Kentucky basketball just had its worst performance of the Mark Pope era | Rapid Reaction

[@brett444]

If I've said it once, I've said it 100 times this year. Amari is ass! He's terrible on offense and even worse on defense. He never challenges anything at the rim on defense and gives up so many layups. We were ice cold and it happens but Amari has me very concerned with how hes played this year besides the Duke game.

[@bshayc79]

Hard to block shots or steal the ball with your arms by your side. Some would say it's damn near impossible. Amari.. is... ass.

[@jimmyjames6882]

yes sir, willams is nut salad.

[@robinh8416]

I wish I didn’t agree, but I do. He has no idea how strong he is. He’s so timid at the basket. It’s like he’s afraid it will bite!! And Garrison played just as bad!

[@Jsimms1324]

I think he’s a decent defender. Offensively, he’s challenged.

[@scottfleckenstein7948]

They should of stayed with 1-3-1 or went zone. OSU guards blew past defender to the basket almost undefended. Bradshaw dominated…..very troubling

[@MrMashman93]

The 1-3-1 was working then he goes back to man to man. Why?!!!

[@Capt.1958]

Ohio State played their game and we didn't. They took us out of our game on both ends. Congratulations to Ohio State. They were prepared and we weren't.

[@MGnKntkY]

Everyone, calm down. The season isn't over.

[@pastorphilliplucas8759]

Should have pressed early the game was really slowed down and need to change the lethargic play. I thought Pope being of Rick Pitino he would press a lot more than he does. Especially when teams drag the game down to that Temple. That first 20 minutes they just got Kentucky slow and lethargic look Calipari

[@flea8th]

I love this team, but they kinda remind of a Wichita State type team, if they are on from the 3 pt line no one can beat them, but if they are cold, which they have been pretty much the last 3 or 4 games. I just hope with the veteran players they have, they haven't peaked, Pope has worked magic getting these guys to play like they've been together for years, but I worry teams like Duke, Kansas, and UConn haven't reached their ceiling yet. I don't agree with your statement win, Ohio State loses to UK 9 of 10 times, this just happened to be 10. We've beat Duke, the zags and won a rival game, those were statements.

[@justinnelson3579]

Hugh Freeze is that you? Get out of here you Ole Rascal you!

[@JohnnyYoung-wl1or]

And the worst part is you guys can’t blame Cal this time.

[@jimmyjames6882]

nobody is even involving calipari other than an arkansas fan who wants to use us as an excuse for why they suck seedy micronut.

[@ripwatts373]

Lmao 🤣😂🤣... So true!!!

[@MGnKntkY]

Who is "you guys?"

[@bobbyyoung4243]

😂😂

[@wtk6069]

It's refreshing to have a coach who will take this new data and adapt accordingly. Not just do the same thing over and over, year after year, with the same bad results.

[@rynob356]

This team will lose at least 8 more games before the postseason. Jaxson Robinson is just not that #1 guy we hoped he was. Most of the game he was completely invisible.

[@MrMashman93]

Agree with everything

[@russellmxnia]

Thank you. Why is no one talking about this? He’s been bad all season other than the Gonzaga game. Shooting 41% and 30% from three. Even last year at BYU, he only shot 41%… He’s just an inefficient scorer that has the ability to get hot for a stretch and make tough shots.

[@walkinphoenix45]

I agree. I think we lose 8-12 more games. Oweh is the only consistent player but he can’t do it all. None of these guys were superstar players before coming here, and it shows. Sadly. Too many free throws missed. Missed too many shots in the paint. They are not the sharp shooting team we were led to believe they were.

[@jcno84]

The SEC is tough as hell. Losing 8 games would be fine.

[@wilsonmatthew5190]

Jaxson Robinson would only play for the hogs when they were down by 30 points. Kentucky will probably finish bottom half of the sec

[@lb9181]

Sorry what do you mean we were waiting for a statement win? We beat Duke and Gonzaga…

[@BudStickly]

They mean a dominant performance against a team like OSU. Duke and Gonzaga were come back statement wins.

[@savedbygracethrufaith]

Watched your pregame video … y’all were so arrogantly confident Kentucky would win easily. A great example how pride comes before the fall. Hope that lesson sinks in for positive change at an individual level for you. It’s OK to predict a win…I’m saying you were arrogantly dismissive of Ohio State when you could have been more respectful for the talent they do have even if they hadn’t seen the results they wanted prior to this game.

[@atinwoodsman]

Looked a lot like a Calipari coached team tonight, taking the hardest shot possible every possession. Was expecting some adjustments in the second half, notta.

[@ripwatts373]

Lmao 🤣😂🤣

[@btcpac-pr7bu]

looked like a mark pope coached team boss

[@joshjones5100]

Cal isn't getting smoked by OSU in this game LOOOOOOOOOOL

[@SamTittman]

but Cal’s team won on Saturday 😂

[@georgewallace264]

​@@joshjones5100I'd say find me a game Cal lost by 20 to an unranked team at a neutral site favored by 3 possessions.

[@mr.wildcat405]

Expectations for this team skyrocketed after some good wins. Realistically, this is a mid major team. The team we saw against OSU is the team to expect in the SEC. Better win your home games. It's going to be rough. I had low expectations coming into this season. They've exceeded those expectations. Once Pope mixes in some 5 star freshman into the mix, things should improve.

[@QazJer]

mid major team?? that beat duke and gonzaga? what are you smoking can I get some 🤣

[@mr.wildcat405]

@ Duke was down their big man half of the game. Zags beat themselves. Wins are wins though…right.

[@QazJer]

@@mr.wildcat405 Zags beat themselves and one player being out is the only reason we beat Duke... please. Stop watching or have some damn respect for your team.

[@mr.wildcat405]

@ dude…they are what they are. A true top 5 team doesn’t lose by 20 to an unranked team that just got smoked by 50 points.

[@QazJer]

@@mr.wildcat405 I couldn't give two shits about an AP ranking in December when the tournaments are in March...

[@JayTheGreat.]

Amari needs to work on finishing around the rim and Jaxson plays too soft, both need to fix those issues for Kentucky to be good

[@brett444]

Amari needs to work on everything!!! He is very underwhelming

[@ripwatts373]

Lmao 🤣😂🤣

[@bobbyyoung4243]

Will the real uk fans stand up!!😂😂

[@MrZenigame]

This team is softer than a no bake cookie. I love how we continue to make Ohio State look like the 96' Bulls year after year.

[@bgrovian774]

Hog fan here...IMO, no need to freak. Pope's a solid coach, he just needs a season in the SEC to learn what works and what doesn't. But I'm a little confused about the MSG thing, cause Cal was talking it up last week and saying he loved to play there. Did he have a bad record at MSG with Kentucky?

[@Nobody-n2m]

Cal was 1-4 at msg 0-2 vs oh st

[@BigBeast227]

Going into the SEC, I would argue that Kentucky did need this game. Did Ohio State need it more? Sure. Their season was falling apart. But every SEC game is going to be a battle. It’s not like Louisville going into ACC play with a lot of winnable games. I don’t understand how basketball players, who get paid to play, with a week off, can’t find the energy to bring to the game. Unless that’s Pope’s way of saying that this team is soft.

[@toddboling152]

Mark wants the team to shoot more threes, let's try making our layups first we missed 16 tonight that's 32 points, Yes I also would like to see us shoot more threes making at least 40 percent of them...

[@Captain_Kirk116]

I'm going to the game against Brown and I certainly hope they show more fight in that game despite the quality of the opponent, we have to get right before that early game against Florida

[@robinh8416]

Bradshaw broke us. These guys took away our passing and cuts. It was painful to watch. I still have confidence they’ll rescheme and shooting can’t get worse, so there’s that

[@Kat.Creates.and.Feeds.Raccoons]

This feels a whole lot like UK Football this year. Once we started down the tubes, we couldn’t (or wouldn’t) pull ourselves out. The vibes I get from Amari Williams is that he is unhappy. Could he be bringing the others down?

[@MGnKntkY]

"Collected a lot of data tonight." Lmao... Steven is so pessimistic right mow. 😂

[@taeatm2]

It happens just can't let this tank the season...huge opportunity to get back on track in the first sec game... Florida is solid

[@randyhenson5103]

Come on guys, longview. This is just one bump on a long and winding road.

[@FrankGrahovac]

Terrible loss, no excuse can justify this one, got beat by a not so good OSU team, team forgot how to shoot and play defense, Oweh has been the only consistent player on this team all year, Butler went from not missing a shot to can’t make one, need consistency, looked like a Cal team tonight

[@bshayc79]

Butler played like he was afraid to be the star after the Louisville game. With 13 minutes left in the game tonight he had taken 1 shot and drove to the basket 1or 2 times.

[@WilliamBeamon-dm2tv]

This OSU team came into the season ranked ahead of us. Then they had some issues with the team…personal, not sure what, but it was sord’a falling apart. They are still down a couple but they have immense talent. OSU can be a top 3 or 4 team in the big ten. I believe this.! Still tho, the Cats did not show up tonight!

[@mtndewgood]

Nothing gets an already soft team prepared to play in the Garden like going to a Broadway musical show

[@kodyoliva8183]

This comment section is gross. March is 3 months away.

[@Evil-Rod-Farva]

I’m trying to be positive here, but these guys are seniors. They have no excuses for playing with 0 energy or heart. Our bigs are as soft as fresh dog poo. The plan is out. Bully our bigs and guard Brea and our offense is less than pedestrian.

[@jwhite0105]

Why did we go away from our offense at the beginning of the season? No more passing. It’s like we decide to do iso b/s cal did last year…

[@Austin123.]

We've faced Ohio State 21 times. We are 11-10 against them. We have not beaten them since 2011, and since that victory we've lost 5 times in a row now. As we've faced them 5 times after that last win in 2011. Another stat, we have not won at MSG since 2019. Personally, it felt like we were super flat out there today and looked rusty. We couldn't shoot anything, our defense was terrible, and we couldn't make any openings at the 3 point line. There is no way we are out there not scoring for 2 to 9 minutes straight. In that first half, we didn't score for 9 minutes at all. The only reason we stayed in the game was because of free throws. We didn't look like the #4 ranked team out there, we looked like we were the unranked team that's 7-3 whilst Ohio looked like the 10-1 team coming into this match up. We need to improve our defense and change the plays that we do offensively. It's literally the same gameplan each game, and Ohio came completely prepared for the same gameplan that Kentucky did. Our shots were either short or airball. Anyhow, ultimately as I said we need to improve things now than later as we got Flordia in 2 weeks. This team can be better, simply IMO, it was an off night and just a bad gameplan. Plus we need to get more physical. Both of our loses against Clemson and Ohio, we were getting outmuscled badly.

[@charlieclayton6860]

So it’s not just Cal who can lose a game that without a doubt you should’ve won? 🤣

[@ripwatts373]

Lmao 🤣😂🤣

[@bobbyyoung4243]

🤣

[@jwhite0105]

Saying a quad 1 team like Ohio state is the same as a UNC Wilmington is laughable

[@joshbutcher7514]

At least it wasn’t on our home floor.

[@JR-oq1ms]

At this point our bigs are just setting screens down low for the opposing guards. Too many times have I seen Amari with his hands down while the guard floats right by him for a layup or easy jump shot. At least throw your hands up to make it difficult.

[@btcpac-pr7bu]

why tf would mark pope play perry almonor and garrison at the same time and expect to win

[@dannycollins7353]

Some of his lineup choices are head scratching to say the least.

[@btcpac-pr7bu]

@@dannycollins7353 that one was terrible he has to tighten the line up. chandler needs to play kerr minutes perry shouldnt play if there isnt a blow out

[@WilliamBeamon-dm2tv]

I would like to see a lil more of Noah. I think he plays with passion and fire. I think he would do just fine!

[@btcpac-pr7bu]

@@WilliamBeamon-dm2tv i agree hes not scared of the moment. deff gotta find a bench scorer with kerr injured

[@WilliamBeamon-dm2tv]

@@btcpac-pr7buyes sir!

[@dave0051]

Ohio State guarded really well.

[@johnwhalen4531]

No; Auburn beat this team by almost 50!!! The SEC is gonna be scary!! We GOTTA pick it up!

[@ChristopherBishop-w1b]

Cool and Duke beat Auburn. Guess who beat Duke? Sometimes this kind of stuff happens.

[@neilparis502]

We’re still 10-2 in non conference we weren’t expecting a championship team -well I wasn’t-in year 1 and we had no players in our gym after March of last year. BBN, we will be okay… no matter where we finish this year. We should still atleast see Rd 2 of the tourney. SEC will be rough for everyone in it and hopefully we will be physically ready. If not oh well we can hope for decent recruiting.

[@cedricbillingslea9908]

Lets get physical , physical!! 🫡

[@CptCrash21]

Time to get rid of Pope

[@ajg8722]

😂😂😂😂😂 nahh

[@Nobody-n2m]

I thought looking at the schedule preseason, picking wins and losses that we would go 2/4 vs gonzaga, duke, oh st and clemson. I just didnt think wed drop the 2 easy ones and win the 2 hard ones, but we are where i thought wed be at this point. Well see what we really are now going into sec play

[@robmetcalfe8902]

I just worried about on offense no defense can’t shoot what’s happening

[@Burnafatty420]

Welcome to todays era of basketball. With NIL its just a 9-5 now! You Cannot trade buckets with teams. Their defense is non existent.

[@six3r]

Tough loss. We looked beat. Worst performance of the year. Both of our L's are from games where their bigs just bodied our bigs, Look at some of the minutes these guys played today and how many rebounds they finished with. We have guards out rebounding some of our big men. That ain't gonna get it done. This is a very good finesse team but if opponents are able to slow it down and get physical we lose. We need to see more Almonor. That dude plays physical. Just need to get more physical overall. Turn the page and improve.

[@brett444]

Well, yeah, because Amari is as overrated a defender as I've ever seen. He doesn't challenge anything at the rim.

[@dannycollins7353]

​@brett444 not to mention doesn't block out and plays lazy most of his time on the floor

[@travisclayton3673]

We've pumped coach Pope up too much. Going to be a rough road in the SEC

[@kalanhitchens8782]

I've been watching both Kentucky and Arkansas this year. Kentucky is going to lose quite a bunch when you live by the three and die by the three. This is normal college basketball, y'all were spoiled and didn't know it

[@MichaelUhlig-u9k]

The inside opens the outside! Got to get tougher inside AND when we get to the tee throw line we have to punish the other team at a higher rate

[@china_sickness7005]

All I can say is they gotta lock in. The defense was just sad, and they did a horrible job offensively at getting open looks especially at the three line

[@justinkeith1466]

This purely rest on OSU controlling the pace and the just terrible shoot making ability. They missed so many layup. Hell, they pretty much missed everything to be honest. Let's not forget this team has played well above expectations. Hopefully, this stays a Q1 game.

[@triptolomios]

Nobody could've dreamed of this? You're kidding right? We have no post presence, when SEC play starts UK is going to get bodied like this more than once, and i'm saying this as a BBN member. Yall just wait...

[@claytoncarson5228]

Kentucky is not “extremely talented.” They’re a good team, but they don’t have supreme talent. Where does Pilgrim come up with this freaking crap

[@jamesthornberry2755]

Positivity is that the season is not over Film is out On how to Easily beat the zone and how to shut down the offense SEC schedule is going to be uglier than Ohio State God Help This Team Grow 😅and realize that We are never as good or as bad as the Media indicates Watch Film and Continue to Grow Stronger from the inside Out

[@CharlesDuncan-e3v]

Can someone ask Pope? Why can’t Carr go left? It’s too easy to guard him. Ky bugs can’t shoot so you never have to guard , why isn’t Carr on top and force the other teams big to guard.

[@SeanSchug]

Our big men weak

[@MrYnot007]

gizmos on the hoops, that's why you were told to leave. it's fixed now that they are openly paying players

[@redghost3170]

Teams have figured out that they can get close to the basket without being guarded. Sorry, it’s over. The SEC will expose them even more.

[@troypriddyFNF]

i just have to say this... its crazy to say .and this doesnt matter what we are throwing ,, basketballs horseshoes or bags of corn... if the weight of the ball is different...if the feel of the ball is different how can it not effect your numbers..... but thats not a reason to not get stops and we didnt get the stops.we couldnt stay in front of the ball and guard .and you cant miss 16 layups... i wouldnt say a different ball played a part there so just a perfect storm to get us beat...

[@tobiasj2455]

This is an 8-9 loss SEC team, unfortunately

[@Duane-kr2mt]

Couldn't throw it in the ocean, a big step backwards, these guys have been flirting with disaster lately.

[@BigBlueNation502]

14-7 all time in Modern MSG

[@mllruss1]

Let's hope that doesn't happen again.

[@justinmoran6097]

They didn’t start slow again Louisville. Louisville is a better team than Ohio state in my book as well. Way more better shooters. This was just a super poor performance on our part. Ohio states defense took away anything we threw at em and we really didn’t throw much. The 3 wasn’t there, our big man’s didn’t do shit, we don’t have that “guy” that can go get his own and that’s what lost this game. It shows as well because we don’t have that “guy”. Somebody needs to step up and step up fast. I hope it happens. We have a few different guys that have the capability but who will it be? Jaxson is way to inconsistent, Andrew has lost his 3 point shooting ability which changes his game, Oweh only really can drive the ball and is a horrible shooter, Lamont isn’t consistent and folds under pressure sometimes, one of these guys has the capabilities but it’s who wants it more. Maybe even Ansley or Kobe off the bench. Somebody needs to get to the point in there game that they can just go out and score 20 a night so everybody else around him can do what they do and contribute. The talent is there. We just need to get to that point. I’m here for it.

[@bubbawatson1852]

I like this bunch, but we need kerr. Kerr is the dog. Some really bad passes. Looked really slow. Bradshaw played really good.

[@rushlibby]

So happy for Aaron Bradshaw!

[@mattnapier4330]

We have two of the worst bigs in college basketball

[@lafamiliattg2016]

It’s Cal’s fault

[@bubbawatson1852]

Well .0 only tried on certain plays. Jax, slow, Williams has no right arm, and butler, looking really tried. He wasn't close. On. D too. 15, 10, both played good.

[@larrytraugott1358]

These guys just got wiped off court by alburn and we lose by 20 pope not got the guys ready to play all he worried about is shooting threes

[@robinh8416]

18% from 3 😢

[@johnwhalen4531]

Whoops……almost 40

[@watchinglclowns9890]

THE HONEYMOON IS OVER.. Kentucky & Pope must stop. The, we will respond BEAUTIFULLY Comments he's Starting to Sound like MARK STOPS...

[@bshayc79]

I'm glad this wasn't Louisville.

[@joshluke8056]

Live by the three die by the three.. we couldn’t hit nothing.. they will learn from this beat down and get better go big blue

[@TonyRichards]

Steven needs some Emotional Intelligence development.

[@Metalhead-l7o]

Ohio state used the same basketball. And Amari Williams is horrible. Very lazy to add insult to injury

[@mattvvvvvv]

Unacceptable

[@mattvvvvvv]

Idk if we’re talented maybe we’re just old

[@brunobagofdonuts9304]

U C O N N UCONN UCONN UCONN what's up with every schools thing with UCONN everybody gotta mention UCONN in their podcast. Guess they wanna be them.🤫 THE GARDEN is UCONN"S third home court ( STORRS SOUTH )

[@watchinglclowns9890]

NO BIGS.& Athleticism we are very Lacking..

[@richardkermode8833]

Pope has never finished higher than 5th in conference in his coaching career..don’t see this year being any different

[@dave0051]

Louisville didn't beat UCONN.

[@JohnHorton-qb5jr]

Ky will lose 10 to 15 games

[@wilsonmatthew5190]

Freaking calipari did this

[@kenricmitchell1529]

Bradshaw a trader

[@Gfant17]

This mark pope soft style of play all threes no defense is going to get us killed in the sec this is not byu and that run and gun last team standing basketball robinson and brea have no clue what to do when there shot is not falling and our bigs are soft

[@billebrooks]

Uh, no. We just have to play a lot better than today. All five starters had a terrible game. Nobody wins shooting 30% while the other team shot 57%.

[@brett444]

Amari is just a glaring weakness. He is a terrible defender, and he has no presence at the rim as far as blocking shots. He gives up so many free layups

[@MGnKntkY]

Respectfully, you don't know what you're talking about.

[@bobbyyoung4243]

Kentucky fans hate the truth!!😂

[@billebrooks]

@@bobbyyoung4243 Here comes the trolls. If Pope's team was consistently this bad, Kentucky fans would be demanding Calipari come back.

[@damfs]

rabid react shunnned

[@austinhowser7838]

3 in a row😂

[@Wuftalksports]

Just wait until tournament play 😂 we go be in for a rude awakening. Trust me! Sec play is going to destroy Kentucky just watch and see

[@ripwatts373]

Lmao 🤣😂🤣

[@triptolomios]

Been saying this since the Gonzaga game, we've got no post presence and Pope's game plan is just jack up 3's

[@bobbyyoung4243]

But they beat the zags and duke! 😮

[@Wuftalksports]

@@bobbyyoung4243 Gonzaga trash and won’t be ranked once conference play start and duke is overrated haven’t played anyone and being led by a overrated freshman who can’t create his own shot dribble or shoot 🥴

[@Wuftalksports]

@@triptolomios sec is tuff this year

[@GaryReynolds-y8y]

Drink the pope koolaid

[@michaelkepesky5635]

Kentucky sure can't handle losing gracefully!! Media sure can't!! 😂

[@wilsonmatthew5190]

We gotta drop Mark Pope. Not the drugs we were looking for

[@BobbyAndrews-ep6vx]

LMAO!!!!

[@BleedBluee]

It’s ending up like the calipari era again

[@br581]

Coach cal a better X and O coach

[@bshayc79]

Said no one ever....

[@br581]

@ lol…..time will tell;)

[@bshayc79]

@@br581 it kinda already has

[@br581]

@ true! Cal has a way better record in every category than Pope…..good point

[@bshayc79]

@br581 x's and o's? Nah buddy.

[@seanmarcum1487]

They played like a mid major sqad. First round NCAA tourny losers.

[@bshayc79]

Tourney? No team is making the tournament looking like they did tonight.

[@MGnKntkY]

Don't talk about Arkansas like that. They have nothing to do with this!

[@joshjones5100]

@@MGnKntkY hahaha Arkansas has made it to the sweet 16 2 times and the elite 8 twice in the last 5 years while kentucky has done nothing

[@CalebBane-n8q]

Kentucky fans are the worst fans I ever seen😂

[@dannycollins7353]

Says the guy on a ky podcast. Living rent free bud.

[@CalebBane-n8q]

Better fire Pope.

[@apparker4610]

Let me guess nothing to worry about 😂😂