The scoreboard at Rupp Arena said Kentucky won by 14 points. The mood in the postgame press conference was generally positive. But if you look closely at the box score, there is a flashing red light that Mark Pope needs to address before the team flies to Tuscaloosa.
Kentucky gave up 85 points to a Bellarmine team that entered the game with a losing record.
This wasn't a case of a plucky underdog hitting miraculous buzzer-beaters. This was a systematic breakdown of Kentucky’s interior defense. Bellarmine shot 52% from the field (26-of-50) and, more concerningly, they bullied the Wildcats inside.
Giving up 85 points and 38 paint points to Bellarmine is a problem
Bellarmine head coach Doug Davenport highlighted a specific stat after the game that should annoy the Kentucky coaching staff.
"One of our big numbers that we live by is points in the paint plus free throws," Davenport said. "68-51 [Bellarmine won] on points in the paint plus free throws."
Read that again. Bellarmine scored 38 points in the paint. Kentucky had 34.
When an undersized mid-major team can generate that much offense at the rim against Kentucky's length, it signals a disconnect in the defensive rotations. The Knights were able to cut backdoor, drive downhill, and finish through contact far too easily.
No stops early
The first half was particularly rough, as soon as Kentucky would push the lead to 8 or so, Bellarmine would just hit a couple of 3's and be right back in it. Bellarmine coach Doug Davenport wasn't happy with his team's defense either.
"We didn't get a lot of stops," Davenport said.
Kentucky’s offense was acutally championship-caliber for once. Scoring 99 points with 24 assists is beautiful basketball. But the defense let them down in this game. The SEC is a different animal. If Kentucky tries to trade baskets with Alabama the way they did with Bellarmine, they won't win by 14. They will get run out of the gym.
Mark Pope has 10 days before the Alabama game. He needs to spend about 9 of them working on defensive slides.