Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)
Everyone knew that Kentucky’s inability to guard the basketball would come back to haunt them at some point and the issue played a major role in an 83-75 loss to UCLA on Saturday.
The Bruins entered the game with a record of 8-3 and zero top 25 victories. Over the last three games, UCLA had lost to Michigan by nine and Cincinnati by fourteen. In those two games alone, the Bruins failed to reach 70 points but Kentucky’s lack of effort on the defensive end was the perfect fix.
We all know John Calipari’s stubbornness with zone defense but early on this season, it looks like it might be the only option, especially if the Wildcats want to win. The Wildcats went to the zone on Saturday and as a result, they climbed back into the game.However, Calipari decided to switch back to man to man and they couldn’t limit penetration.
Often times, the inability to contain the basketball led to kick out opportunities for open threes. For the game, the Bruins knocked down a total of 12 three-pointers, as five players hit at least two.
Outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, everyone else struggles with on-ball defense. SGA has breakdowns but not as frequently as others do. With the length and size they have, Kentucky has looked solid at times in a zone defense but it seems like Calipari doesn’t think the zone is a long-term fix.
The thing is this, it doesn’t have to be a permanent fix but if nothing else is working, then it needs to be used. For this team to be successful in March they will have to improve their ability to guard the basketball.
Let’s face it, top talented recruits aren’t used to having to play defense in high school or on the AAU circuit and a team that is almost entirely made up of all freshmen are having a difficult time doing so. That doesn’t mean Calipari has to move away from man to man entirely. It just means he needs to be willing to change if it makes this team better.
The loss moves Kentucky to 9-2 on the season and tough games are on the way. The Wildcats will face rival Louisville on Friday at 1 p.m. ET and then SEC play begins about 48 hours later, as they face Georgia at 6 p.m. ET in Rupp Arena on New Year’s Eve.
