Coming into this game, the scouting report was simple: Kentucky has the size advantage. Malachi Moreno should feast on the boards and down low.
Instead, the freshman was left on an island and struggled.
Moreno finished with 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks, but he looked overwhelmed by Vanderbilt's swarming defense. And according to Mark Pope, his teammates didn't do him any favors.
"I think he felt a little isolated, 1-on-2 and 1-on-3 on the glass at times," Pope said on the radio after the game. "It has to be a whole team effort to bring more intensity to the game."
If you can't go out and fight, even when you are not having a good night, then you are always going to ride a roller coaster. Kentucky has some really high highs but some really lows. BBN is not having it either.
Kentucky was outworked and outmuscled
Vanderbilt won the rebounding battle 43-37, but the eye test felt even more lopsided. The Commodores grabbed 13 offensive rebounds, matching the Cats, though they shot way better from the floor (40% to 32%).
That is the game right there.
Every loose ball, every 50/50 play, every long rebound, it felt like a Gold jersey came up with it.
The only bright spot?
If you are looking for a silver lining in the paint, it was Mouhamed Dioubate.
Pope credited "Mo" for actually showing a pulse when he checked in. "I thought Mo tried to come in and compete like he always does," Pope said.
Dioubate finished with 7 rebounds (3 offensive). He brought the fight that a lot of other players simply couldn't or wouldn't. The problem is, he was about the only one who did. When your backup forward is the only guy matching the other team's intensity, you have a massive problem.
That can't be fixed with coaching alone, it has to come internally. Maybe the answer is just benching guys, and rolling with who is playing hard.