Kentucky WBB's identity based on aggressive style of play

Get used to reading about creating turnovers, scoring in transition, and hustling on both ends of the floor, because that is what this Kentucky women’s basketball team is made of. Head coach Kyra Elzy has emphasized to her team that if they want to win games, then they have to push the tempo on both ends of the floor.

This message has gotten across to the team. After their lone exhibition against Kentucky State on Wednesday at Rupp Arena, junior Brooklynn Miles and senior Ajae Petty took the podium to give their thoughts on the 88-71 win. It was clear from the get-go that Elzy wanted the team to use their disruption on defense to spark their offense.

Giving everything in the tank

“I think the main thing that we focused on was playing hard,” Petty said. “We had a lot of people out there… I think the best thing we can say that we focused on was just going out and giving everything that we had.”

That’s exactly what Kentucky did too. On defense, they pressed the Kentucky State guards bringing the ball up the floor. The perimeter defense consisted of a lot of double-teaming and challenging the Thorobred’s guards. Even when freshman forward Janae Walker checked in for the first time in the second half, she was immediately on the floor, hustling and fighting to get a loose ball. Clearly, the activity on defense paid dividends on offense, allowing the team to score 88 points.

When Petty and Miles were asked if this aggressive style of play was a part of their identity, they both were quick to respond. Miles gave an enthusiastic head nod while Petty added to that sentiment. “That’s what we’re going to try to do every night, come out and play to the best of our abilities.”

In short, this team is going to try to win its games through grit and determination. Is this the most talented team in the world? No. But they’re going to punch, fight, and claw until the final whistle blows. That’s their identity. Kentucky will take on ETSU at Transylvania’s Clive M. Beck Center on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. EST to open up the 2023-24 regular season.

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