Fast start and fierce defense: Kentucky Wildcats dominate Wright State in Mark Pope era debut

The first points of the Mark Pope era came courtesy of Andrew Carr, who scored on an easy layup from an Amari Williams lob on a beautiful set play (imagine that):

Kentucky's starting lineup for the season opener:

• Lamont Butler
• Otega Oweh
• Jaxon Robinson
• Andrew Carr
• Amari Williams

Rupp Arena was rocking as the Cats got off to a fast start. This definitely didn’t sound like a typical season opener against Wright State; Kentucky fans made sure of that; listen to the roar on this dunk by Oweh:

Kentucky's Defense Stifles Wright State's Speed

The Cats set the tone defensively early and often. The Cats did a great job slowing down Wright State, a team known for its high-tempo play (it led the country in FG% last year). Brandon Noel, Wright State’s star player, initially struggled against Kentucky's length inside before banking in a three-pointer later on. Kentucky’s defensive pressure made it hard for Wright State to find any type of rhythm.

Offensive First Half Stats

Kentucky didn’t let up on offense, pushing the pace and taking advantage of their athleticism; even as Wright State worked to force them off those shots, the Cats adjusted seamlessly. Player after player kept attacking the rim and scoring consistently. Here’s how Kentucky's first-half stats looked:

• Team Shooting: 18 of 31 from the field, 4 of 9 from three-point range
• Ball Movement: 14 assists to only 5 turnovers
• Paint Dominance: 28 points in the paint, along with 20 fast-break points

Overall, the team looked a little more rusty than it did in the exhibition games, but the resistance was also a little more here. The score heading into the half was 46-24.

The second half continued much the same way for the Cats. They maintained their momentum and even pushed the tempo a bit more. They opened the half on a strong run, quickly extending their lead.

In a memorable moment, Kerr Kriisa had a wide-open layup but opted to pass to Koby Brea in the corner for a three-pointer. Brea nailed the shot, hitting nothing but net, and turned around confidently the instant the ball left his hand.

Kentucky ended the game with impressive ball movement, assisting on an incredible 30 of 39 field goals. They finished strong from the floor, shooting 39 of 65 and 11 of 24 from beyond the arc. They ultimately won the second half 57-38 and secured an easy win 103-62.

Final Stats:

• Lamont Butler: 14Points | 5 Rebounds | 5 Assists | 3 Steals | 1 Block
• Otega Oweh: 21 Points | 3 Rebounds | 1 Assists | 3 Steals | 1 Block
• Jaxon Robinson: 8 Points | 5 Rebounds | 3 Assists | 1 Block
• Andrew Carr: 11 Points | 2 Rebounds | 3 Assists
• Amari Williams: 12 Points | 13 Rebounds | 3 Assists | 1 Steal | 1 Block
• Collin Chandler: 2 Points | 2 Assists | 1 Steals
• Kerr Kriisa: 1 Rebound | 5 Assists | 1 Steal
• Koby Brea: 18 Points | 2 Rebounds | 2 Assists | Steals | Blocks
• Ansley Almonor: 11 Points | 2 Rebounds | 1 Assist
• Brandon Garrison: 6 Points | 4 Rebounds | 5 Assists | 2 Steals
• Trent Noah: 1Rebound in 3 second half minutes
• Travis Perry: 2 Rebounds in 3 second half minutes
• Walker Horn: 1 minute played

Kentucky fans have every reason to be excited as this lineup continues to gel under Coach Pope’s leadership. The Cats are back in action Saturday at 4 PM against Bucknell.