BOX SCORE: Offense lets Kentucky down in Nashville

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Jan 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores guard Tyler Nickel (5) shoots a three point basket against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Kentucky needs to win basketball games playing a certain way. Mark Pope has built a legitimate top-five offensive operation in year one, but it’s clear that the Wildcats have some defensive issues. This team is not built to win grinders.

Yet, the offense keeps coming short in games away from home.

The Wildcats struggled to score against Clemson, Ohio State, and Georgia in losses. Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt played out the same way.

The home underdog slowed down the pace and held Kentucky to 69 points in 64 possessions. Mark Byington’s first team on the West End controlled the terms and that ultimately led to another loss for Pope’s team as the Cats fall to 3-3 in SEC play.

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Kentucky’s turnover rate (26.6%) was a massive issue as the road team accumulated 17 turnovers. That led to 14 points for the Commodores and turned a close game in the first half into a 14-point lead for the home team at the break. UK shot 17-of-31 (54.8%) from two-point range with 30 paint points, but the three-point battle again told the story of the game. Vandy won the shot volume (33 attempts to 23 attempts) head-to-head and that led to a plus-nine advantage from behind the arc. That ultimately felt like the difference at the end of the game.

Vanderbilt controlled the pace of play, beat Kentucky in three-point shot volume, and won key situational areas at the end of each half to leave Memorial Gym victorious. Kentucky will leave Nashville with another league loss and a tough stretch of games coming down the chimney.