Wildcat Blue Nation
Fansided

Kentucky basketball: Where did it go wrong against the Aggies?

By Drew Koch

LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 30: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts after a foul with two seconds remaining against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Rupp Arena on January 30, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 30: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts after a foul with two seconds remaining against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Rupp Arena on January 30, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Looking at the box score, you’d have thought the Kentucky basketball team should’ve won the game against Texas A&M. Where did it all go wrong for the Wildcats in College Station?

I’m a big numbers guy. Numbers never lie, right? Well, the numbers may not lie, but they didn’t tell the whole story of what happened on Saturday night in College Station. The Kentucky basketball team fell to Texas A&M 74-85. And honestly, it really wasn’t that close.

The Kentucky basketball team took only 15 three-point shots against the Aggies. That is a perfect number of attempts for a team that struggles to knockdown outside shots. The Cats hit 6 of their 15 perimeter jumpers. That’s 40%. That dog will hunt.

In the rebounding category, a stat that Texas A&M has dominated during conference play, the Cats won. UK had 43 rebounds to A&M’s 40. Kentucky even beat out the Aggies on the offensive rebounds. If the Wildcats were going to have any chance, they had to win the battle of the boards. They did and still got beat handily.

Bench scoring, the Wildcats won 17-14. The Cats shared the ball with 15 assists on 30 made shots. The Aggies were only 1 better with 16 on 31 makes. The turnover disparity wasn’t bad either. UK had 12 and Texas A&M turned it over 9 times. Statistically this is a game the Kentucky basketball team should’ve won. At the very least they should’ve been in a last possession or possible overtime situation.

But Kentucky was not, not even close. The Cats were dominated and ESPN commentator Dan Dakich was spot on with his analysis. The Wildcats played with a lack of heart. Saturday’s performance was not about talent, it was about effort. If John Calipari can’t figure out how to get this team to leave it all on the floor, teams will be looking forward to a matchup with the Wildcats rather than fearing it.

Home/Kentucky basketball