Block party: Davis sets UK record
as Wildcats rout Arkansas 86-63

(Box Score)

On the night he set a University of Kentucky single-season record for blocked shots, freshman forward Anthony Davis turned in one of the best performances of his young career.

Davis scored a career-high 27 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked seven shots to lead UK to an 86-63 win versus Arkansas. The Wildcats improved to 18-1 on the season and 4-0 in Southeastern Conference play.

“He does what he does every game,” said UK head coach John Calipari. “That’s who he is. I mean, he’s getting points, not being a pig, getting up there and getting the ball.”

Davis blocked his second shot of the game with 4:54 remaining in the first half, giving him sole possession of the UK single-season record at 84. The seven blocks in the game brought his season total to 89. UK’s previous record holders — Andre Riddick and Melvin Turpin — took 34 games and 31 games respectively to reach 83 blocks.

“It’s a great accomplishment for me, especially as a freshman, not even halfway through the season yet,” Davis said. “My teammates definitely reminded me that I had the record. We just got to move on to the next game now.”

Davis wasn’t the only standout performer on the night for UK. The Wildcats shot 57.1 percent (32-56) from the field and out-rebounded Arkansas 38 to 26. Against the vaunted Arkansas pressure defense, UK turned the ball over just 12 times.

“We got better today,” Calipari said. “This is much better.”

Sophomore forward Terrence Jones scored 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked five shots. Freshman point guard Marquis Teague dished out a career-high nine assists while turning the ball over just three times.

“If we are getting closer to getting (Teague) right, if we are getting closer to getting Terrence Jones right, all of the sudden this thing takes on a little different look to it,” Calipari said.

“I was just taking the plays they gave me basically,” Teague said. “Just creating for my teammates. They were open, making shots.”

Sophomore guard Doron Lamb (14), freshman forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (10) and senior guard Darius Miller (11) also posted double-figure point totals in the game.

Arkansas did not try to slow the tempo like most of UK’s opponents have this season. The Wildcats’ success Tuesday may discourage future teams from following the Razorback’s example, but Calipari isn’t worried.

“My teams historically, if you want to play fast, we’ll play fast,” he said. “If you make us play slow, we’ll play slower. We get breakouts, we’re taking them. If you’re back there, we’ll do it.”

“I don’t see why people would want to run with us,” Teague said. “That’s what we’re really good at doing.”

UK turned in one of its most complete performances of the season, but the performance just added to Davis’ growing legend, his teammates aid.

“It’s going to be a higher record once the season is over,” Jones said of Davis’ block record. “He’s long. He’s a special player, just because how quick he gets up and how he reads shots, gets a hand on them. It’s hard to score on a guy like that.”

Davis’ performance Tuesday may have been his best to date, but he said he still has a few tricks left in his bag.

“(I’ve) still got more to my game than I’ve been showing,” he said. “Just got to keep getting better, working on my shooting, ball-handling, free throws, playing around the rim.”

Photos by Mark Boxley.