Kentucky’s highly touted freshman class sent Big Blue Nation home from Thursday night’s exhibition opener against Northwood with something to feel good about.
Archie Goodwin scored 22 points, Nerlens Noel added 17 and Alex Poythress had 11 as the rookies led five Wildcats in double figures in a 93-61 exhibition victory.
Noel added 11 rebounds and four blocks for the third-ranked Wildcats, who got 15 points from sophomore guard Ryan Harrow and 12 from sophomore forward Kyle Wiltjer. Willie Cauley-Stein, another freshman, had eight points.
“We were better than I thought we’d be,” Wildcats coach John Calipari said. “We’re way away from where we need to be.”