Cats keep threatening to snap 3-point streak

The palpable angst in the Rupp Arena crowd seemed counterintuitive. No. 1 Kentucky led Eastern Kentucky by 25 points with less than five minutes to go Sunday night, but fans were worried. Some of them shrieked "Three!" every time the Wildcats got the ball late in the game.

"I actually had no idea until I asked somebody during the game why everyone was yelling for a three," sophomore forward Marcus Lee said. "I was very lost, but I understood once I asked. I just (thought) people were getting really riled up for no reason."

But the reason was Kentucky had missed its first 10 3-point tries, meaning the program's streak of more than 900 consecutive games with at least one made three was in jeopardy in the final three minutes for the second time in as many games.

"They're the greatest fans," freshman Karl-Anthony Towns said. "They provide us with a lot of energy sometimes when we're down, and they give us that extra boost that we need. I was just thinking of it more like that – they were giving us that boost to keep playing hard, play to the last horn. Now I know what they were thinking."

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The crowd finally let out a relieved roar when Aaron Harrison hit a 3-pointer with 2:57 to go, extending the streak to 909 straight games. While others might've been oblivious, Harrison and freshman Devin Booker knew exactly what was at stake.

"Devin was aware of it at the end of the game and was telling us we had to hit one to keep the streak alive," forward Trey Lyles said. "We don't want to be the team that ends the streak."

These Cats sure are flirting with it, though. They've hit just 29.5 percent of their 3-point attempts so far, the worst nine-game clip in coach John Calipari's six seasons at UK. Last season's team (33.6 percent) was next-worst start from deep and the 2010-11 Final Four team (40.3 percent) was the best.

"We would obviously like to make more," assistant coach John Robic said. "It's just repetition, and we'll knock them down when needed."

Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582-4361. Follow him on Twitter @KyleTucker_CJ.

CAL'S CATS SHOOTING THREES THROUGH NINE GAMES

2014-15 – 44 of 149 (29.5 percent)

2013-14 – 49 of 146 (33.6 percent)

2012-13 – 51 of 135 (37.8 percent

2011-12 – 48 of 130 (36.9 percent)

2010-11 – 73 of 181 (40.3 percent)

2009-10 – 53 of 144 (36.8 percent)