The Wildcats led by 12 with under 12 minutes remaining. The Wildcats gave up multiple threes and Auburn found their way back into the game.
Tyler Ulis became the only player on the floor for Kentucky who was attempting to control the game. Every other Wildcat stood and watched as Ulis carried the weight.
Ulis managed to get Kentucky a 2-point lead with a minute left. This lead didn't last long as Auburn's Kareem Canty made the layup and got fouled to give the Tigers a 1-point lead they would not lose.
Kentucky Collapse
Kentucky's 12-point lead didn't diminish, it was destroyed. A double-digit lead was lost in less than a four minute span.
The Tigers were able to get back into the game with unbelievable shooting from the perimeter. No matter where the shot was from behind the arc, it had a chance of going in.
Auburn's Canty was the prime example of the Tigers and their superb 3-point shooting. He hit five on his own, including an incredible bank-shot in the face of 6'9 Derek Willis in the late going.
Kentucky's defense had no problem staying on the shooters, keeping the ball from going in the basket after a contested shot was the issue.
The Blue-Blood
Willis had what was arguably his best game of his career at UK. The Mount Washington native had 12 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double at Kentucky.
His shooting was sub-par but his effort was beyond every other Kentucky big man. Willis brought his absolute A-game and was not able to will his team to a win.
Toughness
The Wildcats must get tough. Their season goes nowhere if they lie down and let other teams expose them every game.
There was trash talk before the game from Auburn's Cinmeon Bowers about Kentucky's guards. Last year, West Virginia's Daxter Miles talked some trash and watched his team get blown out of the water in the Sweet Sixteen.
This year, that pride didn't show up. These Wildcats did not show enough fight to prove that you can't trash talk UK and win.
Instead, they got embarrassed by a team they should beat.
Player Statistics
Kareem Canty- Canty is the player of the game from every perspective. He hit shot after shot in the faces of multiple Kentucky defenders. He finished with a game-high 26 points in the win.
Tyler Harris- Harris was another player beating Kentucky from the outside. His quiet double-double kept UK off the offensive glass. He had 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Jamal Murray- Murray started the game hot but slowly cooled down as he tried to do too much. The freshmen had a poor shooting night but finished with 20 points on 8-22 shooting.
Tyler Ulis- Ulis flirted with a triple-double, not something you see every day for a 5'9 player. The point guard had 17 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in what could have been his best all around game of the season.
Next Up
#14 Kentucky at Arkansas 1/21/16
Alabama at Auburn 1/19/16