Calipari, No. 1 Kentucky to meet former assistant Antigua

It was the first meeting between Kentucky coach John Calipari and Bulls coach Orlando Antigua, a former United Kingdom assistant coach in his second season at South Florida.

Friday in the Hoophall Miami Invitational at the American Airlines Arena, Antigua will be reunited with Kentucky coach John Calipari. Freshman center Skal Labissiere had 16 points and seven boards in that game.

The loss drops the Bulls to 0-5 in school history against No. 1 ranked opponents and marks the 17th consecutive loss to a ranked opponent.

Sophomore guard Tyler Ulis left the game with a hyperextended right elbow in the first half and did not return.

Kentucky’s next game is Monday hosting Illinois State. But South Florida wasn’t facing Kentucky on those nights, and as Calipari so often says, Kentucky is everybody’s Super Bowl.

It was a reunion for plenty of people on both benches. Antigua’s staff includes another former Calipari assistant in Rod Strickland, plus former Kentucky basketball staff members Mike Malone and Dominic Lombardi.

“We just thought that we have to pick it up and somebody has to take over and lead the team”, Murray said. Isaiah Briscoe also had 6 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds. If Labissiere defends the paint as well as he did in this game, Kentucky has the best rim protection in the nation.

The Wildcats have won five straight games to open up the season, while the Bulls notched their first victory last time out. Kentucky is struggling big time with the long ball but has still scored no less than 74 points this season. Going back to last season, Kentucky’s last five games away from Lexington have been in either an NBA (Cleveland, Chicago and Miami) or NFL (Indianapolis) facility. South Florida toppled UAlbany, 63-61 on Tuesday. The Bulls are 0-5 against teams ranked No. 1. South Florida post Jaleel Cousins, the younger brother of former Kentucky star DeMarcus Cousins, finished with 12 points, three rebuonds, a steal and a block … It was an experience that the Wildcats have grown accustomed to over the years under Coach Cal, and one that not only provided a smile on the kids’ faces, but helped the team get even closer and realize their position as Kentucky basketball players. Nunez sat out the 2012-13 season after leaving Louisville.

The ‘Cats have been great at pressuring ball-handlers and forcing turnovers early on this season, and that continued vs. USF.

The game was particularly meaningful to Miami Heat President Pat Riley. Riley played for Kentucky from 1964 to 1967, and was in the crowd on Friday.