In a disappointing loss littered with frustrating stat lines, two players stood out above the rest: both of Kentucky’s point guards. While neither Quade Green nor Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had ground-breaking or even career-high nights, they served as Kentucky’s most consistent forces. The pair scored 15 points apiece and grabbed a combined 10 rebounds and while committing five turnovers. Both players earned substantial minutes: Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court for a full 39 minutes; Green played for 29 minutes.
Green served as the team’s sole source of offense in the first half. He found his spark early, draining a three-pointer and easing fans’ fear of losing that beloved three-point streak with more than 16 minutes remaining in the first half.