Doron Lamb scored 18 points in Kentucky's 78-58 rout of Florida Tuesday night at Rupp Arena. (Photo by Bo Morris) |
LEXINGTON — If you ask Doron Lamb, the secret behind top-ranked Kentucky’s success during the past two weeks has been simple and not complex.
“We are just sticking to our game plan,” Lamb said following the Wildcats’ 78-58 rout of Florida Tuesday night at Rupp¿Arena.
Part of the team’s scheme against the Gators was making “them drive to our big (men) and let them block their shots and contest the threes.”
In addition to the defensive performance that limited the guests to just six shots from long range and 34.9 percent shooting, Kentucky shot a blistering 52.7 percent from the floor, including a 60 percent clip from behind the arc.
“We played great offense and made a lot of shots,” Lamb said.
Lamb was one of those players who couldn’t hardly miss against Florida. The sophomore guard connected on six of eight shots from the field and made four of the team’s nine shots from long range. Lamb misfired on just one shot from the behind the arc in 31 minutes of action. Lamb led four Kentucky players — all starters — in double figures with 18 points.
Lamb matched his previous outing at South Carolina, where he also tallied 18 points and connected on three shots from behind the arc. In the past two games, Lamb has made 12 of 15 shots from the field and has missed just one 3-pointer on eight attempts from long range.
It’s the kind of performance Kentucky coach John Calipari has been yearning for from Lamb, who scored single digits in four straight games before scoring 18 against the Gamecocks last Saturday in Columbia, S.C.
As Kentucky struggled to put the Gators away in the first half, Lamb provided a big boost for the Cats when he made back-to-back three before the break, giving the hosts a commanding 38-26 advantage at the half. It was a spark the team needed going into the final half.
“That gave us some breathing room (and we’re) up 12 points,” Calipari said of Lamb’s performance to end the opening frame. “He played well. Doron made shots.”
Lamb was “surprised” that he was “open in the corner” one of his favorite spots on the court.
Even when he’s not on his game, Lamb said the team has “enough” weapons to pick up the slack, a luxury that wasn’t available last season. He said the team’s length in the post has been the biggest difference when comparing the two teams.
“We have weapons on offense and defense,” he said. “We have a lot of shot-blockers on the team.”
The recent emergence of Lamb has been an added plus for Kentucky, which has beaten its past four opponents by 20 points or more, a trend that Lamb hopes continues for the remainder of the regular season.
“We are playing with a lot of energy at the beginning of game,” Lamb said. “Everybody is just playing great and everyone is doing their role. We had to prove that we were the best team in our conference and we did that today. We beat them by 20 and we just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
Following his team’s loss to the Wildcats that snapped his team’s seven-game winning streak Florida coach Billy Donovan offered nothing but praise for the Wildcats, who pushed their own win streak to 16 games. The Florida coach added that Calipari’s squad was a “cut above” the rest of the teams in the league, including his own squad.
“We aren't really saying we are the best team in the league,” Lamb said. “We are just going out there every game and playing to our game plan and playing our best, trying to win every game.”
FLORIDA (19-5)
Young 5-10 2-2 12, Murphy 3-11 0-0 7, Boynton 6-12 2-2 18, Walker 0-7 0-0 0, Beal 5-15 3-4 14, Rosario 1-4 1-2 3, Wilbekin 0-1 0-0 0, Yeguete 2-3 0-2 4. Totals 22-63 8-12 58.
KENTUCKY (24-1)
Jones 2-7 0-0 4, Kidd-Gilchrist 4-8 5-5 13, Davis 8-13 0-0 16, Lamb 6-8 2-2 18, Teague 4-6 2-2 12, Miller 3-7 2-2 9, Vargas 0-1 0-0 0, Wiltjer 2-5 0-0 6. Totals 29-55 11-11 78.
Halftime — Kentucky 38-26. 3-Point Goals — Florida 6-27 (Boynton 4-8, Murphy 1-5, Beal 1-7, Wilbekin 0-1, Rosario 0-2, Walker 0-4), Kentucky 9-15 (Lamb 4-5, Wiltjer 2-2, Teague 2-3, Miller 1-4, Jones 0-1). Fouled Out — None. Rebounds — Florida 31 (Yeguete 7), Kentucky 38 (Kidd-Gilchrist 13). Assists — Florida 9 (Beal 3), Kentucky 18 (Teague 10). Total Fouls — Florida 12, Kentucky 13. A_24,389.
“We are just sticking to our game plan,” Lamb said following the Wildcats’ 78-58 rout of Florida Tuesday night at Rupp¿Arena.
Part of the team’s scheme against the Gators was making “them drive to our big (men) and let them block their shots and contest the threes.”
In addition to the defensive performance that limited the guests to just six shots from long range and 34.9 percent shooting, Kentucky shot a blistering 52.7 percent from the floor, including a 60 percent clip from behind the arc.
“We played great offense and made a lot of shots,” Lamb said.
Lamb was one of those players who couldn’t hardly miss against Florida. The sophomore guard connected on six of eight shots from the field and made four of the team’s nine shots from long range. Lamb misfired on just one shot from the behind the arc in 31 minutes of action. Lamb led four Kentucky players — all starters — in double figures with 18 points.
Lamb matched his previous outing at South Carolina, where he also tallied 18 points and connected on three shots from behind the arc. In the past two games, Lamb has made 12 of 15 shots from the field and has missed just one 3-pointer on eight attempts from long range.
It’s the kind of performance Kentucky coach John Calipari has been yearning for from Lamb, who scored single digits in four straight games before scoring 18 against the Gamecocks last Saturday in Columbia, S.C.
As Kentucky struggled to put the Gators away in the first half, Lamb provided a big boost for the Cats when he made back-to-back three before the break, giving the hosts a commanding 38-26 advantage at the half. It was a spark the team needed going into the final half.
“That gave us some breathing room (and we’re) up 12 points,” Calipari said of Lamb’s performance to end the opening frame. “He played well. Doron made shots.”
Lamb was “surprised” that he was “open in the corner” one of his favorite spots on the court.
Even when he’s not on his game, Lamb said the team has “enough” weapons to pick up the slack, a luxury that wasn’t available last season. He said the team’s length in the post has been the biggest difference when comparing the two teams.
“We have weapons on offense and defense,” he said. “We have a lot of shot-blockers on the team.”
The recent emergence of Lamb has been an added plus for Kentucky, which has beaten its past four opponents by 20 points or more, a trend that Lamb hopes continues for the remainder of the regular season.
“We are playing with a lot of energy at the beginning of game,” Lamb said. “Everybody is just playing great and everyone is doing their role. We had to prove that we were the best team in our conference and we did that today. We beat them by 20 and we just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
Following his team’s loss to the Wildcats that snapped his team’s seven-game winning streak Florida coach Billy Donovan offered nothing but praise for the Wildcats, who pushed their own win streak to 16 games. The Florida coach added that Calipari’s squad was a “cut above” the rest of the teams in the league, including his own squad.
“We aren't really saying we are the best team in the league,” Lamb said. “We are just going out there every game and playing to our game plan and playing our best, trying to win every game.”
FLORIDA (19-5)
Young 5-10 2-2 12, Murphy 3-11 0-0 7, Boynton 6-12 2-2 18, Walker 0-7 0-0 0, Beal 5-15 3-4 14, Rosario 1-4 1-2 3, Wilbekin 0-1 0-0 0, Yeguete 2-3 0-2 4. Totals 22-63 8-12 58.
KENTUCKY (24-1)
Jones 2-7 0-0 4, Kidd-Gilchrist 4-8 5-5 13, Davis 8-13 0-0 16, Lamb 6-8 2-2 18, Teague 4-6 2-2 12, Miller 3-7 2-2 9, Vargas 0-1 0-0 0, Wiltjer 2-5 0-0 6. Totals 29-55 11-11 78.
Halftime — Kentucky 38-26. 3-Point Goals — Florida 6-27 (Boynton 4-8, Murphy 1-5, Beal 1-7, Wilbekin 0-1, Rosario 0-2, Walker 0-4), Kentucky 9-15 (Lamb 4-5, Wiltjer 2-2, Teague 2-3, Miller 1-4, Jones 0-1). Fouled Out — None. Rebounds — Florida 31 (Yeguete 7), Kentucky 38 (Kidd-Gilchrist 13). Assists — Florida 9 (Beal 3), Kentucky 18 (Teague 10). Total Fouls — Florida 12, Kentucky 13. A_24,389.
