Kentucky Thumps Mizzou 88-54

While they’re not as dominant as they were in the past few seasons, the Kentucky Wildcats are still one of the nation’s top programs. They showed why on Wednesday night, when they demolished Mizzou 88-54.

The Tigers actually scored the game’s opening points but, from then on, it was all Kentucky as the Wildcats rattled off a 20-0 run and never looked back. Tylers Ulis led the way with 20 points while junior Derek Willis added a career-high 18.

“I thought the beginning of the game was the difference,” Missouri coach Kim Anderson said following his team’s fifth straight loss. “They completely dominated it. We had no answer for anybody for a long time.”

The win also stood in stark contrast to Kentucky’s loss to Auburn earlier in the month; the Wildcats have now won three straight after that defeat. “We are playing desperate now,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “We are playing with an attitude. Refuse to lose.”

Willis’ improved performances are also helping the team. After scoring 77 points in his first 40 games with the team, he’s notched 94 in his past 14 and working his way into the rotation.

“I am still building more confidence, but I just want to have a mindset to win,” he said.

His coach has noticed a difference in his play, too. “Since I put him in the lineup, he is averaging double-digit rebounds and stretching the floor out. He has made us a different team,” Calipari said.

Photo: Alex Poythress #22 of the Kentucky Wildcats blocks the shot of Nick Banyard #0 of the Illinois State Redbirds at Rupp Arena on November 30, 2015 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)