Kentucky basketball squad, the 16th-ranked Wildcats came up short against Kansas in an 89-84 loss during the Champions Classic.
Kentucky took a seven-point lead into the half but was unable to overcome 27 points and 21 rebounds from Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson. Guard Antonio Reeves kept the Wildcats in the game with 24 points, but could not connect on two late 3s that would have knotted the game at 87 points apiece.
 Dajuan Harris Jr., who hit five timely 3-pointers in six attempts. Kentucky's Adou Thiero provided a significant energy boost, continuously crashing the glass, finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Kentucky HAS been tested, but by teams that shouldn’t have been able to. Specifically, Texas A&M - Commerce punched them in the mouth early and nearly held on for the half. But if they had been facing a more talented team, I’m not sure they would be able to have come back nearly as quickly, if at all. And what’s even starker about that is that they do NOT turn the ball over. So up against a team like Kansas that has size on the inside and fast hands to cause some turnovers, the Wildcats should have some issues. The Jayhawks have a ton of options as well, so I expect them to take full advantage
Austin Reeves, a senior guard, leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.0 points per game. He's also averaging 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Rob Dillingham, a freshman, is averaging 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Rob Dillingham in a spark off the bench, but its star freshmen did not rise to the occasion. Justin Edwards finished with one single point, failing to convert a field goal on six attempts. DJ Wagner couldn't get much of anything to drop, finishing with four points on 1-for-12 shooting from the field.
The second half was another elite display of college basketball this early in the season. Both teams continued to play at a high level. Both teams responded back after a run by the opposing squad.
Unfortunately for the Cats, the lack of a big man cost them in the long run, as Hunter Dickinson became to much in the final minutes for Kentucky to overcome.
Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives to take away from this game.
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