As if Kentucky’s controversial top-five AP ranking wasn’t enough to keep tongues wagging, their recent slip-ups have fans and analysts buzzing for all the wrong reasons. The Wildcats, riding high on early-season wins over teams like Duke and Gonzaga, seemed poised for dominance. But cracks in the foundation are becoming more visible. And they just suffered a stinging 85-65 loss to unranked Ohio State.

This loss has reignited conversations among analysts about Kentucky’s true potential. Jeff Goodman, speaking on The Field of 68: After Dark, didn’t hold back, “This is a team that frankly isn’t overpowering. To me, again, like this is a team that’s built on making threes in overall power by numbers. They don’t have a stud player. They got a bunch of good players.” 

His words paint a picture of a team that may not be built to withstand adversity, especially in the grind of SEC play. The journalist highlighted that Kentucky wasn’t truly the fourth-best team in the country. Instead, their ranking was more a reflection of their résumé, bolstered by wins against Duke and Gonzaga.

Matt McCall echoed similar sentiments on the podcast, but his concerns extended to the Wildcats’ ability to adapt in tough scenarios. “How they’re going to win games when not going well behind a three-point line—that’s the biggest question mark now,” he said. 

McCall painted a vivid picture of the SEC grind. “When it’s Grind Time and we’re in the SEC, and we’re in a dogfight with Mississippi State and the score is 65-67, you know, with four minutes to go in the game, like how are they going to grind that out? That would be my biggest concern with Kentucky.”

But before they reach there, Ohio State just handed them their second and an eye-opener loss. Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton led the charge with a career-high 30 points, constantly attacking the rim. But Mark Pope’s crew’s struggles weren’t limited to defense, and it felt like they took the game ‘too easy,’ which led to their loss. 

They had their worst shooting night of the season, going 4-for-22 from three-point range and shooting just 37.1% inside the arc. Their inability to finish at the rim—missing 16 of their 23 layup attempts—was particularly glaring. As Pope summed up the night, “There were a bunch of possessions our guys wish they could get back.”

Mark Pope admits they ‘fell short’ but trusts the team will ‘respond’

Mark Pope didn’t shy away from the team’s shortcomings but expressed confidence in their ability to bounce back. “There’s a lot of ways we can get a lot better. I felt like our guys were trying to find some juice, find some energy, find some fight. We just fell really short,” he admitted. 

He also took some responsibility for the loss. He believes he needs to train them on the defensive end. Even Ohio State freshman John Mobley Jr. acknowledged the Buckeyes had control, saying their game plan was all about staying in “attack mode.” 

That approach left Kentucky reeling, unable to adjust effectively. But despite the loss, Pope remains hopeful, “I know these guys. They’ll come in. These guys will respond beautifully because they’re incredible young men and they’ll come back and work like crazy.”

“It’s incredibly painful to lose this game. But they’ll respond,” he added. Now, Kentucky has a 10-day break before hosting Brown on New Year’s Eve. After that, it’s straight into the SEC play, with games against Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Alabama looming.

Can they fix their defensive lapses and find a way to win when the three-pointers aren’t falling?