Notes Provided by UK Athletics
UK MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY vs. DUKE
BANKERS LIFE FIELDHOUSE | INDIANAPOLIS
NOV. 6, 2018 ATTENDANCE: 18,907
Final Score: No. 4/3 Duke 118, No. 2/2 Kentucky 84
Team Records and Series Notes
Tuesday’s game vs. Duke marked the start of the 117th season of Kentucky men’s basketball
Kentucky is 0-1 overall while Duke begins the year 1-0
It marked the 22nd meeting between the two schools. Although UK dropped the decision Tuesday, the Wildcats still own the series lead 12-10
Kentucky fell to 95-20 (no official games were played for the 1953 season, hence the discrepancy in record and total seasons played) in season openers, including its first official loss under John Calipari in a regular-season opener
It snapped Calipari’s 14-game winning streak in regular-season openers, which dated back to his time at Memphis
UK had won every season opener since losing to VMI 111-103 on Nov. 14, 2008
UK dropped to 4-4 in the State Farm Champions Classic, tied with Kansas for the second-best record among the four bluebloods. The Wildcats will play Michigan State in Madison Square Garden in New York next season.
It’s the first time in the Calipari era UK has been below .500
Next for Kentucky: the Wildcats will host Southern Illinois on Friday for their home regular-season opener. UK has won its last nine openers at home, all under Calipari. That game is slated for a 7 p.m. tip on the SEC Network
In the First Half
Kentucky started Ashton Hagans, Tyler Herro, Keldon Johnson, PJ Washington and Reid Travis for its first official lineup of the season. It was the first career UK start for every Wildcat except Washington
UK gave up 59 points in the first half, tied for the most points Kentucky has given up in a half under Calipari. The Wildcats surrendered 59 at Texas A&M last season in the second half on Feb. 10
It was the most points UK has given up in the first half under Calipari
Duke outscored Kentucky 15-2 in transition in the first half and 30-22 in the paint
The Blue Devils began to pull away early with a 9-0 run over 2:41 to take a 20-8 lead at the 13:22 mark
Stretched over 4:54, Duke went on a 21-3 run to take a 32-11 lead at the 11:09 mark
Johnson kept the Wildcats afloat with 14 first-half points, including six in the opening minutes
Travis was strong late with eight points and four rebounds, and EJ Montgomery contributed six points
In the Second Half
Duke outscored Kentucky 15-5 to start the second half
Duke went on a 10-0 run over 1:52 to take a 78-47 lead
Duke led by as much as 37, 91-54, at the 11:45 mark
Kentucky allowed 59 points in the second half – again tied for the most UK gave up in a half during the Calipari era
Team Notes
Kentucky lost by 34 points, its worst loss since losing by 35, 76-41, to LSU on Jan. 18, 1987
It was UK’s largest margin of defeat in the Calipari era
It was just the second loss by 30 or more during Calipari’s tenure (UK lost 88-58 at Tennessee on Feb. 16, 2013)
It was just the fourth time in Calipari’s coaching career that one of his teams lost by 30 or more points
It was UK’s largest margin of defeat in a regular-season opener since losing by 38 (48-10) to Cincinnati on Dec. 18, 1926
Kentucky allowed its most points in the Calipari era
UK allowed its most points since losing 121-11- against North Carolina on Dec. 27, 1989
Kentucky committed 15 turnovers, leading to 27 Blue Devil points
Duke won points in the paint 60-38
The Blue Devils also beat Kentucky 26-12 in transition
Player Notes
Freshman Keldon Johnson (pictured) led UK with 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting
Reid Travis had 22 points and seven rebounds in his UK debut
Tyler Herro littered the stat sheet, just missing a double-double. He scored 14, grabbed nine rebounds, dished five assists and blocked two shots
Ashton Hagans dished four assists but committed three turnovers
PJ Washington scored eight
Calipari
Calipari is now 275-65 at UK
Calipari has a 720-205 all-time on-court record
Tuesday’s 34-point loss was the largest margin of defeat in Calipari’s career. In his first career season as head coach at UMass, Calipari’s Minutemen lost by 33 points (88-55) at No. 14 West Virginia on Feb. 16, 1989.
UK Athletics Photo