Just looking at the roster, it seemed like the strength of this team would be its overwhelming offense. With an All-American point guard, all kinds of talent on the wings and two stellar bigs, it was a forgone conclusion that Kentucky would be able to put the ball in the hoop. However, it’s kind of been the opposite to this point.
Rather than winning games by reaching the century mark on a nightly basis, Kentucky is winning games by playing smothering defense. In fact, the Cats are second in the nation in field goal percentage defense, only trailing Mississippi State.
Kentucky’s opponents are shooting just 29.6% from the field. Mississippi State is holding opponents to 28.3%.
In Kentucky’s most recent game, they held No. 19 Illinois to just 26.7% from the field. As a team, the Fighting Illini made just 16 of their 60 shots and only one of their 16 threes. Even with such large advantage with free throw attempts (25 more than Kentucky), Illinois just couldn’t keep up with the Cats in the end because they couldn’t buy a bucket.
It also helps to have a player like Teonni Key, who is averaging 3.57 blocks per game, which ranks top five in the country. Her 25 total blocks through seven games is tied with Florida State’s Makayla Timpson for the most in the country. Clara Strack (2.9) and Clara Silva (2.1) also average multiple rejections per contest.
No. 16 North Carolina shoots just 40.4% as a unit — barely top 200 in the country. Hopefully, Kentucky can put together another great defensive effort in order to take down the Tar Heels at their place.