LEXINGTON, Ky. — You didn’t have to be a stats savant like Ken Pomeroy to think the Kentucky-Missouri game was a mismatch. The numbers all but mandated something like UK’s 83-56 victory in Wednesday’s Southeastern Conference opener.
Kentucky (10-2) came into the game ranked No. 50 in field-goal defense and No. 19 in 3-point defense.
Missouri (6-7) ranked 295th in field-goal offense and 348th in 3-point shooting. Only three Division I teams had shot from beyond the arc more poorly.
If that wasn’t enough numerology, Missouri had the worst NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) ranking among SEC teams at No. 235. Georgia was the second worst at No. 209. The other 12 SEC teams were in the top 128.
Mainstays Oscar Tshiebwe and Sahvir Wheeler led the way for Kentucky.
Tshiebwe posted his 10th double-double in 12 games. He scored 13 points and grabbed 20 rebounds (the fourth time he’s had 20 or more rebounds). That matched Fardaws Aimaq of Utah Valley for the Division I lead in double-doubles.
Tshiebwe came into the game ranked first in rebounds (15.5 per game) and offensive rebounds (5.82 per game).
Wheeler contributed 11 points and nine assists while committing only one turnover.
Kentucky led 44-27 at halftime. It was UK’s second-largest halftime lead so far this season, exceeded only by 51-25 advantage over Central Michigan.
Despite the margin, the first half bolstered the oft-stated maxim that basketball is a game of runs.
Kentucky had the advantage early. UK scored the game’s first seven points and twice led by 11 before the second television timeout.
Missouri called time with 17:35 left to try to blunt a Kentucky peel-out shown by an 11-2 lead.
With things clicking, Kentucky did not send in a substitute until Jacob Toppin came in for Keion Brooks at the 14:26 mark.
When it seemed it would be a seamless blowout victory for Kentucky, Missouri countered. The Tigers scored 12 straight points to take their first lead: 18-17 with 12:16 left.
A pair of 3-pointers from a team that came into the game ranked 348th in Division I in shooting accuracy from beyond the arc fueled the mini-run.
This time, Kentucky called timeout with 12:15 left to try to change the game’s momentum.
The change wasn’t immediate, but it came. With the lead at 21-20, Kentucky outscored Missouri 21-2 in less than six minutes to take a 42-22 lead.
Six different UK players contributed to the run. It was capped when Brooks tapped a loose ball ahead that Washington retrieved and converted with a fast-break layup.
Kentucky ended the first half in style. Wheeler drew the defense on a drive and then fed Brooks for a dunk with 5.1 seconds left.
Missouri made only 12 of 35 shots in the half.
Kentucky defended without fouling. The Cats’ first foul came with 9:19 left when Tshiebwe was called for a foul while trying to grab an offensive rebound. UK had only four fouls in the half.
As in the victory over Western Kentucky, UK’s opponent had to carry on despite foul trouble for its leading scorer. Missouri’s Kobe Brown (14.8 points per game) picked up two fouls inside the first six minutes. He did not score his second basket until 12:42 remained in the game.
Despite making only seven of its first 20 shots, Missouri got as close as 45-36 early in the second half.
Barely a minute later, Kellan Grady curled to get open, took a pass and swished a 3-pointer to restore a double-digit margin. It was the kind of catch-and-shoot that UK coach John Calipari had been calling for. Rather than move the ball downward to gather himself, Grady shot in rhythm.
Wheeler gave Kentucky a boost midway through the second half. He drove for a layup that put UK ahead 57-45.
After a Missouri miss, Wheeler drove in transition, then made a pass that netted Brooks a high-flying dunk that drew an appreciative cheer from the crowd..
That prompted a Missouri timeout with 9:16 left.
Missouri was within 63-52 with seven minutes left. Then Kentucky scored 15 straight points. Tshiebwe highlighted the run with an offensive rebound he converted into a dunk.
