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Julius Mays gives fans a scare in Kentucky exhibition win

Transylvania v Kentucky

LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 05: Julius Mays #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball during the exhibition game against the Transylvania Pioneers at Rupp Arena on November 5, 2012 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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John Calipari has been extremely lucky in that his Kentucky team’s haven’t had problems with injuries. The general bumps and bruises come with the season, but rarely has he had to deal with a major break or tear.

He may have gotten one of his biggest scares in the Wildcats’ 74-28 victory over cross-town college Transylvania. Fifth-year senior guard Julius Mays went knee-to-knee with a Pioneer’s player midway through the second half and went down to the court as a result. Staying down for a few minutes while trainers attended to him in front of a deathly-quiet crowd at Rupp Arena. He left the game and didn’t return.

It could’ve been a huge blow because Mays is one of the unsung tools of a Calipari attack, the shooter. Since his Memphis days, Calipari has always kept a dead-eye gunner who can stretch the defense and open the driving lanes for the wings and slashers. He’s had that with Kentucky in Darnell Dodson (albeit poorly), then Doron Lamb the last two years.

Fortunately for Big Blue Nation, Mays was checked out by team trainers postgame and his ACL and MCL both look good. He should be ready to go for the team’s regular season opener on Friday against Maryland at the brand-spankin'-new Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Great news for Mays, who could’ve been the man at Wright State as a senior, but wanted to win on a major level in his final collegiate season. And even better news for Kentucky and Calipari, who dodges the injury bullet in regards to his shooter.

David Harten is the editor of The Backboard Chronicles. You can follow him on Twitter at @David_Harten.