Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky coach Mark Pope watched as his ninth-ranked team struggled to get into an offensive rhythm in the first half of a 77-51 win over Nicholls in the season opener for both teams on Tuesday night.
Instead of getting frustrated by Kentucky’s inability to hit shots and opening the first half tentative and tight on the offensive end, he found joy in watching the Wildcats stop the Colonels possession after possession on the defensive end of the court.
Pope admitted it wasn’t easy for his team to gather energy on defense.
“We were so excited, and we’ve been building on this for a while now,” Pope said. “I think we were a little lost in the weeds a little bit on the offensive side.”
The Wildcats held the Colonels to 12 percent shooting and just 15 points in the first 20 minutes, the best defensive showing in a half in the Pope era at Kentucky. For the players, it was a struggle as shots failed to drop, including making only 2 of 17 3-pointers. But for Pope, it was a thing of beauty.
Collin Chandler tapped into his “elite” defensive performance in the first half and put on an offensive display in the second half and led four players in double figures with 15 points. Chandler drained a pair of 3-pointers back-to-back and threw down an impressive one-handed dunk in one sequence in the second half.
“I thought he made great defensive plays early in the game,” Pope said. “It was nice to see him find some comfort level on the offensive end.”
Chandler admitted it wasn’t easy struggling to make shots against the Colonels, especially in the first half.
“It’s so frustrating, and they did a great job,” he said. “We felt a little bit of that (frustration) at the beginning of the game. It just feels like we’re just out of sorts a little bit. But we know we’re pounding the rock. We’re just going to continue to shoot it, even if shots aren’t falling.”
Despite the offensive struggles, the Wildcats came to life, scoring 49 points in the second half. Four players tallied double figures: Otega Oweh followed Chandler with 13 points, Jasper Johnson had 11 and Denzel Aberdeen finished with 10 in his Kentucky debut.
“First half was a little shaky, but we bounced back in the second half,” said Aberdeen, who missed Kentucky’s exhibition finale against Georgetown last Thursday. “I just feel like I just try to give 110 percent every time I get in the game, no matter what the circumstances, I’m always trying to bring energy on the defensive side and offensive side, just doing anything we can to get a win.”
As Pope and his players know, the offense isn’t going to be clicking on all cylinders each game. That’s when the Wildcats will have to lean on the defense to carry the offense, just as it did in the opener.
“Our defense is going to carry us at some points this season,” Pope said. “That can be a real strength of ours and that’s going to be a fun piece of this game for us.”
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GAMETRACKER: Valparaiso at Kentucky, 7 p.m., Friday. TV/Radio: SECN+, UK Radio Network.
9 Responses
I watched Ole Miss/Southeastern Louisiana. Perry went 0-5 (0-4 from 3) in 19 min. Made 2 FT.
We could use someone that can hit 2 free throws.
Excellent point, WildWest! Perry started for Ole Miss and just one game does not make a season.
Jasper Johnson hit 3 … in a row. It's true though that the Cats FT shooting is not any better under Pope. Maybe worse.
Its good to see our defense is ahead of our offense. The offense will come around in time once we get everybody healthy.
I guess this is one way to look at it.
However, I don't think the defensive performance against Nicholls was particularly outstanding, given their offensive capability.
We shall see what type of defense this team has when it plays a real collegiate offense. Probably not tomorrow night against Valpo, which is a weaker team than Nicholls.
However, next week, we will find out what we have at the Yum Center. I believe UL will be favored in that game, and if the defense is what Pope says he saw Tuesday night, then UK will handle the Cards and get that W.
On offense, the Georgetown exhibition and the Nicholls game were pathetic. At times, I wondered if these players even know one another, or was it a shirts and skins pickup game at the park.
Too much individual play, too many wild A$$ 3 point shots by players who have no business cranking them up,
Not to mention the pathetic free throw shooting!!!!
You nailed it on every point. Street ball might be enough to beat cupcakes but this group is not showing any chemistry. Compared to a year ago when UK started with cohesion and unselfish play through about 7 games, most of the current players don’t show any signs of TEAM 1st attitudes.
Oweh was the ONLY UK player who had a negative A:TO ratio. 0 assists and 2 TO’s is NOT team ball, and this is a supposed “leader” !?
Last year, teams keyed on Jaxon Robinson which made it easier for Oweh to drive to the rim. This year, teams are keying on Oweh and it shows. Will Chandler be the guy who takes advantage of this?
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