Kentucky Basketball is definitely back, and the season opener against Little Rock went about as well as it could have from a health standpoint.
Nobody got hurt, and that was probably the best thing I can say about a performance that was more concerning than I would have anticipated.
Credit to former Kentucky great Travis Ford, though. He had his team ready to battle, and the Trojans made Kentucky work for it all night long.
The Cats got the win, but there were enough issues to make this a more interesting
opener than anyone probably wanted. From turnovers to defensive potential, there is plenty to take away from the first game of the season.
Here are three things to look at after Kentucky’s 69-49 win.
1. Turnovers were a problem
I brought this up previously when discussing the pairing of Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins, but I didn’t expect Little Rock to be the team to drive that point home.
At one point in the second half, the TV announcers said that Kentucky looked like it had never seen a press before. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, and certainly not something you want to hear about a team with this much talent playing a team like Little Rock.
Diallo and Wilkins combined for 7 turnovers and 6 assists. As a team, Kentucky finished with 19 turnovers and just 12 assists. Some of that low assist total can be attributed to missed shots, but the turnover numbers are still concerning.
The bigger issue is how easily the Trojans were able to disrupt Kentucky’s offense. When a team struggles to handle pressure and get into its sets, the talent advantage becomes a lot less meaningful. Kentucky has too many capable players to let opposing defenses dictate the game like that.
It’s only one game, and it’s the first one, so I’m not ready to declare this a season-long problem. However, ball security and handling pressure need to be priorities moving forward. Better teams will find ways to exploit those weaknesses if Kentucky doesn’t clean them up fast.
2. Kentucky has the potential to be an elite defensive team
As concerning as the offense looked at times, the defense was a completely different story. Kentucky showed flashes of what could become a genuinely elite defensive unit, and the numbers help explain why.
Little Rock shot just 31% on the night, while Kentucky forced 15 turnovers. The Cats also combined for 9 steals and 8 blocks, making their length and defensive activity difficult to ignore.
The Trojans’ tallest player was 6-foot-9, and Kentucky did an excellent job using its size and length to disrupt passing lanes and challenge shots. With 10 players boasting wingspans over 6-foot-7, this team has the physical tools to make life miserable for opposing offenses.
I know the press has fallen somewhat out of favor in today’s game, but this is a roster that could be especially dangerous when trapping and applying pressure. Kentucky has the length to close passing windows, get into ball handlers, and turn defensive possessions into opportunities in transition.
Of course, one game against Little Rock doesn’t prove that Kentucky will be an elite defensive team. But the combination of length, activity, steals, and blocks gives plenty of reason to believe the potential is there.
If the Cats can bring that same defensive intensity against better competition, it could become one of the team’s biggest strengths this season.
3. Milan Momcilovic was as good as advertised
Coming into the preseason portion of the schedule, one of the biggest questions was how Milan Momcilovic would look in a Mark Pope offense. Based on the opener, there is plenty to like.
His shooting ability was always going to be a major part of the appeal, but his performance went beyond scoring. Momcilovic finished with seven rebounds and played solid defense, giving Kentucky a well-rounded contribution on a night when the offense wasn’t always clicking.
The highlight came with just over five minutes remaining. Momcilovic caught a bad pass for a steal, dribbled behind his back, and pulled up from deep for one of his 4 3s on the night (16 points). It was the kind of sequence that shows how quickly he can turn a defensive play into an offensive opportunity.
That is exactly the type of impact Kentucky will need from him every night. He was always going to splash some deep ones, but seeing 7 rebounds is a great bonus.
It was the kind of performance you wanted to see from Momcilovic, even on a night when Kentucky’s offense looked disjointed at times.
Final thoughts
All in all, Kentucky got the win and, just as importantly, kept everyone healthy. There is plenty for Coach Pope and his staff to work on, particularly when it comes to taking care of the basketball and handling defensive pressure.
Still, the defensive potential was encouraging, and Momcilovic looked every bit the part of a player who can make a difference in this offense. The performance wasn’t perfect, but there were positives to build on heading into the next game.
The Cats will be back in action next Friday against Texas Tech.
Now, let’s discuss Kentucky’s first win of the exhibition season!
