The Kentucky Wildcats have really turned it on lately and everyone in the country is beginning to take notice.
The NCAA’s JOE BOOZELL takes a look at the Cats and the 5 reasons they are a title contender come March.
Can Kentucky make a run at the #NationalChampionship?
It's starting to look like it
https://t.co/F8671SRJC8 pic.twitter.com/72KMraoCGe— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 1, 2019
Kentucky’s defense has really been the difference in my opinion and Ashton Hagans has been the catalyst of Cal’s team turning into a force without the basketball.
Kentucky ranked in the 50s in KenPom’s defensive efficiency in early December. The Wildcats have vaulted all the way up to 10th, and have smothered some good good offenses. They held Kansas to 63 points and Mississippi State to 55. Vanderbilt and Georgia failed to crack 50 against them.
Hagans’ increased playing time makes a huge difference, but this has a lot to do with effort and discipline. Early in the season, you’d see Kentucky players bite on pump fakes time and time again. They fouled a bunch, too, and had a habit of making the wrong rotations and allowing open 3s.
Opponents shoot 36 percent from 3 against Kentucky, which is still high, but the Wildcats do a good job of dissuading opponents from taking 3s. They rank 10th in block rate, and the Washington-Travis pairing is stingy near the hoop. Nick Richards provides nice rim protection off the bench.
Hagans is the focal point of the defense, but there’s no weak link in the starting lineup. As a result, Kentucky’s defense has gone from a concern to a major strength.
The ago old adage of offense wins games but defense wins championships could be the recipe for the Kentucky Wildcats to have a great chance at winning th 9th championship the BBN has been begging for.
Photo Credit: Saturday Down South
