Kentucky basketball is known for its high-scoring, up-tempo style, but a recent loss to Ohio State suggests the team needs to adapt and learn how to win ugly.
The Wildcats led the NCAA in scoring, averaging 91.3 points per game, before falling 85-65 to the Buckeyes. The game was marked by limited possessions, with Kentucky managing just 67 shots against Ohio State.
Coach Mark Pope acknowledged that his team struggled to adjust to a slower tempo, which allowed opponents to take advantage of their offense. “We tried a bunch of different scheme changes and, at the end of day, [Bruce Thornton] was too good for us,” Pope said.
Thornton’s 30 points were instrumental in the Buckeyes’ victory, as he exploited Kentucky’s defense after being rejected by his screener. The loss marked the Cats’ first game since November where they failed to crack the 70-point mark.
Pope and the team will need to find ways to win games through defensive adjustments and limit opponents’ scoring opportunities. This won’t be the last time an opponent resorts to a deliberate approach, as teams will look for weaknesses in Kentucky’s defense to exploit.
The loss serves as a blueprint for how to beat the Wildcats, particularly on the defensive end. Pope and his team must learn from this experience and make necessary adjustments to turn slower games into victories.
Source: https://eu.courier-journal.com/story/sports/columnists/c-l-brown/2024/12/21/kentucky-basketball-mark-pope-ohio-state-cbs-sports-classic/76848339007