sweet 16 game in Atlanta.
“He’s doing some good stuff,’’ Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “I mean, you are looking at him no making shots and skilled with the ball and stuff last year he couldn’t do. Making free throws, playing sustaining effort, not floating and coming in and out. It’s conditioning.’’
And another year of development under Calipari and assistant coach Kenny Payne, who taught Washington the intricacies of the jump hook over the summer.
“What makes me happy is when I’m, hearing people call me and say, ‘Cal, he’s the most improved guy in the country,’’ Calipari said. “like he is it. And a big part of it is conditioning and toughness and focus. And when you realize there’s no easy road, that he needs to compete every day. PJ finished first in every run we do. Kenny Payne is screaming and yelling, ‘Don’t let him finish fist and guys are trying to chase him down and he isn’t letting then. Now, let me explain, he wasn’t first last year. But he wasn’t last because there was about six of them back there.’’
The only thing that rivaled Washington’s performance against the Vols was former Kentucky guard Hamidou Diallo from Oklahoma City, who won the slam dunk contest at the NBA All Star game by jumping over a standing 7-0 Shaquille O’Neal for a dunk, then hanging on the rim by his elbow, then tearing open his jersey to reveal a “Superman” shirt underneath.
“Shaq was standing straight up? Wow,’’ Calipari said. “I got to see this. Really? That’s my man.’’
This Kentucky team is coming on, like most of Calipari’s best teams do in February. The Cats (21-4, 11-2) have won 11 of their last 12 games. They responded to a controversial last second 73-71 loss to LSU at home Tuesday by playing their best game of the season. Kentucky shot 55 percent and went on a 14-0 run at the start of the second half to take a 51-31 lead. The Cats also got 19 points from 6-6 freshman wing Keldon Johnson, who shot 8 for 14 and made three 3 pointers; and 15 points and 13 rebounds from 6-6 freshman guard Tyler Herro.
They were the tougher team, beating Tennessee, 39-29, on the glass, winning the 50-50 balls and outscoring the Vols, 36-20, in the paint.
“I hit them right after the game with LSU and said, ‘Hey, that was a tough loss,’’ Calipari said. “But you know, we needed it. We needed to get back to what we were, and sometimes you’ve got to get knocked in the head to know that.’’
It was an uphill battle for Tennessee (23-2, 11-1), an experienced, well coached team who came into the game averaging 85 points and shooting 52 percent. The Vols shot 41 percent against the Cats.
“Tonight, we weren’t Tennessee tough,’’ guard Admiral Schofield said. “Kentucky was totally kicking our butt, scoring the ball, defense, everything.’’
Kentucky isn’t done with Tennessee. They have a rematch against the Vols March 2 in Knoxville and a possible third game in the SEC tournament.
