Kentucky basketball's listless showing results in 2nd straight one-and-done at SEC tourney

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After Wade Taylor IV watched yet another 3-pointer find the bottom of the bucket for Texas A&M in Friday night’s first half, he turned toward the crowd and let the Kentucky-heavy contingent hear it.

Taylor’s triple came with 4:02 remaining in the half, extending the Aggies’ lead to 40-34 and halting a 7-0 run for the Wildcats. It wasn’t merely a momentum-stopping shot for UK; it also represented a continuation of unexpected 3-point prowess for Texas A&M, which came into Friday’s SEC Tournament quarterfinal making fewer than seven 3s per game. Taylor’s bucket was the Aggies’ eighth before intermission.

On a night when Kentucky had to be at its best — against an opponent fighting for its NCAA Tournament life — it wasn’t.

UK, the SEC Tournament’s No. 2 seed, went one and done in the event for the second straight season, and third time in its last four appearances, falling to seventh-seeded Texas A&M, 97-87, at Bridgestone Arena.

"They deserved that game the way they played," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. "Again, I mean, we give up 97. How many games you going to win giving up 97 points?"

It wasn’t only that the Wildcats (23-9) lost Friday — in what was essentially a home game with a legion of UK fans flooding Nashville; in the event coach Calipari once ruled, winning it six times in his first nine seasons (including four in a row from 2015 through 2018) — it was the manner in which they dropped only their second game in their past nine outings.

The Aggies (20-13) dominated from stem to stern. They led for more than 38 minutes. UK was on the right side of the ledger for 41 seconds. A contest Kentucky lost by 10 points had just three ties.

"We just weren't ourselves today," Calipari said. "I want to give credit to A&M because they played well. They did good stuff today."

"Good stuff," such as: A&M won the battle on the boards, 38-34. It scored more points in the paint (36-30), off turnovers (18-4) and on second-chance opportunities (26-9).

"They came out, they fought, they were physical," UK freshman guard Reed Sheppard said of Texas A&M, which clinched a spot in Saturday's semifinal round with the win. "We knew it was going to be a physical game. We didn't play like we needed to play."

The Aggies even beat the Wildcats in an area few ever would have imagined: fast-break points (18-14). Per KenPom, Texas A&M entered Friday tied for 289th nationally in adjusted tempo (possessions per 40 minutes, which are adjusted based on the opponent) at 65.5; UK was tied for 13th in Division I in that category at 72.5, which trailed only Alabama (72.6) among conference clubs.

Instead of slowing the pace, the Aggies were happy to run with the Wildcats. And as has been a problem for most of the season, Kentucky couldn’t come up with many answers defensively.

"We have shown that we can guard the best teams in the country. We have shown that you can score a hundred on us," Calipari said. "We've just got to lock in and know we've got to get better defensively."

Friday night was eerily reminiscent of the first meeting between the teams this season. That game, two months ago in College Station, Texas, saw the Aggies escape with a 97-92 victory in overtime. It came on the strength of two players: Taylor and Tyrece Radford. In January, Taylor had a game-high 31 points, followed by Radford with 28.

The pair tortured — and torched — Kentucky again Friday.

Taylor led all scorers with 32 points, and Radford finished with 23.

"He understands time, score and momentum arguably as well as anybody I've ever been around," said Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams, referring to Taylor. "He obviously has the ability to score. He kind of has a vibe for, 'Should I score? Should I shoot? Is now the right time for Texas A&M to shoot?' I think that's how he was raised. … I think it's hard to say it in words.

"I think that is an innate gift. Arguably as talented as he is offensively, that may be his best gift. I know he can score, but he can really control the game, particularly with somebody that has the ball."

Despite another lackluster defensive performance — Friday marked the seventh time this season UK has allowed an opponent to reach the 90-point mark — it was offensive miscues that bothered Sheppard every bit as much. If not more.

"A lot of that was on us, as well," said Sheppard, referencing the Wildcats' 14 turnovers. "We didn't play like we've normally been playing. We didn't share the ball. We got selfish and tried to make home run plays — just tried (to) take over the game by ourselves."

Kentucky now awaits Sunday, when it will learn its NCAA Tournament seed, opponent and first-round destination. The selection show will begin at 6 p.m. It will air nationally on CBS.

Calipari can't wait.

"We've got some stuff to figure out. But this is an unbelievable group that I'm coaching," he said. "All I told 'em is, they've got to stick together now. We've been on a run. It's all been fun. You win. All of a sudden, you get dinged.

"And now the real stuff starts next week."

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: John Calipari falls to Texas A&M at SEC tourney