BOX SCORE: Three-point shooting volume allows Kentucky to pull away from Colgate

The Kentucky basketball team is not shooting the ball well from three-point range right now. Jaxson Robinson leads the team in attempts (68) and is shooting just 29.4 percent from distance. Koby Brea is continually lighting it up (32 three-point makes in 10 games) from the outside, but cold team shooting has forced the Wildcats to rely more on interior offense, rebounding, and defense to win games.

But the philosophy is not going away. Kentucky wants to shoot a bunch of threes. Over time, there will be some hot and cold streaks, but the high shot volume will allow you manage those bad run. That played out in the 78-67 win against Colgate.

Despite blowing a 17-0 lead in the first half, Kentucky was able to respond to some adversity in the second half as high three-point volume (31 attempts in 66 possessions) led to 10 three-point makes. A 12-0 run in the second half occurred with four consecutive three-point field goals from Robinson, Trent Noah, and Otega Oweh turned a 47-46 Colgate lead into a 58-47 Kentucky lead. That essentially ended the game.

Three-point shooting percentage will be a huge talking point heading into the Louisville game on Saturday, but this is a volume exercise for an entire season. Kentucky’s shooting will have up-and-down moments but eventually the volume will win out. We are trusting that the roster-building was done well enough for the makes to eventually arrive. They arrived on Wednesday night when the Cats had to have them.

That team philosophy was on full display in the win over Colgate. It also helps when Brea pours in 5-of-8 from deep and Amari Williams and Andrew Carr combined for 26 points (on 16 field goal attempts) and 18 rebounds.

Saturday would be a good time for a hot perimeter shooting streak to begin.

Box Score: Kentucky vs. Colgate