It is time for a tough talk BBN. We need to start talking about whether this team can handle basic basketball, because right now, it doesn't look like they can.
If the loss to Louisville was a wake-up call, tonight’s 76-56 demolition by Michigan State was a cold bucket of ice water dumped on the entire Mark Pope era.
This wasn't just a loss. It was an exposure, a beat down, and just not a close game at all.
For 40 minutes at Madison Square Garden, Kentucky looked lost, soft, and completely out of answers. A Mark Pope offense that is supposed to be modern and efficient shot a horrifying 35% from the field and a gut-wrenching 23% from three.
It’s only Game 5, but let’s be honest: Kentucky looks broken. And you have to wonder, can they be fixed?
The offense has vanished
Remember the "fun" offense? It didn't make the trip to New York.
Kentucky’s shot selection was panicked, and their execution was nonexistent. Otega Oweh continues his cold streak going an inefficient 4-12 The Cats chucked up 30 threes and made just 7 of them.
But the real story is the lack of fight. When shots didn't fall, Kentucky folded.
Bullied in the paint (again)
Tom Izzo’s game plan was simple: Be tougher. And it worked to perfection.
Michigan State dominated the glass, out-rebounding Kentucky 42-28. They grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, treating the Cats like a JV team on the interior.
Jaxon Kohler looked like an All-American, bullying Kentucky’s bigs for 20 points and 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, Kentucky’s frontcourt had zero answers. Brandon Garrison and Malachi Moreno were non-factors on the boards, combined for a ghost-like performance while the Spartans scored 30 points in the paint.
Mark Pope out of answers?
The most alarming part of the night wasn't the box score; it was the body language.
Mark Pope looked like a man searching for a lifeline that wasn't there. The Cats turned it over just 8 times, a much better outing there, but it didn't really matter. Because missed shots were leading to easy run-outs for MS all night.. The defense was disjointed, allowing the Spartans to shoot 50% from the floor.
We are five games into Year 2, and the identity of this team is suddenly a mystery. Are they the team that came in with the hope of a title, or are they going to be lucky to sneak into the tournament?
The bottom line
Losses happen. But beatdowns like this, where the effort and toughness are non-negotiable and yet non-existent, are happening way too often.
Kentucky is 3-2, but it feels like 0-5. The "fun" is gone. The honeymoon is over. And unless something drastically changes before the next tip, it is going to be a very, very long winter in Lexington.
Final Score: Michigan State 83, Kentucky 66
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion