Kentucky’s players want to prove their ‘haters’ wrong. They’re about to get three chances.
For all the points Kentucky put on the Memorial Gym scoreboard Tuesday night, that wasn’t the main topic of conversation after the game.
The No. 17-ranked Wildcats beat Vanderbilt 109-77, another mesmerizing show of offensive might and the most points a UK basketball team has scored on the SEC road in 28 years. But everyone already knew these Cats could light it up. Can they keep other teams — good teams — from doing it?
They’re about to get three chances.
“I just told ’em: I’m gonna have to play different people, and I really don’t care who you are and how many baskets you score, because we’re not winning trying to just outscore people,” John Calipari said after the 32-point win. “We proved that the two games before.”
In those two games, Kentucky scored 92 and 91 points. And they lost both times. At home.
Calipari, who typically prioritizes defense and rebounding above all else, has admittedly let this young bunch freelance a little more often, playing through mistakes on offense and taking chances on defense, a uniquely talented group that can look like world-beaters when they’re on.
When they’re off, things get ugly. And their attention to detail on defense has often been lacking.
Calipari knows that any team — even the offensively brilliant ones — must have at least a competent defense to stand any realistic chance of a meaningful NCAA Tournament run. Time is ticking out on this Kentucky team to live up to that standard, as evidenced by Calipari’s shifting tone in recent weeks.
“It isn’t like we’re that bad,” he replied to a question about UK’s defense following the Cats’ 97-92 loss at Texas A&M last month. At that moment, Kentucky was ranked in the 50s nationally in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. But time would show that the Wildcats were that bad.
They went into Tuesday night’s matchup with Vanderbilt at No. 103 nationally in defensive efficiency, practically a March Madness death warrant. After that 109-77 win, they actually dropped a spot — to No. 104 in the country.
Calipari still sees hope for this team on defense.
“Georgia, the first half, why isn’t that us?” he asked aloud Tuesday night. “‘Because I choose not to be that.’ OK, then you’re gonna choose to sit on the bench.”
In that Georgia game — the one where Zvonimir Ivisic went off in his college basketball debut — Kentucky outscored the Bulldogs 54-35 in the first half, then surrendered a whopping 61 points in the second half of a closer-than-expected 105-96 victory.
UK’s players “told on themselves” in that first half — and a few other instances this season — Calipari would say. These players have the athleticism and basketball smarts to be effective on that side of the ball. Yet, they haven’t been able to put together consistent defensive efforts.
The next three games will put these Cats to the test.
First, Gonzaga on Saturday. Then, Ole Miss on Tuesday. Both of those will be back in Rupp Arena. Then, a trip to Auburn next weekend, perhaps the toughest game left on UK’s schedule.
What do all three of these opponents have in common? They’re all positioned in the top 30 nationally in offensive efficiency, with coaches — Mark Few, Chris Beard and Bruce Pearl, respectively — who know how to break down an opposing defense.
The Zags are 28th in offensive efficiency and 10th nationally in 2-point shooting percentage. The Rebels are 29th in offensive efficiency and 11th in the country in 3-point shooting percentage. Auburn is 10th in offensive efficiency and one of the deepest teams in America.
Calipari said Tuesday night that 70% of Kentucky’s remaining practice time would be spent on defense. He wants players totally bought in on that end. He wants to see Wildcats battling for rebounds and diving on the floor at every opportunity. He doubled down on the idea that — if a player isn’t doing that, no matter the name on the back of the jersey — he’s out.
“You have to commit to defending, because it doesn’t matter who’s the five on the court offensively,” he said. “But if it matters defensively, and if you’re the issue, you’re not playing. And I don’t care who you are. … We have to lock in defensively. If we become, let’s just say, 8-10% better defensively, and we start playing a little more physical, and we’re diving on the floor — now, the way we score, it’s a different deal.
“Look, I’ve said it. I’m not trading this team for any team. I believe in ’em. I told them that. We have a lot of weapons. We have a lot of playmakers. Will we get better defensively? Will we continue to dive on the floor?”
After the Vanderbilt game, Antonio Reeves and Justin Edwards said rebounding has been a major point of emphasis in recent days. Edwards chuckled at the amount of rebounding drills they’ve been doing.
“That was one of our main focal points coming into this game,” Reeves said.
Kentucky outrebounded Vandy 50-28, managed 18 offensive boards and outscored the ’Dores 26-14 in second-chance points. But, it bears repeating, Vanderbilt isn’t very good.
The next three teams on Kentucky’s schedule are all projected to be in the NCAA Tournament.
“Get gritty on the defensive end,” Reeves said of the Wildcats’ outlook on the future.
Edwards said Kentucky’s players have been working more on running opponents off the 3-point line, making them drivers instead of shooters, funneling them toward the basket and one or two of the Wildcats’ 7-footers instead of giving them easy looks elsewhere.
Reeves knows Gonzaga will bring it offensively. “They’ve always been good,” he said. The Zags are averaging 84.7 points per game, always a threat to fill it up.
Kentucky’s players also know what’s being said about their defensive abilities. They want to flip the narrative. The only way to do that is to perform on the court. And they’re about to be tested.
“We can just show it,” Reeves said. “We can show what we’re really about. And all of the fans — or haters — out there, we can show ’em we’re a great defensive team.”
Next game
Gonzaga at No. 17 Kentucky
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
TV: CBS-27
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: Gonzaga 17-6 (8-2 West Coast), Kentucky (16-6, 6-4 SEC)
Series: Tied 1-1
Last meeting: Gonzaga won 88-72 on Nov. 20, 2022, at Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington
This story was originally published February 8, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
