TyTy Washington broke Kentucky's single-game assist record

DrewFranklinKSR

Move over, John Wall.

TyTy Washington is Kentucky Basketball’s new record-holder for most assists in a single game. Wall held the record at 16 for over a decade but now it is Washington’s name etched atop the all-time list following a 17-assist performance against Georgia.

After the game, Washington admitted he was unaware of his place in history until a manager told him he was one assist away from matching Wall’s record. Once he caught wind of the chase, he made sure he got two more to move above Wall for first in the record book.

“It excites me,” Washington said of passing the Kentucky legend. “It’s John Wall. I watched a bunch of his highlights at Kentucky. I watched him in the NBA a lot. For me to go out there and break the record, it’s just exciting. A lot of other great point guards came here as well, so I can be the one who can say I went to Kentucky, I set the record.”

Kentucky All-Time Single-Game Assists

1. TyTy Washington, 17 assists (2020-21)
2. John Wall, 16 assists vs. Hartford (2009-10)
3. Travis Ford, 15 assists vs. EKU (1993-94)
4. Dirk Minniefield, 14 assists vs. Villanova (1982-83)
4. Dicky Beal, 14 assists vs. BYU (1983-84)
4. John Wall, 14 assists vs. UNC-Asheville (2009-10)
4. Tyler Ulis, 14 assists vs. LSU (2015-16)
4. Savhir Wheeler, 14 assists vs. North Florida (2020-21)

“They all wanted to see me make history.”

When Washington’s teammates realized what was at stake, they assured him they’d help him reach 17. Up plenty on Georgia, the team’s focus turned toward Washington’s assists.

“When I came out here and finally realized I was close, my teammates were like, ‘Yo, you can make history, brother,'” Washington said in his postgame comments. “They were all encouraging me to find them. Keion told me, ‘If you find us, we’re going to knock them down and finish them for you.’ They all wanted to see me make history. That’s just the type of team we have. Everybody cares for one another and we don’t really care who’s scoring at the end of the day.”

Oscar Tshiebwe apparently didn’t get the memo. He missed an open dunk to get Washington his 17th assist. Luckily, Keion Brooks was nearby to finish the job on a redo.

Calipari: “I was upset he had two turnovers.”

After Washington passed Wall for the record, Calipari pretended to be upset by Washington’s two turnovers on a 17-assist night.

“I’m just kidding,” Calipari said. “He is a play-making guard. Whether he is bringing it up or whether he is away from the ball, he is still a play-making guard who can shoot.

“Was that a quiet 17 he had? How many shots did he take to get 17? 13 shots, and he gets 17 points. Come on.”