TUSCALOOSA, Al. (LEX 18) — For the first time since the 1988-89 season, Alabama has swept the Kentucky men's basketball team after a 70-59 win Tuesday in Tuscaloosa.
Kentucky held a 54-52 lead with 3:57 to play. Alabama went on an 18-5 run from there and put the game to bed.
Turnovers continue to plague this Wildcats team, as they turned it over 17 more times Tuesday night that led to 20 points for the Crimson Tide. In their first meeting, Alabama scored 28 points off Kentucky turnovers.
The inability to close out games could/will most likely keep Kentucky out of the NCAA Tournament. They needed to string some quality wins together over these next few weeks starting tonight. Hypothetically, of course, a win tonight over No. 9 Alabama and then a win over No. 5 Texas on Saturday puts Kentucky in the conversation for an at-large bid.
The silver-lining that head coach John Calipari used for this game is that his guys fought like crazy. I don't disagree with them, they hung in there. But the lack of having a player to make plays during critical times in games has been non-existent this season. That's just how this team is in 2020-21.
In all 10 of their losses this season, the Wildcats have failed to score more than 65 points. If they scored 70-75 points a game, this season wouldn't be as depressing and disappointing as it is. Kentucky is 5-0 this season when scoring 70 points.
Dontaie Allen (4-7 3FG), Olivier Sarr, and Davion Mintz each scored 12 points for Kentucky. B.J. Boston finished with 8 points after back-to-back 18 point performances vs LSU and Georgia.
Kentucky now turns its attention to No. 5 Texas, who lost to No. 24 Oklahoma on Tuesday 80-79. So the Longhorns will have some extra motivation for the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday at Rupp Arena.
*This is a developing story and more details will be added.
