By Keith Taylor
Special to NKyTribune
Dominique Hawkins embraces the big stage and it showed Saturday.
Hawkins was the next man up for No. 12 Kentucky, scoring a career-high 13 points in a 75-73 win over rival Louisville, the team’s fourth straight victory over the 16th-ranked Cardinals.
Nearly three years after leading Madison Central to the Sweet Sixteen state championship, the former Kentucky Mr. Basketball stepped up again, helping the Wildcats overcame a Louisville team seeking its first win over a ranked opponent this season.
“I feel like I play better on bigger stages,” Hawkins said. “I was confident. Every shot I threw up I felt like it was going to go in.”
Boxscore: Kentucky 75, Louisville 73
Nearly every shot by Hawkins went in, excluding a 3-pointer that bounced off the top of the backboard and dropped through the net in the second half. Overall, Hawkins made three shots on four attempts from the field, all from long range. Hawkins carried the same rhythm during pregame warmups.
“(I had a) good warm up, plus, it’s a big game,” Hawkins said.
The ending in the latest installment of the rivalry played out well for Hawkins, who envisioned the same result as a child playing pickup games in Richmond.
“Me and my friends used to always pretend back on outside goals that, like, Kentucky vs. Louisville,” he said. “One of my friends is a Louisville fan, I’m a Kentucky fan. We did like a two-on-two games (and) usually, Kentucky would always win.”
The performance by Hawkins couldn’t have came at a better time for the Wildcats, who were without Isaiah Briscoe, who injured his ankle during pregame warmups. Charles Matthews started in place of Briscoe, but it was Hawkins who came through off the bench.
Hawkins made a clutch 3-pointer and two free throws down the stretch but passed up a shot that led to a shot-clock violation in the closing seconds, giving the Cards one last chance to tie or win the game with a 3-pointer. Damion Lee’s trey was off the mark at the buzzer, securing the win for the Wildcats.
Although the play ended up being a non-issue, Hawkins took the blame.
“I just didn’t pay attention,” he said. “That was my fault on that possession.”
After hearing of Briscoe’s mishap with a trainer during shoot-around drills before tipoff, Hawkins had an idea he may get an opportunity to get more playing time.
“I was thinking that it’s my shot — that I’d probably get a lot of playing time, which I did,” he said. “But Briscoe would have been great for this game, getting in the lane and getting open shots for people as well.”
Despite not having his second-leading scorer in the lineup, Calipari was happy with how it all played out, especially for Hawkins.
“(He) never changed his emotion the whole time,” Calipari said. “He defended, he’ll fight like crazy, he’s got a great temperament (and) a great demeanor. One of the great kids of all-time. I mean literally one of the great kids.”
As one of four in-state players on Kentucky’s roster, Hawkins was beyond words in being able to describe the feeling of being able to contribute to the team’s win over their biggest state rival.
“I really can’t put it into words,” Hawkins said. “It’s beyond whatever amazing is. To be able to be a Kentuckian and play that well, I’m just blessed.”
It’s not certain how much playing time Hawkins will receive in the future, especially when Briscoe returns, but he plans to be ready to contribute, just like he did against the Cardinals.
“I just have to be ready every time my name is called,” he said.
Notes
* Tyler Ulis led the Wildcats with 21 points, tying a career-high. Ulis made three treys and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player by the Bluegrass Sports Commission. He also won the award in 2014.
* Kentucky placed four players in double figures. Alex Poythress followed Ulis with 14 points, Hawkins had 13 and Jamal Murray scored 12.
* Calipari improved to 8-1 against the Cards in his tenure as coach of the Wildcats and became the second-fasted coach to reach 200 wins at one school. He is the only coach in Division I history to record at least 189 wins at three difference schools.
* Marcus Lee scored eight points and has made 26 of his last 34 shots from the field.
Game tracker: Ole Miss at Kentucky, Saturday, 7 p.m. TV/Radio: SEC Network (Channel 27), 98.1 FM WBUL.
Keith Taylor is a columnist and senior sports writer who covers University of Kentucky athletics for KyForward.com