Kentucky’s Struggles: Defensive Woes and Disappointing 3-Point Shooting
Kentucky’s basketball team is facing multiple issues early in the season, and their struggles go beyond just poor defense. One of their key strengths heading into the year was supposed to be 3-point shooting, but that hasn’t panned out as expected.
Despite high hopes for their perimeter shooting, the Wildcats have failed to live up to the preseason expectations set by players and coaches alike. Mark Pope’s team talked up their ability to shoot the three, but the results have been far from impressive.
Before the season began, leading scorer Otega Oweh expressed surprise at how well the team was shooting during the offseason. Oweh, along with coaches and teammates, believed that the Wildcats had become a much better shooting team. However, the reality so far has been different. Players like sophomore guard Kam Williams and Jaland Lowe had shown some promise last season, but Kentucky’s shooting numbers have been far below expectations.
Through the first five games of this season, the Wildcats are shooting just 31.9% from beyond the arc, a stark contrast to their performance last year, when they shot over 40% in multiple games early on. In their losses to Louisville and Michigan State, the team shot a combined 19-for-64 (29.7%) from three, highlighting their struggles against quality opponents.
Collin Chandler has been a bright spot, shooting an impressive 51.9% from deep, but this is likely unsustainable. Other key shooters, including Oweh and Williams, have struggled significantly, with Oweh shooting just 29.4% and Williams hitting only 26.7% of his attempts. Even new additions like Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate have underperformed, with Dioubate making just 1 of 11 three-pointers.
In addition to their shooting woes, Kentucky’s defense has been inconsistent. In losses to Louisville and Michigan State, the Wildcats failed to stop strong offensive teams, which has only amplified their shooting struggles. Coach Pope has acknowledged that defense remains a priority, but it’s clear that the Wildcats’ inability to shoot consistently is making it even harder to compensate for their defensive shortcomings.
Pope has been vocal about the team’s lack of discipline, particularly in their shot selection. In the loss to Michigan State, he noted that the Wildcats were “distracted” and “undisciplined,” leading to rushed, poor shots. The team’s offensive flow has been lacking, especially with point guard Lowe sidelined with an injury. Without a true creator to break down defenses, Kentucky often settles for bad perimeter shots.
The team’s assist numbers are another cause for concern. Against Michigan State, Kentucky had just 13 assists, a season low, and shot only 23% from three. Pope’s typical critique of low assist totals is that it signals poor team basketball, and it’s clear that the Wildcats are still figuring out how to play together effectively.
Ultimately, for Kentucky to reach their potential, they need to improve both defensively and offensively. They must become more disciplined in their shooting and execution, or they risk falling behind in an already challenging season. As Pope put it, the team is a “work in progress,” and he takes responsibility for not being able to get the message across clearly. The Wildcats have a long way to go, and the next few games will be crucial in determining if they can turn things around.
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