In a thrilling matchup at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats emerged victorious over the No. 8 Miami Hurricanes with a commanding 95-73 final score. This win improves Kentucky’s record to 6-1 on the season, while Miami’s record now stands at 5-1.
Kentucky’s dominance in this series continued as they now lead 4-1, with a perfect 4-0 record at home against the Hurricanes. The Wildcats will wrap up their five-game homestand with a match against UNC Wilmington on Saturday at 4 p.m., televised on the SEC Network.
Impressively, tonight’s 22-point victory margin marks the largest win by Kentucky over an Associated Press top-10 ranked opponent in Rupp Arena. Previously, the Wildcats’ largest victory was by 21 points against No. 6 Louisville back in November 1983. Additionally, this win is the second-largest victory margin over a top-10 opponent since Coach John Calipari took charge in the 2009-10 season, with the largest being a 32-point triumph over Kansas in November 2014.
Kentucky’s offensive firepower was on full display once again as they reached the 81-point mark for the seventh consecutive game this season. This is the first time in over five decades that the Wildcats have accomplished this feat, last achieving it in the 1970-71 season when they did so in the first nine games. The Wildcats also had five players scoring in double figures, a common occurrence in this remarkable campaign.
Efficiency was the name of the game for Kentucky as they shot an impressive 59.7% from the field, making 37 of their 62 attempts. This marks the fourth consecutive game in which the Wildcats shot over 50%. Additionally, they limited their turnovers to just eight for the night, making it the sixth time in seven games this season that they’ve had single-digit turnovers. Their exceptional ball control is evident from leading the nation in turnover percentage (10.8%), ranking second in both turnovers per game and assist-to-turnover ratio.
Kentucky’s unselfish play was on display as they recorded 26 assists, their fourth straight game with at least 24 assists. This team effort was further highlighted by their dominance throughout the game, leading by as many as 29 points. With such a commanding lead, it’s no surprise that Kentucky boasts an impressive 334-15 (95.7%) record under Coach Calipari when leading by at least 10 points at any point in the game. Also worth noting is the Wildcats’ exceptional home record at Rupp Arena, where they hold a 653-81 (89.0%) record in the 48th season of the arena.
The player of the game was undoubtedly Reed Sheppard, who put up an impressive performance with 21 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. His impact on the court was evident from the team-leading plus/minus of +35. Sheppard has been a consistent force for the Wildcats, recording at least two steals in every game this season. Antonio Reeves also had a standout game with 18 points, extending his streak of double-figure scoring performances to every game this season. Tre Mitchell contributed 14 points, five rebounds, two blocked shots, and a career-high seven assists, showcasing his well-rounded abilities. Rob Dillingham made his presence known with 12 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Finally, Justin Edwards rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points, marking his fifth such performance this season. Adou Thiero had a strong showing on the boards, leading the team with six rebounds.
Coach John Calipari continues to build an impressive coaching record, now boasting an overall on-court record of 838-254 (76.7%), including a 393-114 (77.5%) record at Kentucky. His success against ranked competition at UK is evident with a 70-50 (58.3%) record. Calipari is now 226-21 (91.5%) in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
The first half of the game witnessed a back-and-forth battle as both teams showcased their offensive prowess. The Wildcats made their first substitutions with 15:38 remaining in the half, and from there, they went on an 11-1 run, prompting a timeout from Miami at 11:35. The Hurricanes retaliated with an 18-2 run, taking a 29-23 lead. However, Kentucky finished the half strongly, scoring the final eight points to enter halftime with a 42-37 advantage. This marked the sixth consecutive game in which the Wildcats led at halftime.
In the second half, Kentucky continued their dominance as they started with Sheppard, Reeves, Edwards, Thiero, and Mitchell. The Wildcats stormed out of halftime with a 25-6 run, extending their lead to 67-43. Their impressive shooting continued as they made 15 of their first 17 shots in the second half, ultimately shooting 66.7% in the second stanza. Kentucky’s lead reached its peak at 29 points with a score of 71-42.
Overall, it was a commanding performance by the Kentucky Wildcats as they displayed their offensive firepower, efficient shooting, great ball control, and unselfish play. With this win, they continue to solidify their status as one of the top teams in the nation. As they look ahead to their upcoming game against UNC Wilmington, it will be interesting to see if they can maintain their impressive form and extend their winning streak.
