SHANE SHACKLEFORD: How Can the Wildcats Right the Ship?

After the year 2020, would you expect anything else, Kentucky basketball brothers and sisters?

After being routed by 0-2 Georgia Tech 79-62 Sunday afternoon in Atlanta, the Kentucky Wildcats dropped to 1-3 on the season, its worst start since 2000-01. The good news (kind of) is that season ended with the Cats inside the top 10 nationally and winning a share of the SEC regular-season title and tournament championship.

Alas, the words “championship” and this “team” shouldn’t be used in the same sentence currently. These Cats are in trouble. Big trouble.

But again, the good news is there is still time for them to right the ship. But to do so there has to be some major corrections, and not just in their play.

Let’s examine the perfect storm of 2020 that has helped to expose these Cats, shall we?

COVID-19. The pandemic has affected all of our lives without question, 18-19-year-old boys included. It has changed the way people think and most of all act. For Kentucky basketball, COVID-19 has reduced it to a shell of Rupp Arena and other gyms with little to no crowd or fan interaction, social isolation on the bench and traveling to and from games, and limited practice time. These Cats have no idea what it’s like to play in front of a raucous crowd at Rupp or even a tough crowd on the road. There is no emotion, just a practice environment.

The schedule. The pandemic has no opportunities for the Cats to grow and develop confidence and figure out who they are. So far, gone are the 7-8 schools (other than Morehead State) that would provide opportunities for success; now the Cats face Sweet-16 contender Richmond, national power Kansas, and a Georgia Tech squad that while 0-2 coming in, have veterans and experience.

Youth. There. I said it. They’re young. Bad young. But saying this, I’ll say it only a couple more times. Youth cannot be the excuse as to why UK is playing bad basketball if that trend goes all season. It will go much deeper.

There’s the storm, but here are some corrections that must be made in order for the Cats to turn the ship around.

They have to care. This may be the toughest correction. These players must care enough about the team to put aside the “me” for the “we”. In high school, each was the man for their team; in college, they become a part of something bigger. If they buy into this, the other corrections become easier to implement. If they don’t, it will get worse. Much worse.

Get back to fundamentals. This team has struggled with the most basic of basketball skills. Yes, they are super long. Yes, they are super athletic. But that and 50 cents will buy you a can of Coca-Cola. At the Division 1 level, everyone is athletic and long to some extent. But good teams play winning basketball consistently, not a trip down the floor here and there.

Get stronger. D-1 basketball isn’t for the faint of heart. You will get bumped. You will get knocked down. It isn’t all breakaway dunks and snowbirding for baskets. The Cats must invest in the weight room and training table like never before, but they also have to get into their heads the strength mindset and finish plays at the rim on offense and get stops on the defensive end.

Value defense and rebounding. The Cats seem to have little value for defense, both team and individual. Georgia Tech attacked UK at will and the Cats had no answer. Kentucky was beaten time and again off the dribble and there was no help defense to be found. This doesn’t work in high school, let alone college. Good offense comes and goes, but defense and rebounding can be there every game. The Cats must figure this out.

My final set of three is some suggestions for the coaching staff at UK. In no way am I saying I know more basketball than coach John Calipari and his staff; I’ve just been around the game for most of my life (over 20 years as a coach), so it’s more of what I see than anything.

Use the bench. No, I’m not speaking of playing more players because Cal is trying any combination to find what works. I am speaking of using it to get his charges’ attention. No effort on defense? Have a seat. Terrible pass? Come sit beside me. Don’t hit the floor for a loose ball? Get comfortable over here. And not just for 2-3 minutes, but for a while. The bench does wonders for effort and execution.

Cut the rotation down. Look at the film over the first four games. I would venture to say there are 7-8 players that will grade out the highest. Ride with them. Give them the lion’s share of minutes (as long as the effort is there.) If one of them gets comfortable in their spot and production and effort dips, make the replacement. The Cats need continuity more than ever, and it’s hard to do that playing 10-11 players.

Play zone. It’s painfully obvious these Cats aren’t ready to play the type of man defense Cal loves. So it’s time to adjust and play to the Cats’ strengths right now; length and athleticism. Play a halfcourt zone that features trapping areas and smothering lane defense. Use that quickness to jump passes and skips. Use that length to challenge shooters. Yes, there will be some made threes, but even the best three-point shooters hover around 30%, challenge them and rebound well.

So Wildcat fans, this is what I see. I have no doubt you have been screaming many of the same things at your TV too. But take heart. The season is still young, but time is ticking.

Shane Shackleford is a regional sports columnist from Speedwell, Tenn. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter as well as local media outlets The Corbin Times-Tribune, London Sentinel-Echo, A Sea of Blue, KySportsStyle.com Magazine, HarlanCountySports.com, and Wildcat Sports Talk.