It’s been four years, but the Kentucky Wildcats found their way back to Maui for the prestigious EA Sports Maui Invitational. The last time UK appeared on the island, they posted a 1-2 record which included a win over DePaul and losses to No. 5 UCLA and the John Calipari-coached Memphis Tigers in the 2006 Maui Invitational.
Brandon Knight scored 21 points to help No. 12 Kentucky rout Portland 79-48 on Friday night in the Wildcats’ first trip to Oregon. Darius Miller added 15 points for Kentucky (2-0). The Wildcats scored the first 15 points, with Portland native Terrence Jones hitting a 10-foot jump hook for the first basket and Miller scoring seven straight. Eric Waterford led Portland (3-1) with 12 points.
Boxscore and Game Notes: Kentucky vs. Portland
Three of the four players signed last week by University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari have been named to the first-team preseason All-American team by High Potential Scouting Service. Chicago forward Anthony Davis, Indianapolis guard Marquis Teague (photo) and New Jersey forward Michael Gilchrist were joined on the five-man, first-team by Duke signee Austin Rivers and Syracuse signee Rakeem Christmas.
One of the most underrated roles in all of NCAA college basketball is the post player. Most fans consider guards to be the most talented players on the court. And seven-foot tall centers certainly draw a lot of attention. But a quality NCAA post player must possess a number of different skills. Occasionally, a post player will have to dribble and shoot a mid-range jumper.
Kentucky guard Brandon Knight is among six freshmen on a list of 50 pre-season candidates chosen for the Naismith Award. A list of 30 candidates will be chosen in February with a final four chosen near the end of the season.
The crowd wanted Jarrod Polson to shoot the ball. The swelling noise was urging him — imploring him — to hoist up a shot. Polson was one step inside the halfcourt line. “I could hear it,” Polson said of the Rupp Arena crowd after the Dillard game. “It kind of makes you a little more nervous. But it was pretty cool.”
The Southeastern Conference named Kentucky’s Terrence Jones as the league’s Freshman of the Week. Jones scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in UK’s season-opening victory over East Tennessee State on Friday. The SEC named Vanderbilt guard Brad Tinsley as its Player of the Week. Tinsley had Vandy’s first triple-double: 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a victory over Presbyterian.
Lamb didn’t start in his official college debut, but made a big impact in Kentucky’s season opener Friday night at Rupp Arena. Lamb was one of four players who scored in double figures in the Wildcats’ 88-65 win over East Tennessee State. Lamb started the team’s two exhibition games, but…
Terrence Jones had 25 points and 12 rebounds, Doron Lamb added 20 points and Brandon Knight had 17 points and five assists as Kentucky rolled by the Buccaneers in the second half. “Our freshmen played well,” Calipari said. “They’ve got to get steadier, got to get rougher and tougher.” Still, for a class that will forever be compared to the historic one that came before it, the new kids appear to be up to the task.