Kentucky vs. Kansas: 5 storylines to watch for 2020 Champions Classic
By Andrew Tineo
2. How Kansas can bounce back defensively
Kansas came into the year as one of the best defensive teams in the country, especially alongside the perimeter. It came as such a shock when Gonzaga just had their way with Kansas and little to no resistance in scoring. The Zags had five players in double figures and the trio of Corey Kispert, Drew Timme, and Jalen Suggs combined for 73 points in the game.
Gonzaga only went 6-18 from three-point range but finished with an astounding 64% from the field. That is not Kansas bread and butter, after finishing in the top five in the nation last year in total defense. The good news for Kansas is that Kentucky did not look good on the offensive end Sunday afternoon against Richmond.
The Spiders are led by four seniors in the starting lineup and the experience overwhelmed the Wildcats. With a mix of transfers and primarily freshmen, the recipe for Calipari has backfired so far this season and his team will be tested. This is a great opportunity for Kansas to do what Richmond did and lockdown Kentucky’s perimeter