Cats Now Looking Ahead to Friday Night Date with Mount St. Mary's After So-So Win

By Penny Deatrick

The Kentucky Wildcats joined the winning ranks again after a hard-fought 82-74 victory on Monday night against a gutsy Utah Valley team.

Only seven scholarship players were available for John Calipari's Cats (now 3-1) as sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley injured his chest on the last play of practice on Sunday. Calipari indicated that if there was any way Quickley could play, he would have been on the court.

Offensively, the team looked disjointed and their shooting was dismal from the three-point line, making just one 3-point shot all night for 8 percent. The season average for 3-point shooting is at 22 percent for the year thus far.

Calipari stated the shooters have to believe the ball will go in and have a short memory for when the shots are not falling. The Hall of Fame coach also added that they are going to incorporate more opportunities for three-point shooting in practice which will lead to greater production.

Worth noting is the team's outstanding free throw shooting at 91.2 percent, hitting 31 of 34 at the foul line. especially when the game was in the balance.

Kentucky's Nick Richards finished the night with a double double (21 points and 10 rebounds) and Ashton Hagans had a career-high 26 points.

The Wildcats look to get healthy and continue to improve through the next portion of their schedule. Next up is Mount St. Mary's on Friday night and a quick turnaround on Sunday verses Lamar.

UK Athletics Photo by Chet White