10 things we learned from Kentucky's win over Bucknell

We’re enjoying the start to the Mark Pope era, Kentucky rolling to yet another big-time win to open the season, this time over Bucknell with a final score of 100-72.

What did we learn about the Cats? KSR singled out the 10 best takeaways from Rupp Arena on Saturday.

Held Noah Williamson in check

An All-Patriot League member averaging 25.5 points and 10.5 rebounds through two games, Noah Williamson will be at the top of every opponent’s scouting report for Bucknell this season — including Kentucky. The 7-foot, 250-pound center is a clear high-major talent playing at the mid-major level, someone capable of making the Wildcats’ lives miserable.

Instead, he dealt with early foul trouble and was limited to just seven points on 3-12 shooting and 1-8 from three in 24 minutes — a total non-factor in the game. That was the difference in the 28-point blowout.

“He’s a terrific player. He’s coming off a huge game. I don’t know if we’ll face another center that will score 32 points in a game anywhere this season against any opponent. There’s not a lot of centers doing that,” Mark Pope said after the game. “He’s really capable and really skilled and a veteran, veteran player. … (Amari Williams) did a great job against a terrific player.”

Maybe Koby Brea actually is Steph Curry?

The Dayton sharpshooter started his Kentucky career with an 18-point, four-3-pointer outing in the opener. Brea followed that up with a 20-point, six-3-pointer effort in game two — and it felt like more. The basket looked like an ocean for the fifth-year senior, tossing in everything he threw at it.

He unleashed his inner Steph Curry with a no-look three against Wright State, turning around to face the crowd before the ball fell through the net. But maybe he’s got the all-around shooting ability of the 10-time NBA All-Star, too?

“Koby was ridiculous again tonight,” Pope said. “I told you guys all summer he was the most efficient player in college basketball. He was a 1.82 (points per possession). … If you don’t know analytics, that’s sick. That’s crazy. He’s just like a maestro, he’s having fun right now. I’m really proud of Koby because he’s boldly committed and loving this game. He sure has put together back-to-back-games. That’s really special.”

Kerr Kriisa impersonates Magic Johnson

Speaking of those spark plugs off the bench, how about Kriisa stepping up as a playmaker with Lamont Butler having his first down game as a Wildcat? The Estonian guard finished with six points on 2-5 shooting from three while adding a career-high 12 assists with just two turnovers while adding four rebounds and a block in 21 minutes.

That’s the most assists for a Wildcat playing the fewest minutes in the last two decades, for those keeping track at home.

.@KerrKriisa today played the fewest minutes by a @KentuckyMBB player with at least 12 assists in a game over the last 20 seasons (21)

— Corey Price (@coreyp08) November 9, 2024

Kriisa got in his groove and started cooking as soon as his number was called, tossing no-look dimes left and right while changing the pace of the game overall. It’s been somewhat of a slow burn for the West Virginia transfer since arriving in Lexington, going scoreless in the opener — though he did add five assists — after launching an average of eight shots and six-and-a-half threes per game in 98 career outings over four years.

The best part? He passed up clean looks for himself personally in favor of better looks for teammates. That’s not easy to do for a guy who likes to get up shots, but he embraced the role and thrived in it.

Another double-double for Amari Williams

Are you sensing a trend here? Pope raved about Williams’ defense on Williamson, but the Drexel transfer also racked up the counting stats once again, highlighted by a second consecutive double-double. He finished with 13 points on 5-8 shooting and 3-5 at the line while adding 14 rebounds, two assists and a block. The turnovers are a bit worrisome — he’s now up to nine in two games — but it was still a tremendous all-around effort for one of the most versatile big men in college basketball.

Again, how did this guy last four years in the CAA before hitting the portal? Oh well, we’ll happily take him now.

He joined truly elite company on the glass, becoming the fourth player in Kentucky history to rack up at least 13 rebounds in each of his first two games. The others? Dan Issel, Julius Randle and Oscar Tshiebwe.

Kentucky answers call on the glass

The Wildcats lost the offensive rebounding battle in all three matchups up to this point — 10-9 vs. Kentucky Wesleyan, 8-6 vs. Minnesota State and 11-7 vs. Wright State — with a total deficit of seven against inferior talent and size. Coach Pope said on multiple occasions their effort in that area simply hasn’t been good enough, adding a blunt “We need to be better” following the regular season opener.

Kentucky’s response? 57 total rebounds, including 22 on the offensive glass — eight coming in the first eight minutes alone. They were excellent in a clear area of concern, leading to proper praise from their head coach after the fact.

“For these guys to respond to a challenge — we’ve been kind of sitting on this for maybe 10 days,” Pope said. “Like, ah, we’re just not getting where we need to get on the glass. And for these guys to come and almost put up 60 rebounds today is incredibly gratifying as a coach. It’s a really important step for us as a team.”

Ansley Almonor continues to thrive in role

It’s not flashy, but Almonor shows up every day with his lunch pail and simply goes to work. Whatever is asked of him, no matter how big or small, the Fairleigh Dickinson transfer puts his head down and takes care of business. He did it once again tonight, putting up nine points on 3-8 shooting and 2-6 from three to go with four rebounds — all offensive — and two blocks in just 14 minutes.

He doesn’t have to play a ton, doesn’t have to get a bunch of shots or touches, but he always finds ways to contribute. That’s quite the weapon to have, someone you never have to worry about causing issues in the locker room (or mid-flight, if you’re the Auburn Tigers).

Two for two on Trent Noah and Travis Perry games

We’re still waiting on their first official buckets in blue and white, but the Kentuckians got in the game once again after recording four minutes each in the opener. They combined for three rebounds in that one with three misses, then followed that up with another seven total minutes — four for Noah, three for Perry. The former went for one rebound and one steal while the latter added one assist and one steal.

It wasn’t much, but it was another opportunity for both to add experience and chip away toward the greatness their head coach sees in them.

“They are going to end up really special,” Pope said afterward.

Otega Oweh avoids injury before Duke

There was a brief scare in the win, Oweh — arguably Kentucky’s top performer through the exhibition schedule and game one — going down with an arm injury and heading to the bench in serious pain. Bumps and bruises happen all the time, but for a defensive specialist like the junior guard set to take on Duke a couple days from now, it was the last thing this team needed.

Those worries soon went away with Oweh returning to close out his 10-point, five-rebound, two-steal performance in 19 minutes. The Cats are gonna need him against the Blue Devils, likely as a potential Cooper Flagg and/or Kon Knueppel stopper. All appears fine on that front.

Didn’t look ahead to the Blue Devils

Speaking of Duke, how about Kentucky’s ability to “be still,” as Pope likes to put it, and focus on the prize of taking care of business in each matchup as it comes. He said Kentucky’s ability to avoid distractions would “be a determining factor in how good we are as a team.” The Cats did just that in the form of a 100-point night and a 28-point win.

That was a pretty significant development in the head coach’s eyes.

“I like how our guys are responding,” he said. “… We are playing good basketball right now. We have a chance to grow into a great team. Now we have to earn it.”

A few stretches of sloppy play (and too many long twos!)

It was a good night for Kentucky, but not a perfect night. The Wildcats still turned the ball over 15 times after taking care of it up to this point while the shot chart wasn’t as pretty as it’s been. There were times the team got away from the crisp ball movement to create open looks we’ve seen and settled for contested jumpers and long twos — even with a 48.1 percent hit rate overall and 36.1 percent from three.

A big-time matchup is coming Tuesday and the Cats have some stuff to clean up before then. Not much, but some.