There’s really no sign of Kentucky’s issues clearing up anytime soon.
While Alabama and Georgia look ready to lock in their CFP spots this weekend, the Wildcats are wrestling with a completely different set of problems.
You could hear it in Mark Pope’s voice after Tuesday night,the frustration, the honesty, and the sense that this was something they saw coming.
“We knew we had a problem we hadn’t solved in practice,” Pope said. “And it showed on the floor tonight.”
That’s not exactly what fans want to hear after another rough night for a defense that was supposed to be the backbone of this team. The trio of Mo Dioubate, Otega Oweh, and Brandon Garrison was expected to give Kentucky a fresh identity on that end. Instead, the defense is slipping, and even when Jayden Quaintance returns, it’s not going to magically fix everything.
The Louisville loss exposed a lot. Kentucky dropped both halves, down seven early, down one late and looked out of sync the entire way. Rotations were slow, help defense arrived too late, and the perimeter felt completely disconnected. There wasn’t much talking or supporting each other on defense, and the sloppiness carried over to the offensive end, where the Cats finished with 14 assists and 14 turnovers.
A defensive identity still missing
It’s only the third game of the year, and Pope’s teams usually settle in as the season goes on, especially once the rotations tighten. But some warning signs are hard to ignore. Oweh and Dioubate haven’t found their rhythm, Garrison seems unsure of himself, and Kentucky has played its best stretches with those three sitting. That’s not a good formula.
And realistically, those three can’t play together right now. None shoot well enough to space the floor, and it clogs everything Kentucky tries to do.
There are some bright spots. Chandler and Williams are showing progress, and there’s plenty of talent on this roster it just hasn’t blended yet.
If this carries into January, the mood around the program will change fast. For now, it’s about finding answers in practice and getting everyone on the same page.
Kentucky saw this setback coming. The key now is stopping the next one before it arrives.
The Wildcats are back at it tomorrow night on ESPN+, facing Eastern Illinois in the final game of the BBN United Tip-Off Classic.
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