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March Madness: Kentucky Basketball’s 5 Keys to success

By Frank Spencer

Sep 15, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard De Aaron Fox (0) guard Malik Monk (5) and guard Isaiah Briscoe (13) during Kentucky media day at Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 15, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard De Aaron Fox (0) guard Malik Monk (5) and guard Isaiah Briscoe (13) during Kentucky media day at Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kentucky Basketball Nov 13, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Canisius Golden Griffins forward Jermaine Crumpton (2) and Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Bam Adebayo (3) fight for a rebound in the first half at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Canisius Golden Griffins forward Jermaine Crumpton (2) and Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Bam Adebayo (3) fight for a rebound in the first half at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

The Kentucky Wildcats have been struggling to out rebound opponents. This is a trend that has to come to an abrupt halt in order for the Cats to be successful.

Kentucky’s 22 point defeat in Gainesville on Feb. 4, blew a hole into the armor of the Wildcats. John Calipari’s team was out rebounded and out hustled on all aspects of the game. In their loss to the Gators, the Wildcats were defeated on the boards 54-29. Rebounding woes and giving teams second and third chance points will be the downfall of this Kentucky team in the postseason if things don’t begin to change.

Kentucky also lost the rebound battle against UCLA, Louisville, and Tennessee. The only loss in which the Cats did not get beat on the boards was in their contest with Kansas as Rupp Arena. The Cats out rebounded the Jayhawks by one.

Frontcourt Rebounding

Bam Adebayo and Wenyen Gabriel are supposed to be the paint protectors of this team. Bam comes in to this weekend’s matchup with Alabama averaging 6.9 rebounds per game. Gabriel is averaging slightly less than Adebayo with 6.1 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard, Isaiah Briscoe is third on the team with 5.2 RPG. A guard should not be averaging one rebound less than both of your starting post players. More effort needs to be applied to the glass in order for Kentucky to see themselves past the Sweet Sixteen.

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