Kentucky's Total Team Effort in Florida Win Positive Sign for Final Stretch of Regular Season
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky is trending upward as it moves into the home stretch of the 2022-23 regular season.
With eight games left before the SEC Tournament, the Wildcats are tied for fourth place in the conference standings with a 7-3 record, with six of those wins coming in succession after the diabolical defeat to South Carolina on Jan. 10.
Much has changed for UK since that low point inside Rupp Arena. Team chemistry has visibly improved, offensive and defensive tenacity is much more visible, overall the Cats have learned how to stack wins while still not playing the best basketball that Big Blue Nation has ever laid its eyes on.
That was encapsulated in Kentucky's latest win over the weekend, a 72-67 victory at home against Florida. The Cats held the lead for almost all 40 minutes of the game, but the Gators never wavered, keeping things close-knit right until the end.
The boxscore wouldn't suggest that UK played like a team that was ready to make a run in the NCAA Tournament, but all that mattered was the final score, seeing it come out on top in a game that very easily could've went the other way.
More on what the win over the Gators could mean HERE.
Saturday showcased a team win, as all eight players who saw the floor for the Cats did some damage. In the eyes of associate coach Orlando Antigua, it showcased how multiple players have formed into their roles, creating a much better product than what was seen just a month ago.
It was freshman guard Cason Wallace stepping up to the plate late in the win, as he collected 11 of UK's final 19 points, including a clutch 3-pointer and the final two free throws needed to ice the game.
He scored 20 points while adding three assists, three blocks, two rebounds and a steal. What's impressed Antigua more than Wallace's ability to stuff a stat sheet, is his increased vocal leadership as a youngster.
"Early on in the season, he wouldn't say a lot, he would just listen, like good leaders do. As he's gotten comfortable in terms of his own role on the team — being able to communicate and talk with their teammates and share his leadership — it has been something that this team has needed," Antigua said. "He's stepping up, he's maturing and that's part of his growth."
The other freshman that's continued to improve in ways you don't see in a stat-line is forward Chris Livingston. Despite just playing 19 minutes on Saturday, he was all over the floor, diving after loose balls and making those hustle plays that energize the rest of the team from the get-go.
He also contributed four points in succession in the second half, keeping Kentucky's lead steady down the stretch.
"That was huge for our team," Antigua said of Livingston's hustle. "He kept a lot of those 50-50 balls that wound up going our way — he was in the middle of. He was involved with. He was the first one to the floor. That just sets a tone, particularly in the first minutes of the game, it just sets a tone on terms of how we want to play. Some of that stuff doesn't get into the stat sheet, but when we sit and we watch the film, we understand how valuable that is to our team."
Someone who has fed off of that energy and used it to improve his own game as of late is Jacob Toppin. The veteran forward attacked the basket and the glass at will against the Gators, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds, his third double-double in the last six games.
Across those six outings, the Brooklyn native is adding 14.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists-per-game, a much-needed jolt for on offense that has struggled throughout a majority of the year.
"Jacob is such a good player and he's got so many levels to his game. We need all levels of his game to be on point. He's playing a lot of minutes, so he's got to mix it up, he's got to continue to rebound, continue to produce and attack the basket," Antigua said. "I think he's finally falling into a great rhythm in terms of what is expected of him and what he's capable of. He's capable of so much more."
Out on the perimeter, shooting guard CJ Fredrick returned to form, scoring 12 points, cashing in on three 3-pointers. It was his first game playing without a finger splint that he had to wear on his shooting hand due to a dislocation he suffered in UK's loss to Missouri on Dec. 28.
In seven games with the splint, the Iowa transfer shot 25.6 percent from deep. He notched a combined two points in UK's loss to Kansas and win over Ole Miss, the latter of which saw him play just 19 minutes.
While making shots appears to be the end-all be-all for Fredrick, Antigua sees so much more importance to his game — and his role — for the Wildcats.
"CJ's great. Everybody's expectation of CJ — and CJ's expectation — is obviously to be this knockdown shooter. But what CJ brings to our team is so much more than just being a shooter," Antigua explained. "The way he moves the ball, his defensive IQ, his passing ability, all those things as a basketball player — he's a really good basketball player. When he's making shots, it makes him that much more dangerous."
More on Fredrick taking on a leadership role HERE.
All of these performances helped propel Kentucky to a necessary win over a Florida team that entered Rupp Arena fresh off its biggest win of the season — a home victory over the second-ranked Tennessee Volunteers.
What makes the overall team performance that much more vital, however, is that it came on a night where the Cats' two main workhorses weren't as reliable.
Center Oscar Tshiebwe was held mortal by UF's Colin Castleton and the Gators' defense, as he shot 2-14, finishing the game with four points, though he still acquired 15 rebounds.
Shooting guard Antonio Reeves had emerged as a vital piece to UK's offense, yet he also finished with four points while taking just five shots, playing only 19 minutes. Head coach John Calipari chalked it up to poor defense from the Illinois State transfer.
"It's a testament to the team when two of your main leading scorers don't reach their averages, but it gives an opportunity for other guys to step up," Antigua said. "I thought as a team, collectively, we showed what we needed to show to get the win."
With Tshiebwe on the bench having fouled out late in the second half, it was sophomore Daimion Collins who entered the game and made a pair of free throws in crunch time. He also added a rebound and a steal that nearly led to a roof-blowing dunk on the other end in just five minutes of playing time.
It's the second game in a row that the 6-foot-9 specimen has provided a big spark in little time on-court. After the game, Calipari eluded that more PT was coming his way as a result.
Antigua touched on what Collins is bringing to the table, now that he's getting his long-awaited chance to shine.
"Daimion's coming in and giving us great energy, lively body, quick hands, his athleticism, just his presence in the minutes that he gets the chance to play has been great for our team, obviously understanding everything that he's been through this year. I think that's been really uplifting for Daimion and for our team as well."
More on Collins and his growing relationship with Oscar Tshiebwe HERE.
Slowly but surely, Kentucky appears to be morphing into the well-oiled machine that it aimed to be before SEC play began. As the postseason nears, more and more pieces to the puzzle are falling in place.
Better late than never.
Kentucky is still unranked in the new AP Poll. More HERE.
Cason Wallace earns third SEC Freshman of the Week Award. More HERE.
More on the win over the Gators HERE.
WATCH: Cason Wallace, CJ Fredrick, Jacob Toppin speak after win.
WATCH: Mike Pratt's jersey retirement ceremony
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