In the process of routing the Asbury University Eagles 156-63 Sunday night, UK basketball made it clear that it was going to push the ball whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Even though there was a major talent gap between the two teams, the game was far from a conventional one. The Eagles took 49 threes, more than half of their shots, and continued to press the Cats no matter if it was working or not which resulted in fast breaks and easy buckets.  

From day one, UK has said that it is going to look to get out and run at any given point in the game. And throughout Sunday’s game, the team took full advantage, exploding for 60 fast break points, just three fewer than Asbury’s total points.

Regardless of the Cats’ competition, their ability to get out and run the floor is going to play a big part in deciding the outcome of games this season. With Isaiah Briscoe, De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk constantly pushing the ball up the floor, it is going to take a toll on nearly every opponent they face.

Transition basketball will allow Briscoe, Fox and Monk to work in the open floor which in turn will allow them to get easy baskets. With the transition game allowing for easy baskets, most of those baskets are going to come in the paint, and Sunday night, UK had an overwhelming 116 points in the paint.

“Coach Cal always says our best press attack is our speed,” Fox said following the game. “Sometimes you don’t have to pass. Sometimes you just dribble through it and throw a lob or get a layup.”

The only area UK struggled in Sunday night was shooting the three, going 6-19 from deep with Mychal Mulder hitting four of those and Brad Calipari and Johnny David each hitting one. It is no secret that outside shooting has been a concern, but Sunday was a prime example of a team taking advantage of what was given to them.

From here on out, everything matters. But all that matters for UK is wins, and the transition game is going to play a big part in that this season.