[SLIDESHOW] Cats buck Broncs 92-63 behind Patterson, Wall

UK head coach John Calipari demanded improvement on the defensive end of the floor. On Saturday, the Cats delivered.

After allowing a barrage of 3-pointers at the hands of Miami of Ohio and Sam Houston State in their previous two games, the Cats (4-0) held Rider to 23.5 percent shooting from 3-point range in a 92-63 victory at Rupp Arena.

“The thing I told them at some point there has to be a sense of urgency defensively,” Calipari said. “Well, we had it today, we really did.”

The Cats were led by junior forward Patrick Patterson and freshman guard John Wall. Patterson finished with 19 points and a career high-tying 18 rebounds. Wall scored 21 points while dishing out 11 assists, the second highest total for a UK freshman.

Calipari said he saw the difference in the Cats early, literally. The Cats were woken up at 8 a.m. and had their shootaround at 8:15 a.m. It was the first shootaround where the team displayed a sense of urgency and attentiveness, Calipari said.

“The other shootarounds I’m yelling and screaming and grabbing. This one flowed easy,” Calipari said. “Everybody listened, everybody did what they were supposed to and it was early in the morning and they did it.”

Leading up to the game the Cats said they were ready for Rider, and Rider’s early season victory over Mississippi State had grabbed their full attention. Rider beat Mississippi State on Nov. 13, shooting 62.5 percent from 3-point range in the process.

“I was really fearful of (Rider) until I saw how we defended early in the game, then I felt fine,” Calipari said. “The reason is I’ve seen us defend the last three games and I know (Rider) could come out and get 95, and if we’re not making shots we’re not getting 95.”

Following two free throws by Rider guard Ryan Thompson at the 11:45 mark in the first half to make it 18 to 12, the Cats went on a 33 to 14 run to take a 25-point lead at the half that the Broncs would never truly challenge the rest of the way.

Absent for that stretch was freshman forward DeMarcus Cousins who picked up his second foul at the 17:10 mark. Cousins sat for the remainder of the half as fellow freshman forward Daniel Orton rose to the occasion.

With Cousins sitting, Orton scored 10 points and grabbed three rebounds in the half. He played so well that when assistant coach John Robic went up to Cousins at halftime to ask if he wanted to start the second half, Cousins said Orton should start the half because of how well he played in his absence.

“(That was a) big step for our program, big step,” Calipari said. “That means they’re starting to care about one another. That means they’re starting to recognize when another guy plays well, leave him alone.”

Another big step could be the lack of turnovers from Wall, who turned the ball over only twice. Wall said the key to cutting down on those turnovers was trying not to make lazy passes.

“I smiled more than I usually do because I think we were having a great time and we were playing defense, so we have to do this every game,” Wall said.

Following the game, Calipari again stressed that the Cats have a long way to go until they’re playing to their potential, but that he likes his group.

Patterson said the win was much needed. He also said the fast pace in which they played was what they were looking for and their defense against the 3-point shot was improved.

“Overall I think the defense is definitely a step forward from what we need to carry over to Cancun with the teams that we’re about to play,” Patterson said. “I think this is a stepping stone and we’re still learning. We’re having fun out there and hopefully this will carry over to the next two games out there.”

DUNKS:

Despite playing only three minutes in the first half, Cousins finished with 18 points, six rebounds and five blocks. He played 15 minutes total … Sophomore guards DeAndre Liggins and Darnell Dodson did not see any playing time for the second straight game. Liggins has yet to play in a game this season … Senior guard Ramon Harris was applauded for the second straight game by Calipari for his defensive performance. Calipari said if he can start hitting shots he’ll steal more minutes away from sophomore guard Darius Miller. Calipari said Harris will play either way because of his defense and rebounding … Attendance was 23,912 … Scouts from the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors were present at the game … The Cats’ largest lead was by 34 with 2:15 left in the game.