Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats are poised for success in March, particularly if they can find their rhythm from beyond the arc. A strong three-point shooting performance could propel them toward a National Championship.
This season, the Wildcats are committed to launching a high volume of three-pointers. Coach Mark Pope and his players emphasized this strategy throughout the offseason, demonstrating it in their exhibition games. In their first exhibition, Kentucky attempted 42 three-pointers, successfully sinking 21 of them, while in the second game, they shot 37 threes, hitting 13.
Coach Pope has expressed unwavering confidence in his players’ shooting abilities, and the team has shown no hesitance in taking shots. Even Brandon Garrison has attempted three-pointers in the exhibitions, and despite not making any, Coach Pope remains supportive.
Teams like Pope’s Wildcats tend to excel in tournament play, especially when their three-point shooting is on point. If they can heat up from deep during the SEC and NCAA tournaments, their strategy of shooting over 35 threes per game will make them formidable opponents.
Additionally, the Wildcats excel defensively, which means that if their shots aren’t falling, they can still compete by relying on their defense until they regain their shooting touch.
One of the most daunting prospects in college basketball would be a Kentucky team that starts to make their three-pointers just as the tournament approaches. Their three-point shooting could either lead them to a National Championship or result in an unexpected early exit from the postseason.
