BOX SCORE: Kentucky posts good efficiency numbers despite bad shooting performance

Kentucky’s offense has been cooking with gas early in the 2024-25 season. Mark Pope‘s five-out tempo attack had the Wildcats up to No. 11 in KenPom‘s adjusted offensive efficiency rankings while ranking No. 15 in adjusted tempo entering Feast Week. There is a new pace-and-space brand of basketball in Lexington, but we saw what can happen when the three-point shooting goes cold on Tuesday night in Rupp Arena.

Kentucky finished the 87-68 win over WKU shooting just 8-of-29 (27.6%) from three, but were able to grind out 1.16 points per possession due to free throw rate and pace. The big home favorite even left some points on the floor.

The Wildcats shot 42 free throws in 75 possessions, but finished making just 69 percent from the charity stripe. Lamont Butler and Amari Williams combined to shoot 14-of-22 from the line, but were hovering around 50 percent most of the night. Kentucky’s tempo and ability to take the ball to the basket helped avoid a truly bad offensive night. Pacing and free throws helped Kentucky to add points on the scoreboard.

Pope’s offense finished with 34 paint points (14-of-17 shooting at the rim), grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, and had 16 assists to balance out 11 turnovers.

Kentucky held WKU to 4-of-28 (15.4%) shooting from three. The Tops shot just 42.5 percent (17-of-40) from two-point range with five lay-up misses on 13 attempts. There were some ugly moments, but the home team held the pesky underdog at arm’s reach throughout the contest.

Shot volume and free throw rate allowed Kentucky to survive a bad perimeter shooting night. When Kentucky goes through bad shooting stretches, this is how this team will need to win games. Getting to line played a big role in the win.

Kentucky scored 87 points on a bad shooting night. The new style of play will lead to this offense having some good scoring totals on bad shooting nights as long as the Wildcats take care of the basketball.

Box Score: Kentucky vs. WKU