Postgame notes and stats from Kentucky's 96-56 win over North Florida

On3 imageby:Zack Geoghegan11/23/22

ZGeogheganKSR

It was a much-needed blowout victory for Kentucky men’s basketball on Wednesday night. The Wildcats had no issue dismantling the North Florida Ospreys, winning by a final score of 96-56 in Rupp Arena just one day before Thanksgiving.

Kentucky was powered by 20 points from sharpshooter Antonio Reeves (18 of the coming in the first half) while Jacob Toppin posted a career-high 20 points to go along with 10 rebounds for just his second career double-double. In the paint, reigning national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe was his usual self, finishing with a stuffed stat line of 16 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks in just 22 minutes. He was later gifted with the “Most Impactful Player” belt that is new to this year’s team.

Curious to know more? Check out all of the postgame notes and statistics from Kentucky’s 40-point win below, courtesy of UK Athletics.


KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER | LEXINGTON, KY

NOV. 23, 2022
ATTENDANCE: 19,763

Final Score: No. 15/13 Kentucky 96, North Florida 56

Team Records and Series Notes

  • Kentucky won the championship of the Tribute Classic, presented by Kentucky Tourism, with wins over Duquesne, South Carolina State and North Florida.
  • Kentucky is now 4-2 on the season, North Florida is 1-4.
  • Kentucky leads the series, 2-0.  The previous matchup was an 86-52 UK win on Nov. 26, 2021.
  • The Wildcats have the weekend off before returning to game action on Nov. 29, at home vs. Bellarmine. Game time is 7 p.m. and it will be televised on SEC Network+.   

Team Notes

  • Kentucky limited North Florida to 34.5% from the field. UK is 225-24 (90.4%) under Calipari when keeping the opponent to 40 percent or less shooting, including 4-0 this season.
  • Kentucky held North Florida to 56 points. UK is 206-9 (95.8%) under Calipari when keeping the opponent to 63 points or less, including 4-0 this season. 
  • Kentucky led by as many as 47 points. UK is 314-13 (96.0%) under Calipari when leading by as many as 10 points at any time in the contest.  
  • Kentucky dominated around the basket, winning the rebounding 50-35, points in the paint 42-18 and second-chance points 22-8.
  • Kentucky had 23 assists and has had at least 20 in all four victories this season. 
  • Jacob Toppin and Oscar Tshiebwe each had double-doubles today, first time UK had two double-doubles since Tshiebwe and Sahvir Wheeler did so last season against North Florida. 
  • Second time this season that two Wildcats had at least 20 points. 
  • Toppin, Tshiebwe and Ugonna Onyenso had double-figure rebounds today, first time UK had three Wildcats do so since Isaiah Jackson, Olivier Sarr and Brandon Boston Jr. vs. Richmond on Nov. 29, 2020.  

Player Notes  

  • After tying his career high of 16 points vs. Gonzaga, Jacob Toppin set a new personal standard today with 20 points.  He also had 10 rebounds, giving him his second double-double of the season.
  • After scoring 18 points in the opening half, Antonio Reeves finished with 20, his second 20-point game of the season.   
    • He has made at least one 3-pointer in each game this season. 
  • Oscar Tshiebwe had a stat-stuffer day with 16 points, 15 rebounds, a career-high five assists, three steals and two blocked shots
    • He has 31 double-doubles in 38 games at Kentucky, including three of four this season.
  • Freshman Cason Wallace had eight points and a game-high six assists.
    • He has made at least one 3-pointer in each game this season and multiple threes in the last four games.
  • Ugonna Onyenso had seven points and tied his season high for rebounds with 10.

Coach John Calipari

  • Calipari is 2-0 vs. North Florida, both games at Kentucky.
  • Calipari has an 814-243 all-time on-court record and a 369-103 mark in his 14th season at UK.
  • UK is 302-58 (83.9%) against unranked competition under Calipari.  

Rupp Arena

  • UK extended its home win streak to 23 games, dating back to the 2020-21 season, and is the longest active home win streak in the Southeastern Conference and (as this is written) tied for third-longest in the nation.
  • Kentucky is 637-77 (89.2%) in the 47-year history of Rupp Arena. 
  • Kentucky is 210-17 (92.5%) in Rupp Arena under Calipari. 

In the First Half

  • Kentucky started the combination of Sahvir Wheeler, Cason Wallace, Antonio Reeves, Jacob Toppin and Oscar Tshiebwe for the first time this season. It was Reeves’ first start as a Wildcat.
  • CJ Fredrick, Daimion Collins and Chris Livingston were UK’s first substitutes at the 13:33 mark. 
  • Kentucky never trailed, although the game was tied twice, at 2-2 and 5-5.
  • Tied at 5, Wallace’s 3-pointer from the right corner ignited a 9-0 run and UK led the rest of the way.
  • After a Tshiebwe steal, Reeves hit a pullup 3-pointer at the buzzer – his fourth long ball of the half – giving Kentucky its largest lead of the opening stanza, a 54-23 halftime advantage. It is UK’s most points in a first half this season.
    • Reeves led the Wildcats with 18 points while Tshiebwe neared a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. The last player with at least 18 points in the first half was PJ Washington at Vanderbilt on Jan. 29, 2019.

In the Second Half

  • Kentucky opened with the starting lineup. 
  • Kentucky steadily built its lead, with no runs in the second half greater than six points, and eventually led by as many as 47 points at 90-43.
  • North Florida scored the final six points of the game to reach the final score.

Discuss This Article

Comments have moved.

Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.

KSBoard

2024-03-28