Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky lost 86-78 to Georgia Tuesday night in what has to be one of the team’s most disappointing losses of the season.
It was Kentucky’s second straight SEC loss after the Cats had won eight of their nine previous conference games. That drops UK to 8-5 in SEC play and very unlikely to get a bye in the SEC Tournament but also leaves UK at 17-9 overall and dropping even more on the NCAA Tournament seed line.
Kentucky coach Mark Pope blamed not handling Georgia’s press, UK turnovers and lack of physicality for the loss. Denzel Aberdeen, who had 14 points, four assists and no turnovers, addressed each of those issues after the game.
On handling the Georgia press:
Aberdeen: “We had some turnovers that we shouldn’t have had, but the press kind of slowed us up and then that led to bad offensive possessions. We just have to limit that and come back strong in the next game.”
On the cause of turnovers…
Aberdeen: “I think kind of both (ball security and decision making). We were sped up too much and made the wrong decisions. I just have to watch film and fix it for the next game.”
On struggling against physicality…
Aberdeen: “I think we just have to be physical back. It was soft throughout the whole game, so we just have to take care of the ball and be physical back. Share the ball—that’s especially on me. I took some wild shots out there, made some turnovers, and missed free throws. I have to do better. Overall, I think we just have to take care of the ball and be physical back.”
5 Responses
When we play team ball, we win. When we play hero ball, we lose more often than win. Pope has lost control of the team and it is spiraling downward into Billy Clyde territory. Pope is in over his head. Be merciful and send him back to medical school.
Sad to watch the shots from behind the arc clank off the back of the rim as time ran out in the last two minutes … ball security a myth with this bunch … can not refer to them as a team
I am so F—-ing tired of hearing every media outlet say we don’t have our best starter Jayden Quaintance playing! Bullshit! This team is below average with a below average coach and like old Dandy would say “Turn out the lights the party’s over”!!
Same people that wanted Cal go and now there on Pope's neck and if I remember right same people said it would take Pope 3-4 years to get us back on top like I thought too. That been said Pope or we did not expect to lose 3 starters for the season due to injuries and it does make a difference. But I will say this due to the JML deal that our AD made has hurt our recruiting. There's just some stuff that's out of Pope hands and I still stand for him.
I just watched the 117-115 double overtime win of Alabama over Arkansas. Those are the kind of games we used to see from Kentucky, but not anymore.