James Madison walked into Rupp Arena on Friday night and immediately exposed a vulnerability in the Kentucky Basketball defense by launching a staggering 45 3-point attempts.
The sheer volume of perimeter shots tied a program record for a Kentucky opponent, proving that heavy underdogs will use the 3-point line as the ultimate equalizer against Mark Pope’s squad.
Facing a significant talent and height disparity, the Dukes opted to space the floor and let it fly.
It is a classic survival strategy for
undersized teams. Hit enough outside shots, and you neutralize the paint advantage. James Madison executed that plan relentlessly, connecting on 15 of those attempts to keep the game uncomfortably close for most of the night.
Only in the second half did Kentucky get out to a big lead and stave off any attempted comebacks. After tying it at half, Kentucky found itself down by 2 with 13 to go. The Cats went on a 9-0 run, and the game was never within 7 points again.
The 45 attempts from deep are not just an anomaly on the box score.
According to UK statistician Corey Price, the only other team to put up that many 3s against Kentucky was Tennessee in 2025.
By matching that mark, the Dukes provided a clear blueprint for future opponents that lack the size to handle Kentucky’s huge lineup. No player on the Cats roster who sees significant minutes is shorter than 6’3, and no starter is below 6’6.
Kentucky ultimately survived the 89-80 battle by leaning on their superior interior presence, outscoring James Madison 40-20 in the paint. However, the perimeter defense is something to watch.
With No. 1 Kansas looming in the Champions Classic on Tuesday, the Wildcats have just days to tighten their perimeter rotations; an uncomfortable number of 3s were open against the Dukes. Kepnang and Moreno were saddled with covering pick-and-pop guys.
Then the guards get in rotations, and communication is paramount. That will continue all season long.
Surviving a 3-point barrage against a mid-major program is one thing, but Kentucky is about to face a roster with the elite talent to make them pay for those open looks and bad rotations.
Kentucky Reacts
In this week’s Kentucky Reacts survey, we asked fans to let us know which game they want to win most on the Wildcats’ 2026-27 schedule. 43% of fans said the in-state rivalry game with Louisville, while 33% said they want to win Tuesday’s Champions Classic clash with Kansas the most.
This survey was brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook.
