COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) Three days after knocking off the nation’s top-ranked team, Kentucky coach John Calipari just wanted to get out of Missouri with a victory over the struggling Tigers, regardless of how it looked.
The fourth-ranked Wildcats accomplished the victory, beating the Tigers 66-58, but getting out of town proved more difficult.
Much of Kentucky’s 18-point halftime lead evaporated late, but that didn’t bother Calipari, who told his players during timeouts to milk the shot clock and shorten the game.
“These kids aren’t machines. They aren’t robots,” Calipari said. “We just played Tennessee. It was a hyped-up game. To come on the road against a team that you know plays hard . I knew it was going to be a war.”
The Wildcats (22-4, 11-2 Southeastern Conference) had to spend the night, though, because a winter storm rolled into Missouri during the game.
“Every time we come here, it’s either an ice storm, rain storm or snow storm,” Calipari said. “I don’t know if we’re right outside of Anchorage or where we are.”
PJ Washington and Tyler Herro scored 18 points each, and Ashton Hagans added 12 for Kentucky. Ronnie Suggs led Missouri (12-13, 3-10 SEC) with 13 points, and Jordan Geist finished with 11.
A TEST OF DEPTH
Calipari said he wouldn’t know Travis’ status until he has an MRI, but he sounded prepared to carry on if Travis has to miss some games. Nick Richards, a 6-foot-11 sophomore forward, looked sharp off the bench, finishing with seven points and four rebounds in 13 minutes.
“If anybody has said, `You should have been playing me more,’ well, you’re going to play more,” Calipari said. “Have at it. Let’s see how you do now.”
SURGING SUGGS
Suggs was called to Martin’s office two weeks ago. He thought his coach wanted him to watch film. Martin had a different message: He gave Suggs a scholarship. Suggs, a junior guard, had been a walk-on since transferring from Bradley after the 2016-17 season.
“I’m forever grateful for that,” Suggs said of the scholarship. “I’m going to keep putting in the work and prove him right for giving me a scholarship.”
Suggs made key plays down the stretch to help Missouri beat Arkansas at home on Feb. 16 and was the team’s most productive offensive player against Kentucky.
“Ronnie’s issue before was always Ronnie believing in Ronnie,” Martin said. “There wasn’t any question whether he could play. He showcased that tonight.”
BAND-AID MAN’S BANNER
Derrick Chievous, who starred for the Tigers from 1985-88, had his No. 3 jersey retired at halftime. Chievous, who was known for always wearing a Band-Aid during games for no medical reason, is Missouri’s career leading scorer with 2,580 points. He is the seventh Missouri player to have his jersey raised to the rafters, joining Bill Stauffer, Norm Stewart, Willie Smith, Steve Stipanovich, Jon Sundvold and Doug Smith.
Chievous, a native of New York, has long made his home in Columbia. He works with disabled adults at a non-profit organization and said he intentionally keeps a low profile, comparing himself to a “solar eclipse, seldom seen.” He deflected questions about what it meant to have his number retired, instead focusing on the teammates, friends and family who helped along the way.
“When I came here, it was like an alien landed,” Chievous said. “The things I did and the things I said, people looked at me like, `Who is this?’ Even some of my teammates were like, `Who is this?’ For everyone to open their hearts and their housing and their arms to me, it’s been a blessing.”
BIG PICTURE
Missouri: The Tigers desperately need sophomore guard Mark Smith to regain the form he showed in the first 17 games, when he averaged more than 12 points and shot 48 percent from 3-point range. Smith sprained his ankle late in Missouri’s loss at Arkansas on Jan. 23 and missed the next six games. In the two games since returning, he has scored three points. He went scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting against Kentucky.
“I credit the guy for wanting to be a part of this team and help us win a game,” Martin said. “He has two inches of tape on his ankle. I applaud and respect him.”
Kentucky: With his 297th victory in 10 years at Kentucky, John Calipari tied Joe B. Hall for second place in wins at the school. Calipari has some work to do to catch the man at the top of the list – Adolph Rupp won 876 games in 42 years leading the Wildcats.
“I wish I hadn’t,” Calipari said of tying Hall, a friend and frequent visitor to Kentucky practices.
UP NEXT
Missouri: The Tigers play Saturday at Florida.
Kentucky: The Wildcats play host to Auburn on Saturday.
