Kentucky freshman Reed Sheppard had an impressive performance on Tuesday night as the Wildcats took on eighth-ranked Miami at Rupp Arena. Sheppard shined in his first opportunity to play on a big stage, making eight of 13 shots, including five three-pointers, to finish with 21 points. He also contributed five rebounds, four assists, and three steals in Kentucky’s 95-73 victory over the Hurricanes.
UK head coach John Calipari praised Sheppard for his hard work and dedication to improving his game. Calipari acknowledged that Sheppard was not always known for his shooting ability but has made significant strides by putting in the extra hours in the gym. Calipari drew comparisons to former Wildcat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and other players who built their own confidence through hard work.
Calipari also highlighted Sheppard’s innate passing ability, crediting his mother Stacey for passing down those skills. While Sheppard’s father, Jeff Sheppard, was not known for his passing, Calipari noted that Stacey had a natural feel for passing, which Sheppard has inherited. This skill was evident in Sheppard’s ability to anticipate and make plays on the defensive end.
Sheppard’s stellar performance was not the sole reason for Kentucky’s victory. Antonio Reeves had 18 points, Tre Mitchell contributed 14 points, seven assists, and five rebounds, Rob Dillingham scored 12 points with a career-high nine assists, and Justin Edwards added 11 points to support Sheppard’s efforts.
Kentucky closed the first half strong with an 8-0 run, turning a three-point deficit into a 42-37 halftime lead. Sheppard played a significant role in this run, showcasing his defensive skills by blocking a shot and grabbing the rebound before making a pinpoint pass to Reeves for a layup. He then assisted on a Tre Mitchell basket to give Kentucky a five-point lead going into halftime.
Sheppard’s impact was evident in the plus/minus statistic, as he recorded an impressive plus-18 rating in the first half. In the second half, Sheppard continued to make an impact, assisting on another Reeves layup to extend the lead. He also scored on a fast break layup to give Kentucky a 51-39 advantage, leading to a Miami timeout. Sheppard sealed the game with a three-pointer from the right wing, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 57-41 as part of a 13-2 run.
Kentucky dominated throughout the game, leading by as many as 29 points before ultimately securing a 22-point victory. The Wildcats will look to build on this success when they face UNC-Wilmington at Rupp Arena on Saturday.
