Bad (or good?) news, BBN -- the bright orange ball is back

Kentucky only shot 24.0 percent from three in its loss at Georgia earlier in the week, going just 6-25 from deep with Koby Brea the lone Wildcat with multiple makes — though he still went 2-9. It was more of the same for the team in losing efforts, now three for three shooting under 26.0 percent from beyond the arc against Clemson, Ohio State and the Bulldogs in Athens.

The outlier of that group? The Wildcats’ 18.2 percent finish against the Buckeyes in New York City, knocking down just 4-22 attempts from three in the 20-point loss in the CBS Sports Classic

Something was different about that game from the rest, and it was the color orange. It was the lone game this season Kentucky used the Wilson EVO NXT ball you see used in the NCAA Tournament and other high-profile events. New ball, worst shooting performance of the year by a country mile.

That’s not a coincidence, either. In fact, the Wildcats lost to Texas A&M in the opening round of the SEC Tournament using the bright orange ball, then followed that up with a first-round loss to Oakland in the NCAA Tournament — 0-3 in their last three games with the Wilson EVO NXT.

And they’re playing with it again tonight, Mississippi State using the controversial ball in all home games at Humphrey Coliseum.

Since Miss State made the switch to Wilson, Kentucky will be using the Wilson Evo NXT tonight for the second time this season.

Last time the Cats used it they shot 18% from three and lost by 20 to Ohio State. https://t.co/wc7Z7Yt6T5

— Steven Peake (@StevenPeakeKSR) January 11, 2025

That’s the bad news, Kentucky shooting 35.6 percent from three using the Wilson EVO NXT (57-160) in 2023-24, then 18.2 percent using it in the lone matchup vs. Ohio State in 2024-25. It translates to the free throw line, too, UK knocking down 96-133 attempts for 72 percent with it vs. 389-495 for 79 percent without it.

The good news? The Wildcats were still 3-1 in the regular season playing with it, the last win coming against none other than Mississippi State in Starkville, shooting 10-30 from three for 33.3 percent in that one. That was the Reed Sheppard game, dropping a career-high 32 points on 11-14 overall and 4-7 from deep with seven assists, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks — including the game-winner at the buzzer. Their other wins include North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic and at Auburn, the Cats shooting 34.8 percent from three in the former and 30.8 percent from deep in the latter. The lone regular season loss using the EVO NXT came on the road at Texas A&M, shooting 38.5 percent from three (15-39).

We’re going to choose to believe tonight’s matchup will be closer to the last trip to Starkville with someone going nuclear rather than the stinker we saw at Madison Square Garden before the holidays.

Mark Pope’s thoughts? He talked about the controversial ball right before the Ohio State loss.

“Now you’re trying to get me in trouble! You’re going to have all of the ball companies bartering for the one that is gonna be named the universal ball,” he said. “I don’t know, that’s way above my pay grade. I like it, I like using the different balls because it gives all of the fans and everybody something to talk about and conspiracy theorize about. That helps the game of sports.”

I wonder if his opinion has changed at all since.

One way or another, it’s going to be a talking point with this game.