In a game where a successful season was very much in doubt for the Kentucky Wildcats heading into Saturday night, they answered the bell and then some as they cruised past the Indiana Hoosiers 72-60 after outscoring them 40-21 in the second half.
Despite being down by seven at halftime, the Wildcats went on a blitzing run that was led by the returning Mo Dioubate, as well as point guard Jaland Lowe, who finally had his breakout performance in a Kentucky jersey.
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The Wildcats played like a team that was indeed desperate and ended up out-toughing the Hoosiers in a game where they very much needed a marquee win. In order for the Cats to be very successful this season, they have to play with that same toughness and passion that got them the victory this past Saturday night.
The Wildcats will have another major opportunity this Saturday as they take on #22 St John’s Red Storm in the CBS Sports Classic at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA.
Who took a major step forward in Kentucky’s season-saving victory over Indiana?
Brandon Garrison
A lot of individuals would’ve just given up trying to fight after being benched a whole half of a game, but Brandon Garrison responded in a very positive way as he was one of the main sparks in that critical second half Wildcats run that led them to an eventual victory. Garrison played the majority of the second half and finished with 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 steal. He came away with some important rebounds in critical stages of the game that were very much needed for the Cats.
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Mark Pope
Throughout his short tenure here at Kentucky, Coach Pope has received a lot of ongoing criticism for his rotations throughout games, but Saturday night, he might have saved the Wildcats season due to that surging run late in the 2nd half, which starred a lineup of Jaland Lowe, Otega Oweh, Kam Williams, Mo Dioubate, and Brandon Garrison. That very lineup that was on the court together for the majority of the 2nd half is the most important reason why the Cats are 7-4 instead of 6-5 at this very moment. Coach Pope deserves major credit for sticking with a lineup that brought Rupp Arena to its feet.
Jaland Lowe
Lowe, without question, had his best game as a Wildcat up to this point this past Saturday night and showed why Coach Pope and company brought him in this summer from Pitt to lead this Kentucky squad. Despite him playing through his shoulder injury, Lowe came up huge down the stretch as he came up with some tough baskets in the clutch for the Wildcats, as he finished the night with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. There’s no question that the offense moves at a faster pace with him on the floor as the point guard.
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Mo Dioubate
After missing the last five games with an injury, Mo Dioubate brought the non-stop fire and energy that ignited the BBN faithful and ended up playing a major part in the Cats’ win over the Hoosiers from the opening tip to the end this past Saturday night. Dioubate was a force down low and deemed to be too much to handle for Indiana as he finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds (seven of those offensive rebounds), and ended up with an impressive 5 steals. I think it’s safe to say that Dioubate’s defense, energy, and toughness on both sides of the floor were greatly missed by the Wildcats in the last month or so.
