Kentucky Looks Ultra Well-Rested In Blowout Of No. 13 Bama In 'Early' Game

Several writers laughed at Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari's closing comment last Wednesday following a loss at the buzzer in a late game at LSU … after Calipari had left that is.

"Guys, we've got a late flight, and we've got an early game on Saturday, so I'm out of here," Calipari said after a press conference that lasted just over two minutes.

Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari has led his team to wins over ranked teams over the last two Saturdays. (Getty Images).

One of the Kentucky writers mentioned that the "late" game Saturday tipped off at 4 p.m. Eastern, which broke up the press room.

But Calipari had the last laugh Saturday evening. His No. 17 Wildcats looked extremely well rested in playing easily their best game of the season to rout SEC-leading and No. 13 Alabama, 117-95, in front of a loud crowd of 20,342 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

Kentucky (19-8, 9-5 Southeastern Conference) beat a ranked team for the second time in a week as it won at No. 13 Auburn last Saturday in another blowout - 70-59.

Kentucky Scorched Alabama's Defense

But how the Wildcats did it was something to see. Kentucky shot 63 percent from the field (41 of 65), including 13 of 24 from 3-point range for 54.2 percent. On two-pointers, the Wildcats hit at a scorching 68.3 percent (28 of 41).

"Everybody knows we don't really guard at this point," Alabama coach Nate Oats said in a startling admission, since he is in charge of seeing that they do - or at least try.

Alabama coach Nate Oats' defense basically did not make the trip to Lexington, Kentucky, for Saturday's games. (Getty Images)

"Cal had his guys ready to go. I didn't. They looked great. We looked awful," Oats said.

As impressive as Kentucky's offense was, Kentucky's defense, which has struggled for much of the season until only recently, was not. Alabama (19-8, 11-3 SEC) finished shooting 56.7 percent and put up 95 itself. But this game was over at halftime as Kentucky took a 58-42 lead. Alabama came into the game leading the nation in scoring with 91 a game, but was well short of that pace at the break.

Kentucky took a whopping 37-point lead at 104-67 with eight minutes left, so Alabama's totals after that were pretty meaningless considering the game resembled a scrimmage.

Calipari praised his players profusely.

"I'm not trading them for anybody," he said.

Kentucky 5-Star Freshman Justin Edwards Perfect

Calipari particularly liked the play of 6-foot-8, five-star freshman Justin Edwards - the No. 1 small forward in the nation and No. 3 overall prospect in the 2023 class out of Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia. Edwards became the first player in Kentucky history to go perfect from the field after taking at least eight shots in an SEC game as he hit 10-of-10, including four 3-pointers to finish with a career-high 28 points.

The only other three Kentucky players to go perfect from the field with at least eight attempts all did it in non-conference play. Those were Rodney Dent (11-of-11 vs. Morhead State in 1993), Kenny Walker (11-of-11 vs. Western Kentucky in 1986) and Michael Bradley (8-of-8 vs. Pittsburgh in 1998).

Edwards is averaging 8.9 points a game on the season.

"I kept saying, 'You're going to break through. I believe in you,'" Calipari said he told Edwards. 

"We've really grown," Edwards said on CBS after the game. "We're locked in defensively. Last couple of games, we've showed we can play defense."

Calipari couldn't help but think back to the 75-74 loss at LSU, which Kentucky led by 15 in the second half.

"If we win at LSU, we're playing for first place," he said.

The Wildcats play at Mississippi State Tuesday (8 p.m., ESPN), while Alabama will be at Ole Miss on Wednesday (9 p.m., ESPN2).