In a game Mark Pope called "really really disappointing," bright spots were few and far between. Kentucky's offense was stagnant (33.3% FG), and its defense was "absent" as Georgetown ran them out of the gym, leading by as many as 17. But Pope did single out one area where his team's effort met his standard.
A 'positive thing' in a night of negatives
“They are a little deceiving because we shot the ball so poorly,” Pope said, referring to the rebounding numbers. “I did think our guys persistence on the offensive glass was a positive thing tonight… in a game where there wasn’t a lot for us.”
That persistence was undeniable, even if it was partially a product of their own poor shooting (the Cats shot 7-for-29 in the second half). Kentucky grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, which led to 11 second-chance points.
Chandler and Dioubate lead the effort
That effort was led by sophomore guard Collin Chandler and transfer forward Mo Dioubate, who tied for the team lead with 7 rebounds apiece. Dioubate's energy was particularly noticeable on the glass as he consistently fought for extra possessions. That kind of effort and that kind of energy is what you need every player on the team to come with, every night.
When Otega Oweh spoke after the game that the team would be "super locked in" starting now, it reeked of a team that was not super locked in against Georgetown. You can not have those kinds of nights when you wear a Kentucky jersey. The other team will not allow it.
While the final score was a clear reality check, the team's refusal to quit on the boards is a tangible sign of the "playing hard" identity Pope is trying to instill. It's a small silver lining, but it's one Pope will undoubtedly build on as he works to fix the "dysfunctionality" that plagued the rest of the performance.
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