Kentucky entered the season with high expectations for its three-point shooting, aiming to take 30-35 attempts per game. The Wildcats lived up to that early on, hitting at least ten three-pointers in their first five games for the first time in school history. However, recent struggles from beyond the arc have dampened their efficiency. Over a four-game stretch, including losses to Western Kentucky, Georgia State, Clemson, and Gonzaga, Kentucky shot just 27.1% from three, making only 7.25 per game. Despite this, head coach Mark Pope remains confident in his team’s ability to turn things around.
“We will get to that. We’ve got to fix that,” Pope said, acknowledging the need to address their shooting issues. However, Kentucky has found ways to win without relying solely on their perimeter shooting. In their win over Gonzaga, they scored 63 points in the paint and at the free-throw line, showing that they are not a one-dimensional team.
The Wildcats are determined to return to their efficient, high-volume shooting ways. Players like Ansley Almonor remain confident, continuing to put in the work in practice and trusting that the shots will eventually fall. Almonor, for instance, took three three-pointers in one possession against Georgia, missing the first two but sinking the third. “We work on it every day,” he said, emphasizing the confidence they have in their abilities.
While the shots may not always drop, Pope’s confidence in his players never wavers, and he encourages them to keep shooting. If the shots don’t fall, Kentucky is prepared to find other ways to win—whether through defense, rebounding, or scoring in the paint. Their matchup against Colgate provides an opportunity to break out of the slump, as the Raiders struggle with three-point defense, ranking No. 323 nationally. Kentucky will have the chances; it’s up to them to seize them.
