Kentucky Still Has Work To Do On Defense

Vicky Graff Photo

Okay, I was wrong. I didn’t think Texas A&M could beat Kentucky because I didn’t think it could score enough points.

The Aggies had scored 53 points against LSU and 55 against Auburn in their first two SEC games — both losses.

So even playing at home, there was no reason to expect the Aggies would put up 97 points against Kentucky but that is what happened Saturday when the Aggies won 97-92 in overtime.

“They ran downhill. They were older. They were more physical,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “There are things we have to work on but we will get better.”

Texas A&M shot sub-30 percent in the losses to LSU and Auburn but against UK not only did the Aggies get a season-high 82 shots but they hit 40 percent overall. They also had 12 3-pointers to produce the second-highest scoring total in coach Buzz Williams’ A&M career. It was also the highest point total against a conference opponent since A&M joined the SEC in 2012-13.

Former UK all-American Jack Givens didn’t mince words about UK’s defense.

“It just continues to be pointed out that Kentucky has a long way to go defensively to get where they need to be,” Givens said on the UK Radio Network. “Those two guards (Wade Taylor and Tyrece Bradford) got as many shots as they wanted. Kentucky knew that and stressed that in (game) preparation. You can come up with a game plan but if you do not execute, it can turn out tough for you.”

Kentucky freshman sensation Reed Sheppard didn’t make excuses for UK’s defense after the game.

“I think it is all just discipline. We can all guard. We just have to stick to the game plan and do what the coaches are telling us,” Sheppard said. “They give us a great game plan and we have to be more disciplined and execute that. On offense, we play and have fun. We have to do the same on defense.”

Givens likes Kentucky’s offense and his teams at Kentucky, including the 1978 national title team, could put up big numbers. However, he also knows 15 games into the season that UK should be better defensively.

“For this team to take the next step you have to start seeing more improvement on the defensive end,” he said. “If you give up 90-some points to a team struggling as big as A&M was struggling, it tells you that you have a little more work to do on defense.”