Quickley helps KY get by Florida at Rupp Arena
By Leo McKay
Kentucky’s defense holds Florida to 59 and Quickley’s late second half surge hitting three, three point shots in a row help kentucky beat Florida at Rupp 65 to 59.
At times you could feel the building shake from the cheering crowd of 20,489 and then late in the game Florida made and run, turned up the defense and pulled the game within 2 points with only 17 seconds left in the game. I don’t know about the rest of the fans in Rupp and watching at home, but I began to have chest pains was looking for shot of good ole KY bourbon or a nitro glycerin pill. I could hear other media and fans saying “Get the ball in bounds, get it to Quickley”. Wow, the fan in me was coming out and I almost shouted set a pick and get the ball in play. Coach Cal addressed the problem with getting the ball in bounds is his fault and he is going to have to work up some new in bounds plays. A friend of mine and a reporter for LSN (Limestone sports Network) Brock Gilligan wanted me to share a few ideas with Coach Cal. He advised that it’s not rocket science on getting the ball in bounds and who to get the ball to late in the game and who can get to the foul line and make free throws. First set a pick and either get the ball to seven foot tall Nick Richards, throw it high and it’s almost unstoppable. Second get the ball to Quickley who is shooting 91.5% from the free throw line. Makes sense to me, I hope Coach Cal is reading this and listening… Coach Calapari has always said he has 4.5 million coaches giving advice to him in Kentucky alone. All I know is, we need some work on the inbounds play or I will have to bring a flask to games…
Q. Coach, Tyrese Maxey was three rebounds away from three assists away from a triple double. What area specifically has he improved on since he first came to campus us earlier this year?
JOHN CALIPARI: Nick Richards was four rebounds, a point, and ten assists away from that triple double, too. (Laughter.)
No, I think Tyrese is capable of that. I mean, he should be a triple double, because if he makes easy passes you’re not going to turn it over, and they’re assists because these guys can play.
The second thing is I’ve seen him rebound and do that stuff. Now go get it. You know, he’s doing it. And making those two free throws, folks, that’s first time this year he’s done that. Listen, he’s either missed or gone one of two; he’s not made two. Believe me, I’m watching every game.
He made them this game. Big step for him. Because you got to — demonstrated performance is what builds your confidence, not me saying you’re the greatest or what are you doing? It doesn’t matter if you build your own confidence and you have through hard work, through the grind, and then you get on the court and you perform.
Demonstrated performance.
On a good note Kentucky shot 100% from the free throw line, 47.2% from the field and 33.3% from the 3 point line. Quickley was the high scorer with 26, 22 coming in the second half.
Kentucky is 22-5 this year and in first place in the SEC, they have won six games in a row. There next match up comes on the road at Texas A&M Tuesday at 7pm.
