Kentucky doesn't play to standards, nearly stumbles at lowly Missouri

The No. 11 Wildcats don't assert themselves against the also-ran Tigers until the final eight minutes

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- At halftime Tuesday night, Kentucky had been outplayed by a woman on a unicycle balancing ceramic bowls on her head.

Such was the dazzling show put on at Missouri by Red Panda. Such was the effort put forth most of the night by Big Blue.

I don’t know if No. 11 Kentucky will win the SEC or if it has the best backcourt in the country of if it can win it all.

I do know the Cats got outplayed -- before and after Red Panda, too -- by one of the worst teams in the country Tuesday night.

And, for now, that’s enough. Enough concern.

The obvious easy angle -- for some -- Tuesday night will be a near-career game for Bam Adebayo in the Wildcats’ 72-62 victory at Missouri.

The 6-foot-10 freshman double-doubled his way to 22 points (on only nine shots) and 15 rebounds.

“I feel like I played great,” Adebayo said.

There’s some confirmation. As good as Adebayo was, at times hubris won out over effort. Good thing, because a Missouri team that has lost to North Carolina Central, Eastern Illinois and Lipscomb was tied with the mighty Cats 52-52 with 7:44 left.

“They just outfought us, which is why the game was close,” John Calipari said. “There were [loose] balls where it was like we weren’t playing.”

Take that for what it’s worth, Big Blue Nation, because you hang on every word uttered about your team anyway.

But let’s get this out of the way before the SEC is likely decided against Florida on Saturday in Lexington. Without Adebayo showing out Tuesday night, “We lose,” Calipari said.

“If someone passes on him in the draft this year, they should be f-f-f-fired. The reason is he can guard five positions.”

Only at Kentucky can the coach stump for draft position in the dog days of February.

And that doesn’t explain why the backcourt of Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox went a combined 8 for 22. Sure, they’re allowed downers, too. Monk is trending toward being the highest scoring Cat of the Calipari-era (21.4 points per game). Missouri is trending toward the lower rungs of the SEC. The Tigers had lowest RPI (249) of any Kentucky opponent this season.

“I feel like every game is winnable,” said embattled Missouri coach Kim Anderson, whose Tigers are now 7-20.

If hustle points apply, then give Missouri some lovely parting gifts. Spry 5-foot-11 guard Terrence Phillips (22 points) looked like he could get to the basket anytime he wanted.

Phillips, from Southern California, had one other offer, from Loyola of Chicago. On Tuesday, Phillips looked like he could play for Kentucky instead of against them.

“Now is not the time to be antsy,” Calipari told his players earlier in the day. “It’s when you lose [and] your season ends. That’s not this …

“These kids are not robots. They’re not computers. I had to get on some guys today. It was lack of confidence.”

A crisis of confidence for Kentucky? Maybe that’s the headline for a program that considers just making the Final Four falling short.

In fact, this one looked loseable for Kentucky after Wenyen Gabriel got called for traveling before the under-8 media timeout. Cal took time to bark at an official, who T’d him up.

“I can say this,” Cal said. “I did not swear but I did deserve it.”

Whatever he said, it worked. After tying it 52-52, Missouri made two baskets the rest of the way.

It’s easy to look ahead, because Kentucky is always looking ahead. Half the time, the mighty Wildcats play against their own expectations. Missouri just happened to be on the schedule Tuesday night.

“It’s a long day,” Adebayo said, explaining the effort. “Everybody just laying around getting ready for the game.”

If he thinks 9 p.m. ET starts are tough now, wait until the tournament, when the Final Four championship game can start at 9:30.

There we go, looking ahead again.