Kentucky Basketball: Why the Wildcats will struggle to win titles this year

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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 16: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena on February 16, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

3. Kentucky struggles defending the three

The three-point field goal is not a huge part of Kentucky’s arsenal this season, and it doesn’t need to be; they’ve proven to be successful without it. They don’t have to shoot it well, or at all, but if they don’t get better at defending it, they could find themselves with early tournament exits and will not win the SEC regular-season title.

Kentucky’s opponents on the season have shot the three-ball at a 35% clip which ranks the Wildcats 227th in the country. The only SEC team worse than that is Ole Miss and their 37.2%. In SEC play, the Wildcats have been much better at defending the three, with opponents making just 32% of their attempts. They will have to continue this because five SEC teams are in the top-100 in 3-point field goal percentage, and the team Kentucky is chasing, Tennessee sits just outside at 105.

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While they have been better lately at defending the three, in their four losses, their opponents have shot over 40% from beyond the arc. So, if you are watching a Kentucky game and their opponent is making threes, that spells bad news for the Wildcats.

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