The Big Blue Bahamas beatdowns ended in Kentucky’s second game against Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket, but as far as UK is concerned, everyone went home a winner Saturday.
The fans got a close contest in the Bahamas for the first time in five games, UK got its victory, and on a trip that’s supposed to be about learning, John Calipari found out in a 75-71 nail-biting win that his team still has the same heart and the same late-game toughness that defined the Cats during their magical 2014 postseason run.
“We actually needed a test,” said assistant coach Barry “Slice” Rohrssen. “This was good for us. We’re learning a lot about our team. And maybe as important, they’re learning a lot about themselves. This was a game that we needed.”