Slow starts are becoming an ugly trend for Kentucky

Kentucky just can’t seem to find a consistent rhythm out of the gate this season, particularly over the last several games. Slow starts have plagued this group at times, although there have been instances of overcoming those large first-half deficits and still pulling out wins. Previous victories over Gonzaga (down 16) and Duke (down nine) looked nearly impossible at halftime before Kentucky found ways to pull them out down the stretch.

But digging an early hole isn’t a trend that a good team with dreams of making an NCAA Tournament run wants to have. Kentucky couldn’t come back from being down seven at the half against Clemson on the road. Even Colgate was down just two at the intermission only a few games ago.

But the worst start of them all came against Ohio State on Saturday night in Madison Square Garden.

Kentucky hung around in the opening minutes but trailed off the rest of the way. It got progressively worse too. UK was down nine at the break to the Buckeyes before losing by 20. Having to rely on digging deep and finding new energy in the second half isn’t a recipe for success when the first half is that ugly. That fight should be there from the first possession.

This is now five straight games where Kentucky has played poorly in the first half. Granted, UK is still 3-2 in those outings, but this is a trend that will get the ‘Cats murdered in SEC play if it continues.

• Clemson: down 9 at half
• Gonzaga: down 16 at half
• Colgate: up 2 at half
• Louisville: up 6 at half
• Ohio State: down 9 at half

“We just could never kind of find the pace of the game,” Mark Pope said postgame. “We had a tough time finding the pace of the game. Bruce Thornton really controlled the entire game the entire time in every single facet of the game. They were comfortable holding the ball and it was hard for us to manage and it was hard for us to guard space.”

But the Ohio State game was the first time this season that the first-half woes bled into the second half. Kentucky somehow looked worse after halftime. That might be even more concerning. In previous games, they found ways to punch back. But the fists were unclenched against the Buckeyes.

“I have beautiful players on this team and people and terrific basketball players,” Pope added. “We just couldn’t find any way to put any energy into this game.”

Luckily, Kentucky has a 10-day break before another game. The next five days will be spent with friends and families so everyone can reset and refresh. Brown is the next opponent. The SEC schedule doesn’t start for another two weeks. Whatever is preventing Kentucky from coming out of the gates hot can be addressed and fixed.

But it has to happen soon.

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