Freshman Nerlens Noel had 17 points and 11 rebounds in Kentucky’s win over Northwood Thursday. (Victoria Graff photo)
GARY GRAVES
AP Sports Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Kentucky’s highly touted freshman class sent Big Blue Nation home from Thursday night’s exhibition opener against Northwood with something to feel good about.
Archie Goodwin scored 22 points, Nerlens Noel added 17 and Alex Poythress had 11 as the rookies led five Wildcats in double figures in a 93-61 exhibition victory.
Noel added 11 rebounds and four blocks for the third-ranked Wildcats, who got 15 points from sophomore guard Ryan Harrow and 12 from sophomore forward Kyle Wiltjer. Willie Cauley-Stein, another freshman, had eight points.
“We were better than I thought we’d be,” Wildcats coach John Calipari said. “We’re way away from where we need to be.”
For the Wildcats’ freshmen ‚Äî following in the footsteps of a team that won last season’s NCAA championship with rookies Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ‚Äî the debut was even better than expected.
Kentucky shot 61 percent and outrebounded Northwood 42-30, holding the Seahawks to 36 percent shooting. The Wildcats committed 17 turnovers, but Calipari expected that from his rookies, who he used in 12 combinations.
“It’s early, and we’re going to make mistakes,” Noel said. “If we keep working hard in the gym, we’ll cut down those mistakes and really get to balling.”
He rolled out Noel, Wiltjer, Goodwin, Poythress and Harrow to start, subbing 7-footer Cauley-Stein for Noel about five minutes in and then trying his two big men together.
At times it was just Cauley-Stein or Noel in the middle, surrounded with a combination featuring Harrow and/or Mays. But the lineup was rarely without Poythress and Goodwin, who played 18 and 19 minutes, respectively, in the first half.
“I didn’t know I was going to play that much,” said Goodwin, who shot 7 of 12 in 30 minutes at both guard spots. “It was just something that happened. I just adjusted as best as I could.”
Forward Masse Doumbe scored 25 points for Northwood, which plays in the NAIA. It was the first time back in Rupp Arena for Seahawks coach Rollie Massimino, who led Villanova to an upset of Georgetown in the 1985 NCAA championship here.
He was introduced with a video tribute of the final minutes of the Wildcats’ victory.
“That was extremely well done,” Massimino said. “I really appreciate that.”
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
9 Responses to Kentucky routs Northwood 93-61 in exhibition
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I sure do wish they’d put that tribute up on Uk athletics. I hope the crow gave him a warm welcome.
crowd was great to rollie
Based on last year’s numbers, I saw last night’s game as a 30+ win. As such, any 30+ point win is an indication that this team is as far along in its development on Nov 1 as last year’s team was on Nov 2. I also believed that a margin of 20 points or less would signal a lag in the development of this team.
If you compare the performance last night with last year’s first exhibition game, point by point, you will find many more similarities than differences, and the major differences are the names in the box scores.
Northwood was a legitimate exhibition opponent, finishing last year 33-3 losing in the NAIA championship game, and returning 4 of its 5 starters. Massamino still knows how to coach, even though he now operates with less resources.
This was an impressive performance by this young team.
Major confusion for me: Why Jon Hood only gets 3 minutes.
Major areas that are encouraging: Noel, Cauley-Stein, Harrow, and Goodwin
Major concerns: Poythress and Mays (to a much lesser extent)
Major Hope: Beckham’s back gets better so he can get some real playing time in November and December and have a legitimate chance to make a mark on this team.
hood just may not be fast enough
he will get more time on monday
The ball handling was terrible in my opinion, i guess thats why they play these exhibition games to correct the mistakes.
Ky has been fortunate……6 man rotations with no serious injury to a key player, since Cal arrived. Bledsoes nagging ankle sprain…still played through it….Hood out last season due to knee,surgery is about all that comes to mind. The law of averages would seem to dictate,that can’t continue forever,and with such a small roster,Cal will need Hood,even with his limitations, if an injury does happen. Certainly not second guessing, just can’t help wondering,is there a reason,other then his obvious limitations ? Hood only got three minutes,last night…barely more then the walk ons ? And yeah,before somebody jumps on this,I realize hes not a mega talent,can’t miss NBA all star,and has obvious limitations, but still he’d be a starter at a lot of D-1 programs.
It would appear that this years Terrance Jones is named Alex Poythress. Poythress scored 11 of the most invisable points ever scored in Rupp. The only time I remember seeing him at all was once after a foul he had committed he sat on the bench with a classic scowl aimed at the officials (probably well earned since Luckie was part of that bunch) on the floor. He does tend to disappear while on the floor much like TJ did last year but think of the upside once Cal and his staff convince him that he is a real player for this program. A little motivation is good for the soul is it not ??
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