Chris Livingston's hot streak continues with game-winning play vs. Florida

MrsTylerKSR

At times, it looked like Kentucky might not leave Florida with a win, but a freshman stepped up to help make sure the Cats came home with a big victory.

With under a minute to play and Kentucky only leading by two, Chris Livingston rebounded a Cason Wallace missed three and put the ball back in while drawing a foul by Florida’s Will Richard. Livingston made the free throw to give Kentucky a 77-72 lead with 46 seconds left. From there, Jacob Toppin made three free throws and Cason Wallace two more to seal the 82-74 win.

Chris Livingston in the clutch 🤩 pic.twitter.com/c1s5svEL3Z
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 23, 2023

“It was a good, gut-it-out win from us,” John Calipari said afterward. “Chris’ tip-in. Antonio [Reeves]’s two free throws. Jacob [Toppin]’s three. Those are daggers and we’re finally starting to throw some daggers at other teams who have thrown them at us all year.”

Livingston finished with 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. It was the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week’s second straight double-double. In the past three games, Livingston is averaging 11.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.

“Chris Livingston was ridiculous today, but he’s been ridiculous for the last couple of weeks,” Calipari said. “His stuff is that energy, the diving on the floor, the going after offensive rebounds because he attempts them. Then, rebounding defensively with two hands. He’s been a monster.”

What’s even more impressive is that Livingston’s clutch performance came after a slow start. In the first half, Livingston was only 1-4 for three points. He still struggled with his shot at times in the second half but made the plays that mattered and led the team in rebounding with 15 boards.

“If you want to be a really good player, you gotta know every night is not gonna be your night,” Livingston told Jack Givens after the game. “Especially you know, you’re going to be missing some jump shots, things like that. Probably even missed a layup, but I knew I had to turn it up on the defensive side of the ball and also on the offensive side of the ball as far as rebounding goes, so I just tried to do other things to help my team even though my shot was kind of off.”

Livingston admits Kentucky “relaxed a little bit” in first half

Kentucky led by as many as 15 in the first half, 30-15, but Florida stormed back into the game, outscoring the Cats 22-6 to take a 37-36 lead into halftime. The back-and-forth continued in the second half thanks to some ridiculous shooting by the Gators, but ultimately, Kentucky came out on top. Livingston admitted the Cats took their foot off the gas and almost paid the price.

“At the start of the game, we kind of jumped out on them, but we got kind of relaxed, thought it was gonna be — I wouldn’t say we thought it was gonna be an easy game, because we never think that — but we relaxed a little bit. The guys from Florida were playing like they have nothing to lose, playing inspired, playing free, and just making shots that some people, frankly, just don’t normally make. It made for a close game in the first half. So we said in the second half, we’re gonna eliminate their threes and three attempts. We’re going to try to cut in half how many threes are making. Bring them off the line, be more aggressive, be more assignment-sound.”

With CJ Fredrick and Sahvir Wheeler out due to injury, Livingston was forced to take on a bigger role. Thus far, he’s thrived in it and tonight, saved the Cats from dropping a crucial game.

“I’m asking each guy, what does the team need you to do?” Calipari said. “I went around the room. Some of them I had to help. But I went around the room and Chris knew exactly what this team needs him to do and he said it to a T. I’m looking at the other guys saying, some of you guys, you want to play for you and do your thing. What does the team need you to do? Just do that. And if you do that, you’re playing to your strength too.”

“Most definitely,” Livingston said when asked if he’s getting into a groove. “Just playing like, I said in past interviews, each game I get more comfortable, try to play more free, be more confident, things like that.”