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Kentucky Wildcats defeat New Mexico State Aggies 86-46 in the season opener at Rupp Arena. Freshman guards D.J. Wagner, Rob Dillingham, and Reed Sheppard shine, combining for 42 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists. Sheppard impresses with 11 points, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Kentucky leads 37-29 at halftime and dominates the second half, outscoring New Mexico State 49-17. Kentucky improves to 100-21 in season openers and remains undefeated under coach John Calipari when holding opponents to 55 points or less.
Michigan basketball season-opener set to tip off in moments against a dangerous, experienced UNC-Asheville team. U-M Starting 5: Dug McDaniel, Nimari Burnett, Terrance Williams, Olivier Nkamhoua and Tarris Reed Jr. https://t.co/om7wMe1odP
"I'm trying to get us to think about us playing against ourselves. How good can we be?" That question is still to be determined. But Kentucky looked in midseason form Monday night in its 86-46 win over New Mexico State in the 2023-24 opener. https://t.co/8bfj2WXkXL
Game 1: UNC Asheville at Michigan Preview - https://t.co/JNiBSBUEFT https://t.co/JNiBSBUEFT
Jason Hooten had the unenviable task Monday night of starting his New Mexico State coaching tenure with a trip to No. 16 Kentucky. But it also gleaned new insights into what it's like to coach against the 2023-24 version of the Wildcats ⬇️ https://t.co/iNMt3SnABj
John Calipari on Reed Sheppard: “Reed may have the best hands of anyone I’ve coached” Sheppard had 11 points 2 blocks and 2 steals in #Kentucky’s win #BBN @WHAS11
Trailing Morgan State more often than not in the first half last season at McKale Center, Arizona led throughout the first half this time: https://t.co/i2xMw2peqx
FINAL: #Kentucky 86, NMSU 46 Check out some of the highlights from the Wildcat's 1st win of the regular season. More to come with @WHAS11Kent tonight at 11! #BBN @WHAS11 https://t.co/ZfmLpKfmjg
Meanwhile, in Lexington... FINAL: No. 16 Kentucky 86, New Mexico State 46 (Solid first half for coach Jason Hooten's debut, but Wildcats went off for a 49-17 second half)
One game in, Kentucky is 1-0 as expected. Tougher competition to come, to be sure. But scoring 86 while going just 9 of 29 from 3 — and missing a TON of wide-open shots from distance — is a positive for UK. Points should come EASY for this team.
Kentucky's freshman guards D.J. Wagner, Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard combine for 42 points on 16-for-30 shooting, 12 rebounds, 9 assists and just one turnover. Just one game against New Mexico State, but promising nonetheless.
FINAL: Kentucky 86, New Mexico State 46 Ugly first half, followed by a second-half romp. UK shot 50 percent, attempted 29 3s, played with pace and space, 17 assist, 6 turnovers. All the freshmen went off. That's a very encouraging season opener. https://t.co/vIZz5it0Hn
Final: Kentucky 86, New Mexico State 46 Final box: https://t.co/TuaQQJLZ3y
With No. 16 Kentucky's 86-46 win tonight over New Mexico State... - UK is 100-21 all-time in season openers. - UK is 221-21 in Rupp Arena under John Calipari - UK is a perfect 90-0 under Calipari when holding the opponent to 55 points or less
Arizona is on a 9-0 run and Morgan State calls timeout as the Wildcats lead 22-10 with 13:24 left in the first half.
Kentucky now with five players in double figures. Cats up 74-46 on New Mexico State with 5:09 left at Rupp.
Kentucky men's basketball now has 5 players in double-figure scoring tonight: Sheppard (12), Dillingham (12), Reeves (11), Wagner (11) and Edwards (10) First time that UK has had 5 players score 10+ points since Jan. 24 (win at Vanderbilt)
TIMEOUT: #Kentucky 65, NMSU 44 Wildcats are cruising offensively, and have 11 steals on the other side of the floor #BBN @WHAS11
Tre Mitchell and Justin Edwards with a couple of violent dunks in quick succession. Kentucky 65, New Mexico State 44, 7:08 2H Cats just 6 of 22 from 3, with many open misses, or this would be a runaway.
Reed Sheppard finishes a tough one at the rim, then swats a jumper from behind. Dude is an absolute hooper. Now 12 points, 3 boards, 2 blocks, 2 steals, 1 assist, 0 turnovers in 17 minutes. Kentucky rolling.
Kentucky has extended its lead to 54-35 and New Mexico State wants time with 11:44 left at Rupp.
Kentucky has had some really good ball movement at times in this game, getting to open shots. Rob Dillingham the beneficiary that time, splashed 3. Kentucky 48, New Mexico State 33, 14:54 2H Cats are 4 of 5 shooting to open this half, just four total turnovers in 25 minutes.
Timeout on the floor with 14:54 to play: Kentucky leads 48-33 and has outscored New Mexico State by seven (11-4) since the second half began.
HALF: #Kentucky 37, New Mexico State 29. Antonio Reeves and Reed Sheppard both with 8 points after a half #BBN @WHAS11
HALFTIME: Kentucky 37, New Mexico State 29 It was an extremely blah first 20 minutes of the season for the Wildcats, but it looks like maybe John Calipari can just go with the "Let Reed Sheppard cook" plan for the next 20. https://t.co/AcId6NoyKm
8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals for Reed Sheppard in his first half of regular season basketball for Kentucky. New environment. New role. Same results for Sheppard ⬇️ https://t.co/BnlmHMEQ6U
Halftime: Kentucky 37, New Mexico State 29 The halftime box: https://t.co/ylUuWT1jq8
HALFTIME: No. 16 Kentucky 37, New Mexico State 29
HALFTIME: Kentucky 37, New Mexico State 29. Wildcats' leading scorers are Antonio Reeves and Reed Sheppard (eight each). Robert Carpenter has nine for the Aggies. UK was 12 of 31 (38.7%) from the field in the first half, going 4 for 13 (30.8%) from 3.
TIMEOUT: Kentucky leads 27-20 with 3:05 Reed Sheppard playing aggressive defense. Had 2 quick steals and almost had another right before the timeout. #BBN @WHAS11
Sheppard fouled on a three, sinks them all. Five points, three boards, two steals, one block in the first eight minutes of his college career for the golden boy of the bluegrass.
No. 16 Kentucky has opened up a 32-22 lead over New Mexico State with 2:12 left in the 1st half. UK is 329-14 (95.9%) in the John Calipari era when leading by at least 10 points at any time in a game.
With 3:05 left in the first half, New Mexico State is outrebounding Kentucky 21-18.
Reed Sheppard is gonna play. A bunch. He's played eight minutes, has two steals, a block and a runout slam. Missed his other pick-six attempt, but Jordan Burks cleaned it up. Kentucky 27, New Mexico State 20, 3:05 1H Sheppard the highlight so far.
Highlight play by Reed Sheppard, with the back tip resulting in a steal. D.J. Wagner saved the ball up ahead to Sheppard for a fast break jam. Kentucky 25, New Mexico State 20 with 5:10 left in first half.
Reed Sheppard gives the people what they want. Steal, slam, and Rupp roars for the first college points for the son of two former UK stars.
Reed Sheppard knocks the ball away and it's saved by D.J. Wagner. He then passes it upcourt to Sheppard, who takes it in for the dunk. Loudest the crowd has been all night. UK up 25-20.
Kentucky shooting just 35 percent but only one turnover in the first 12 1/2 minutes -- and holding New Mexico State to 27 percent shooting. It's 23-17 lead. Clunky (or clanky) start.
New Mexico State had cut UK's lead to 17-15, but Cats up 23-17 with 7:32 left in first half. Cats are 7 of 20 from the floor for 35 percent. They are 3 of 10 from three-point range. New Mexico State is shooting 27.3 percent.
Antonio Reeves' first points of the season come on a triple at the 9:59 mark. Timeout on the floor with Kentucky leading New Mexico State 20-15.
Not a dream start on opening night for Kentucky against a New Mexico State team that was thrown together from spare parts. Just a 17-15 lead after 10 minutes. UK 5 of 14 shooting, 1 of 6 from 3.
Kentucky about to tip off its 2023-24 season against New Mexico State at Rupp Arena. Here's how to watch (if you're not here) and other things to know with game time just minutes away. https://t.co/hPCF4rWz7W
#Kentucky basketball is back! #16 Wildcats tip off now with New Mexico State! #BBN @WHAS11 https://t.co/cFalboteqx
Kentucky basketball starters for opener: 21-D.J. Wagner 12-Antonio Reeves 1-Justin Edwards 3-Adou Thiero 4-Tre Mitchell
National Anthem at Rupp Arena for Kentucky-New Mexico State. https://t.co/GHOh2wuij6
Starting lineup for No. 16 Kentucky basketball in tonight's season opener against New Mexico State: D.J. Wagner Antonio Reeves Justin Edwards Adou Thiero Tre Mitchell
Live updates: Kentucky men’s basketball vs. New Mexico State from Rupp Arena #BBN #ukbasketball https://t.co/fbd9jQalYt
#Kentucky opens up their season tonight against New Mexico State. With such a young group, be prepared to see a lot of, what John Calipari calls "random" basketball. My hit from Rupp: @WHAS11 #BBN https://t.co/ksddCJXopk
This is Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. No. 16 UK against New Mexico State at 8 p.m. (SEC Network) to get the 2023-24 season started. Jordan Burks and Joey Hart on the court right now. Aaron Bradshaw is too, but he isn’t doing much besides the occasional shot and dance move https://t.co/LM23jPS2vE
Breakdown: Arizona vs. Morgan State https://t.co/gtkz6vsyFr