John Calipari explains decision to not foul ending regulation against Florida
For the second time in their last three games, the No. 10 ranked Kentucky Wildcats were on the losing end of an upset loss. Falling to Florida at home on Wednesday night in a heartbreaking 94-91 loss in overtime.
Kentucky’s loss was highlighted by Gators’ Walter Clayton hitting a three-pointer with three seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. And after the loss, Kentucky head coach John Calipari was asked if he considered fouling to avoid the worst-case scenario that played out for the Wildcats.
“There was a little more time than we wanted, but everything we were doing was to make them shoot some two [point shot] and the kid drove it in the lane and one of my guys just left his man and threw it out,” Calipari said. “So if we were gonna foul with that much time against a really good rebounding team it’s just dangerous and I’d rather play it out and I thought they played it out pretty good.”
Kentucky freshman Robert Dillingham was sent to the free throw line with 13 seconds remaining in the game, given the opportunity to extend the Wildcat lead to four points by making both free throws.
Dillingham made the first but missed the second, allowing the Gators to secure the rebound and tie the game up in dramatic fashion.
“But yeah, we talked about it, I said let’s play this out, make sure they’re not getting threes. I thought about calling a timeout before his second free throw, and then I’m like I’ll freeze the kid, why? Let him shoot it, he’ll make it,” Calipari said. “So that’s basketball, whatever decision you make if it works you’re a genius if it doesn’t should have done it the other way.”
The Wildcats played well for the most part on Wednesday, making 44.9% of their shots from the field and leading by as many as 10 points at one point during the game. But in the biggest moments where it mattered most Kentucky just couldn’t get it done, with Clayton scoring five more of his 25 total points on the night in overtime to hand Big Blue their fifth loss of the season.
“So many categories we beat them in, and this was similar to the game down there, where you look at it and say how did we win? And the same thing here, we make a free throw, we’re up four, it’s ballgame. They come down and make that three, it goes to overtime, and we had chances before that to get it even more,” Calipari explained.
“So they deserve to win, they played it and made plays and we missed plays. But I’m proud of how the kids fought shorthanded. They’re a good team, just like South Carolina. South Carolina’s a good team, this league is good.”
Things won’t get easier anytime soon for Kentucky, as they’ll take on No. 5 Tennessee this Saturday in their next matchup, which tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET and will be airing on ESPN.