Kentucky WBB's loss to Auburn was just a no good, very bad game in a lot of ways

This season has been one to forget for the Kentucky women’s basketball program.

For the first time in 20 years, the ‘Cats will go back-to-back seasons without a winning record. And speaking of things to forget, Kentucky’s 78-50 loss to Auburn was dreadful. From the tip to the final buzzer, Kentucky was out of it. Out of the game, out of it mentally, and out of it emotionally.

To sum it up, it was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad game.

The start of the game

Let’s start with what may have been the worst part of the game: Kentucky’s abysmal start. After just one quarter of play, the ‘Cats were down by 18. The score was 22-4. FOUR. As I mentioned in our Rapid Reaction, I didn’t know Division-I athletes could combine for just four points in a quarter. But, it happened. Kentucky shot 2-19 (11%) in the first quarter. Again, UK’s inability to start strong probably cost them the game.

On top of that, Kyra Elzy threw us a curveball on Thursday. Immediately following Katie Hutchison’s breakdown of every starting lineup from this season, the head coach hit us with another lineup — one we hadn’t seen before. Against Auburn, the starting five included Ajae Petty and Janae Walker. Elzy waited 25 games before giving Walker her first start of the season, but it didn’t turn out too well.

Elzy drew up that lineup in order to be competitive on the boards, but the Tigers would jump out to a 27-21 lead on the glass in the first half, and they would finish the game with 45 rebounds to Kentucky’s 40.

Understandably so, Coach Elzy is trying to find whatever works for this team. That’s her job, after all. However, it seems like that has been a tall task this season.

“Here we go again…”

You know what else didn’t help? This game was a repeat of so many of the other losses from earlier in the season. Maddie Scherr, who we thought may take Kentucky to the promised land in the offseason, was mediocre against Auburn. Scherr scored 11 points on 4-14 (0-3 3PT) shooting in 34 minutes of play on Thursday. She would also finish with four fouls and two turnovers on the night. Sadly, that’s been the theme of her season.

Turnovers were the main story of the night, however, as Kentucky would commit a season-high 26 in the loss. The ‘Cats had six in the first quarter alone, but in the fourth quarter, Kentucky turned the ball over 11 times. Auburn would finish the game with 38 points off of Kentucky’s mishaps. Brooklynn Miles and Eniya Russell would finish with four turnovers apiece. Petty’s seven turnovers led the team.

Just poor and sloppy basketball all around.

Frustrations reached a breaking point

Then, when I was watching the game, something became very apparent. Really all game long, Auburn was having fun and Kentucky wasn’t. Down 70-47 late in the fourth quarter is when Kentucky’s frustrations hit sort of a breaking point.

With 3:23 left in the game, Saniah Tyler’s layup attempt was rejected, sending the ball right back where it came from. What transpired from that? Well, Auburn players cheered and gave high fives to each other, all while smiling and enjoying themselves. As for Kentucky, everyone, and I mean everyone, was pouting and complaining. There was a lot of “woe is me” on display.

Just look at the difference in the energy from both teams.

Auburn is cheering, high-fiving, smiling, and having a great time.

Kentucky? There’s nothing but pouting and complaining. To cap it off, Kyra Elzy was assessed a technical.

Just downright embarrassing at times. pic.twitter.com/EWkFKcwcWF

— Phoenix Stevens (@PStevensKSR) February 16, 2024

For the first time this season, Kyra Elzy was assessed a technical foul as well. This occurred after she appeared to be talking to the official. Presumably, Elzy said some choice words that the official didn’t think too fondly of.

We can all agree that this season hasn’t gone the way we’d like. It seems that Kyra Elzy and the ‘Cats are just about fed up with how things have gone as well.