Kentucky WBB makes clear improvement against repeat opponents

It’s rare for a team to have a metaphorical measuring stick to see how much it’s grown. The Kentucky women’s basketball team had that chance two games in a row.

In the Wildcats’ most recent showing, the team fell to No. 1 South Carolina 87-69. Three weeks before, the Gamecocks blew out UK 95-66, an 11-point difference. On Jan. 29, Kentucky smoked Missouri by 23 points in Memorial Coliseum. Exactly 30 days prior the win, Kentucky narrowly lost 77-74 to the Tigers, a 26-point comparison.

No stop in us. pic.twitter.com/Qq02YWpj8M

— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) February 3, 2023

Between the pair of opponents, Kentucky improved 37 points in a month. Head coach Kyra Elzy couldn’t be happier with her team’s growth.

“We are a better basketball team,” Elzy said after Kentucky’s latest loss to South Carolina. “This team is coming into their own. It has taken us a while to get the team chemistry to play with each other.”

Kentucky’s improved chemistry is causing a couple rewarding reactions.

Blair Green boost

Blair Green has been dynamite for Kentucky lately, making significant strides during January. In Kentucky’s first contests against the Gamecocks and Tigers, Green had a combined 15 points while shooting 6-14 from the field and 3-9 from deep.

In UK’s most recent battles against the same two teams, Green had a combined 25 points, shooting 10-20 from the field and 4-8 from beyond the arc. Although it’s been a grueling journey, Green looks like herself before her injury last season; maybe even better.

Elzy is thrilled with her veteran leader’s surge in play.

“I want to say welcome back to Blair Green. It was so good to see the ball go in the basket. She has been working so hard, so it was good to see the ball go in,” Elzy said after Kentucky dominated Missouri.

Kentucky finds success at the free-throw line

The ball isn’t only going in for Green. In the Wildcats’ last two wins, they’ve made devout donations at the charity stripe, going a cumulative 36-41 (87.8%) from the free-throw line. In Kentucky’s two losses to Mizzou and South Carolina, the team shot a mere 19-29 (65.5%) from the stripe.

Tonight is also the most points that @KentuckyWBB has ever scored in a true road game against an opponent ranked #1 in the AP Poll (69) (previous high was 66 at #1 Tennessee on February 25th, 1978)

— Corey Price (@coreyp08) February 3, 2023

Kentucky’s massive jump is a far leap from even its season average. This year, the ‘Cats are connecting on a mediocre 73% of their free-throw attempts. With four SEC losses decided by four points or less, the recent improvement could be the difference between a run in March or watching from home.

Elzy is focusing on one win at a time.

“Yes, 25 of 26 from the free-throw line. That’s a victory for us. We will take that. We want to get there 20+ times; so proud of our players for that,” Elzy said during the postgame press conference on Feb. 2.

If Kentucky can continue to exceed in more categories, free throws won’t be the only thing Elzy is proud of. Watch the ‘Cats take on Alabama in their next game on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network+.