FINAL: Kentucky 79, Alabama 74 SEC MBB Tournament Semifinal

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/johnclayiv/status/840382963154059264

Alabama is not (normally) good at free throw shooting

Bama made just nine of 26 free throws for a ridiculous 34.6 percent in a 67-58 loss to Kentucky in Tuscaloosa on Feb. 11. Key was just four-of-eight from the foul line. Olaniyan, a graduate transfer from Southern Illinois, was one-of-six from the line. Donta Hall was two-of-five. Jimmie Taylor missed both his foul shots. You get the idea.

That wasn't an aberration. Going into the post-season, Alabama ranked 332nd in the nation in free throw shooting at 64.5 percent.

In the quarterfinal win over South Carolina, Alabama made 10 of its last 12 free throws and 15 of 21 for 71.4 percent for the game.

Bama has lost seven straight to Kentucky

Avery Johnson is 0-4 against Kentucky since taking over the Alabama program last year. One of the four came in last year's SEC Tournament when the Tide were blitzed 83-59 by John Calipari's Cats.

In the only meeting between the two teams this year, Alabama actually outshot UK 45.1 percent to 43.5. Ah, but those missed free throws. And Alabama made just three of 14 three-point shots while Kentucky was three-of-15 from behind the line. Plus, Johnson's club committed 16 turnovers compared to just four assists.

[jbcarol]

 Not Jerry Tipton‏ @NotJerryTipton 18h18 hours ago

So what time does Malik Monk arrive in Nashville?

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/KyleTucker_AJC/status/840660766999138304

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/KyleTucker_AJC/status/840715059437297664

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Contrary to the final box score, Alabama did defend De'Aaron Fox on Saturday. The Crimson Tide got right in his face several times during their SEC Tournament semifinal against Kentucky.

"I mean, I felt like we were in good position," Bama guard Corban Collins said. "We tried to stay in front of him (but) Fox is an electric player. With that type of speed coming at you, it's difficult to guard."

It always has been — until suddenly it wasn't. There was no shortage of opposing players who shook their heads and said something similar about Fox early in the season. But then came an ankle injury, the flu and a knee injury in quick succession, and the star freshman point guard's game bogged down.

Fox scored 14 points over the final 6 1/2 minutes — including 9 straight for Kentucky at one point — after the Tide closed the gap to 58-57. He attacked the rim and either sank a layup or got fouled, and sometimes both.

"He came up big down the stretch. We needed him to do just that, and he rose to the occasion," sophomore guard Isaiah Briscoe said. "He put the team on his back. He's got that dog in him."

[jbcarol]

 Kevin Scarbinsky‏ @KevinScarbinsky 4h4 hours ago

Great effort from Alabama. Kentucky was just too good. Especially Fox at crunch time.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/RainerSabin/status/840691192182497280

If not for the presence of De'Aaron Fox, maybe the Tide would have shocked the Wildcats in the semifinal round of the SEC tournament.

But Fox was there. He was always there, lurking and waiting to strike. He was the thorn in Alabama's side throughout Alabama's 79-74 defeat to the Wildcats at Bridgestone Arena, where Kentucky fans packed the venue to the rafters.

Fox scored a game-high 28 points Saturday and produced nine consecutive in a critical period down the stretch, extending the Wildcats' lead to eight points with 1:41 left and crushing Alabama's last hopes at creating a watershed moment for Avery Johnson in his second year as the Crimson Tide's coach.

Up until Fox took over by sinking free throws, completing a three-point play and dropping shots in traffic, it appeared Alabama may have had enough left in the tank to pull off a stunning victory.

"He may have been the best player on the floor tonight," Alabama assistant coach John Pelphrey said. "Both halves, he was just getting to spots close to the basket and just making some high-level shots. He was impressive."