Lower than two weeks in the past, Kentucky was 15-3, having gained eight of its previous 9 video games and slotting in because the sixth-ranked workforce within the nation. Since then, although, issues have modified.
It’s been a stark flip in mojo for head coach John Calipari and the Wildcats. Kentucky has misplaced three of its previous 4 contests, two at Rupp Area final week to Florida (94-91) and Tennessee (103-92).
Now, the Wildcats have slid all the best way all the way down to a No. 6 seed in CBS Sports activities’ newest bracketology breakdown and are ranked twenty seventh by KenPom.
What occurred?
Primarily based on the information, the reply seems easy. In its three most up-to-date losses (to Tennessee on Saturday, Florida on Thursday and to South Carolina on Jan. 23), Kentucky allowed a median of 92 factors per recreation.
The Gamecocks, Gators and Volunteers shot a mixed 45.8% from the sphere, which, if over all the season up to now, would rank last in the SEC by two full proportion factors.
Towards Tennessee, the Wildcats have been particularly porous on protection. Regardless of stellar switch Dalton Knecht having an off night time (5-of-14 from the sphere, 1-of-5 from three), the Volunteers excelled from the perimeter, off the bounce and within the paint. Kentucky merely had no solutions.
“We’re going to should be a collective defensive workforce, and I hold saying it,” Calipari told reporters Saturday. “If one man stops enjoying, it’s going to harm this group. However once we do it collectively, we are able to maintain our personal.”
So Calipari’s job is straightforward: Repair the protection, and his workforce’s slide will finish, proper? Not precisely. In any case, defensive woes should not a brand new subject for the Wildcats.
Kentucky is 102nd nationally in adjusted defensive effectivity, per KenPom, having given up 89 to Kansas, 88 to Saint Joseph’s, 80 to UNC Wilmington, 83 to North Carolina, 85 of their first assembly with Florida, 97 to Texas A&M and 96 to Georgia.
The Wildcats’ document in these seven video games was 4-3, proving that oftentimes, their backcourt arsenal of Antonio Reeves, Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard and D.J. Wagner (who missed each of final week’s video games with an ankle harm) is potent sufficient to win with their capability to easily put the ball within the basket.
This current slide, then, isn’t because of new points. As an alternative, it’s a reminder that finally, a constant lack of ability to get stops will burn you regardless of what number of five-star studs you might have.
“We gotta be extra bodily,” Sheppard told reporters Saturday. “We are able to’t allow them to hit us and get pushed below the basket, we gotta hit them and get them out of the best way.”
One factor the Wildcats have of their favor is greater than a month nonetheless stays within the common season.
Kentucky is three video games again of Alabama for first in the SEC, with South Carolina, Auburn and Tennessee forward of the Wildcats, who’re tied with Ole Miss and Florida at 5-4 in league play. However probabilities stays stay for Kentucky to claw again into the race for the regular-season crown.
The Wildcats face lowly Vanderbilt on the highway Tuesday earlier than a one-off nonconference recreation at Rupp towards Gonzaga on Saturday.
Then, it’s again to SEC play, with matchups at Auburn (Feb. 17), towards Alabama (Feb. 24) and at Tennessee (March 9). If Kentucky will get Wagner again quickly, these video games supply an opportunity for a full-strength Wildcat bunch to show it round.
Will an improved protection be part of that? Solely time will inform.