Mark Stoops says Kentucky's approach in SEC race is 'no different'

Last night did not go as planned for Kentucky in their Top-20 matchup versus Tennessee. It was an all-systems failure for the Wildcats in Knoxville that set their record at 5-3 on the year with a 2-3 stretch in the SEC. While they sit three games back of Georgia and the Volunteers in the SEC East now, though, Mark Stoops says the goals for his team haven’t changed at all.

Stoops opened up on the mindset of he and his team from here after the 44-6 loss to the Volunteers. He said the Wildcats have to continue to push for the SEC as they originally planned and that starts by not letting this loss become two like they did earlier this season.

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“No different (approach). We have to respond. It’s a tough, competitive league,” said Stoops. “Last time we lost a game, we lost two. One became two. We didn’t play (with) our best effort after that loss. So we’ve got to get back to work.”

Kentucky followed up their loss at Ole Miss with a home loss to South Carolina earlier this month. With three SEC games left and one against Louisville to end the year, Stoops wants to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible so as to prevent another slip-up.

He says it’s just the nature of the conference they play in and there’s no mercy coming from anyone. Missouri won’t be concerned with Kentucky’s loss to Tennessee and that’s why Stoops says it’s on him and his team to get things straightened out before heading to Columbia next weekend.

“There’s no hiding. It is what it is…If you’re gonna be in this league, you’re gonna have some tough losses. You’re gonna get hit right in the jaw. You have to respond and get back at it,” Stoops said. “Nobody’s gonna feel sorry for you…We gotta go (to Missouri) and we better be ready to play.”

Kentucky’s 1-3 stretch in October has really taken the wind out of the sails of the Wildcat’s season. However, a month still remains in the regular season of their 2022 campaign. They can still make this year a success depending on their final four games, which starts next weekend with how Stoops and company respond against the Tigers.