What People Are Saying About Kentucky After the Loss to Gonzaga

The loss to Gonzaga cuts deep. Kentucky fans are trying to comprehend just the second three-game losing streak in program history. You’ve heard Matt Jones and the KSR crew share their thoughts after the devastating defeat. Let’s see what folks from around the national media landscape are saying about Kentucky as the postseason looms.

Gary Parrish, CBS Sports

Following a busy day of college basketball, Gary Parrish could not believe how little John Claipari used Rob Dillingham in the second half. No matter how bad of a defender he may be, “I’ll die saying Rob Dillingham should never just play 18 minutes in a college basketball game,” Parrish said on the Eye on College Basketball podcast.

“This is not a rationalization coaches use to not play elite level scorers at any other level of basketball. Do you know how many awesome scorers there are in the NBA that guard nobody?”

“I’ll die saying Rob Dillingham should never play just 18 minutes in a College Basketball game.” – @GaryParrishCBS pic.twitter.com/IbtWX5VDEJ

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) February 11, 2024

Jon Rothstein

“Gonzaga earns its first Quad 1 win of the season at Rupp Arena. And Kentucky has now three straight games at home,” he Tweeted.

“Wildcats are allowing an average of 95.5 points during their last four home games.”

Myron Medcalf, ESPN

Like many of you reading this, Myron Medcalf could not believe John Calipari dialed up a lob play to Thiero to try to send the game into overtime. Following the loss, Matt Jones’ Sunday morning ESPN Radio co-host penned a piece for ESPN that paints a bleak picture of the final month of the season for these Wildcats.

After emerging from a double-digit halftime deficit with a second-half run, Kentucky ended Saturday’s loss with another curious decision: what appeared to be a designed lob from Reed Sheppard to Adou Thiero, which was intercepted by Ben Gregg. That wasn’t Kentucky’s only missed opportunity this game, though. There were missed defensive assignments and a key offensive rebound late in the game that Gonzaga snatched up simply because Kentucky didn’t play with a sense of urgency.

It just does not seem like John Calipari and his players are on the same page. Yes, the Wildcats — who are 2-4 in their past six games and haven’t won a game against a top-30 KenPom team since Jan. 6 against Florida — are playing some of the worst defense among Power 5 teams. But the disconnect goes beyond that. A team full of NBA prospects has been outworked by opponents who lack that talent. The Wildcats are in a free fall, and it’s unclear how they will stop it.

Myron Medcalf, ESPN

ESPN: Kentucky Nearing the NCAA Tournament Bubble

John Gasaway of ESPN regularly updates his “Bubble Watch” feature that highlights the ever-changing fight between teams to reach postseason play. Kentucky is not a lock to hear their name called on Selection Sunday, but they should be in, writes Gasaway.

“Three consecutive home losses interrupted only by an easy win at Vanderbilt have Kentucky’s stock dipping, if not plunging. Then again, isn’t this the same unstable compound we’ve been seeing for a few weeks now? An outstanding offense paired with a not terribly effective defense makes for high-scoring games and close finishes. In this particular case, the unstable compound could still net out to something around a No. 6 seed, particularly if the nail-biters ever start going Kentucky’s way.”

Goodman: Kentucky Needs More from its Post Players

“The bigs just give them nothing defensively,” Jeff Goodman said on the Field of 68 After Dark. “I don’t know if it’s quite their fault because Bradshaw missed so much time in the preseason and early in the year, and Big Z obviously was only eligible a couple weeks ago. It’s hard to blame both of those guys, but they look completely lost. Onyenso had like one great game, then he hasn’t given them much. Tre Mitchell was out, but he’s not very good defensively. He would’ve given them something offensively, certainly, more than what they got.”

Goodman frequently draws the ire of the Big Blue Nation. This week he was on UK’s side. He believed Kentucky was going to come away with a big win over a bad Gonzaga team.

“I just expected them to win this one convincingly against a Gonzaga team that really isn’t very good. They’re probably an NIT team if they don’t beat Kentucky, and even with the win against Kentucky, they might still have to beat Saint Mary’s on the road, San Francisco on the road, and get to the WCC Finals just to have a shot to get in.

“To lose these games the way they’ve lost them is kind of an embarrassment, but I’m still not ready to put Cal on the hot seat.”

CBS: Kentucky Defense Remains an Issue

Gonzaga closed out the game by doing whatever they wanted against Kentucky’s defense. The Wildcats now rank No. 124 in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency, according to KenPom.

“Gonzaga made 9 of its final 13 attempts from the field over the game’s final nine minutes. It was a scene that is becoming too familiar for UK fans as the Wildcats remain mired in a concerning defensive slump,” wrote CBS Sports’ David Cobb.

“While the absence of starting center Tre Mitchell for a second consecutive game due to a back injury didn’t help, it’s no excuse for another defensive dud. Even without Mitchell, the Wildcats still deployed three different towering big men in Ugonna Onyenso, Aaron Bradshaw and Zvonimir Ivišić. The Wildcats simply struggled with perimeter 1-on-1 defense yet again. Gonzaga made only 4 of 18 attempts from 3-point range, but the Zags were still able to get clean 2-point looks by beating UK defenders off the dribble. Ryan Nembhard orchestrated the attack with nine assists for Gonzaga as the Bulldogs amassed a 50-40 edge in paint points.”