No. 4 Kentucky’s 90-89 overtime win over No. 7 Gonzaga marks a significant comeback for the Wildcats under coach Mark Pope. The victory, which extends UK’s winning streak against top-10 teams, demonstrates Pope’s ability to rally his team from adversity.
The game was a tale of two halves, with Kentucky essentially shutting down in the first half but dominating in the second half. Pope employed a 1-3-1 zone defense, which took Gonzaga out of its rhythm and led to a 21-6 run that flipped the game.
What’s more impressive is that UK played the entire game without its starting point guard, Lamont Butler, and lost its other primary lead guard, Kerr Kriisa, in the final minutes. Despite these challenges, Kentucky relied on its balance and depth to secure the win.
The Wildcats’ victory was a rare recent success for one of men’s college basketball’s traditional powers against Mark Few’s Gonzaga. With this win, UK extends its record against top-10 teams, and Pope’s ability to lead his team in high-pressure situations is evident.
Source: https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mark-story/article296740764.html