Championships are won with defense. It’s one of the oldest clichés in sports because it’s true. For all of its offensive firepower last season, Kentucky’s inability to consistently get stops was its ultimate undoing. A quick look at the final defensive statistics from that campaign reveals a team whose numbers simply weren't championship-caliber. The analytics say Mark Pope did a great job reinventing the team, but let's look back at just how bad things were last year.
A look back: The bumbers behind the struggles
Last year’s team ranked a staggering 275th nationally in opponent field goal percentage (.437) and an abysmal 313th in opponent two-point percentage (.539). Teams were able to get into the paint and score with far too much ease. Furthermore, the defense ranked 265th in steals and 236th in blocked shots, indicating a lack of disruption and rim protection. No team can realistically contend for a national title with a defense ranked in the bottom third of the country in so many critical categories. You just can not get enough stops on a night where your shot isn't falling. And there will be a night when the shot isn't going in.
A deliberate shift in roster construction
This is precisely why Mark Pope’s offseason strategy was so deliberate. National analyst Jeff Goodman of Field of 68 noted the intentional shift in roster construction.
"I think Pope did a good job putting this team together," Goodman said. "It's not just what you would expect from a typical Mark Pope team... He's also got some guys like Dioubate who came in and will give you a defensive presence."
That defensive presence is the key. Pope didn't just accumulate talent; he targeted specific players to fix specific problems. Much like last year when players were not brought in just based on talent, but intangibles as well. Every piece has to fit to make the puzzle complete.
The additions of athletic, versatile defenders like Mo Dioubate, Kam Williams, and a returning Otega Oweh, combined with the future interior presence of Jayden Quaintance, represent a direct response to last year's statistical failures. Pope knows you can’t hang banner number nine by trying to outscore everyone every game. You have to be able to lock teams down at some point, and he has built a roster with that exact mission in mind.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoyes downtime with his family and Premier League soccer.You can find him on X here.Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion