Thanks to a quick turnaround, John Calipari’s No. 4 ranked Kentucky Wildcats quickly erased Tuesday’s double-overtime loss to Michigan State by dominating South Carolina State with a convincing 106-63 win.
Kentucky’s 106 points was the first time this season the Wildcats reached the century mark, and most since their 107-79 win over Tennessee on January 15.
The Wildcats (3-1) had balanced scoring Thursday – five Wildcats scored in double figures and all 11 scholarship players netted at least six points. The last time UK had five players in double figures was Feb. 5, 2022, when TyTy Washington Jr. (15), Keion Brooks Jr. (10), Kellan Grady (10), Oscar Tshiebwe (10) and Daimion Collins (10) accomplished the feat at Alabama.
Kentucky shot a season-high 57.4 percent from the field, making 39 of 68 while winning the rebound margin, 48-28. The Wildcats had 25 assists tonight and has had at least 20 in all three victories this season.
“This is the great thing about November, trying to learn about your team and I still am learning about my team,” Calipari said.
“But I like the group. I liked them after Michigan State,” he added. “Missed some shots. Did some stuff. Had some — we had not practiced together. How about Oscar, he didn’t play for four weeks. Played one practice and did that? Supposed to be out two more weeks if you’re a normal human being, it’s six weeks. He came back in four.”
CJ Fredrick led the way with a game-high 17 points and a career-high four steals. Freshman Chris Livingston had 13 points, his first double-figure game as a Wildcat. Freshman Cason Wallace had 12 points, his third double-figure game of the season.
Lance Ware had a career-high 12 points, making all six field-goal attempts while Antonio Reevestossed in 11 points, his third double-figure game of the season.
Sahvir Wheeler had six points and a game-high 10 assists and is averaging 9.7 for the season, and in his second game back after recovering from a knee injury and surgery, Oscar Tshiebwe was given only 14 minutes and totaled six points and game-high-tying seven rebounds.
It ended a streak of 17 consecutive double-doubles for Tshiebwe, including the final 16 games of last season.
Daimion Collins tied Tshiebwe for game rebounding honors with seven and added six points.
Fredrick scored Kentucky’s first six points with a pair of threes – a 3-pointer on the game’s first possession, followed by a basket-and-one a couple of minutes later, as the Wildcats never trailed, although the game was tied once at 3 apiece.
Ahead 32-22, the Wildcats took control with a 13-0 run, marking the largest lead of the half at 45-22.
Ten Wildcats scored in the first half, and led by Fredrick’s 11 points, Kentucky went to intermission ahead 49-30.
The Wildcats stretched their lead to as many as 47 points (106-59) in the second half.
