Kentucky’s John Calipari tossed from game, held back by players

There’s a lot at stake in today’s Kentucky Wildcats vs South Carolina Gamecocks basketball game on the ESPN sports TV network and Watch ESPN3 live streaming.

Kentucky guard Isaiah Briscoe (13) helps restrain head coach John Calipari as Calipari argued with the officials during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, in Columbia, S.C.

After Calipari was ejected for receiving two technical fouls only two minutes and 26 seconds into the game, Ulis rallied Kentucky to one of its most impressive performances of the season. When Calipari advanced toward him shouting, Sirmons threw him out of the game. When Calipari approached Sirmons after his first technical, he was quickly given a second technical foul, and his anger increased.

-Kentucky leads the all-time series 50-11 and has won three in a row.

It didn’t cost Kentucky on the scoreboard as Carrera missed three of the four free throws from the two technicals.

Kentucky kept it up in the second half, opening up a 34-point lead late in the game. In the SEC, home teams win a greater percentage of games than any high-level conference. “I thought they played with, ‘You try and take one of our guys out?”

If Calipari’s intent was to motivate his team to show some fight on the road, it certainly proved effective.

With so much now riding on the outcome of each game, USC coach Frank Martin preached to his team earlier this week to enjoy still playing meaningful games into mid-February.

This time, Calipari’s fire transferred to the Wildcats (19-6, 9-3 Southeastern Conference), who opened a 17-point lead in the first half and were eventually up 77-43 with 7 minutes remaining. Instead, Tyler Ulis (27 points, 12 assists) powered this program to its potential. The diminutive leader does this stuff every game, but it was amplified in this road situation due to Calipari’s absence, especially given that the team’s record in road games this season was a pedestrian 2-5.

Even without Calipari, it’s still very hard to beat Kentucky on the hardwood. Alabama hadn’t beaten that many Top 25 teams in one regular season since 2001-02.

Lee rose from left-for-dead status Saturday, putting up 11 points and 10 rebounds, his first double-double since November 30 against Illinois State.

SC held its previous opponents to a 42 percent clip inside the arc, 14th in the country.