The Kentucky Wildcats’ season took another discouraging turn as they dropped their third game of the year, falling to the North Carolina Tar Heels in what may have been the most frustrating performance of the Mark Pope era so far. For a fanbase that expected a revitalized, uptempo, three-point-heavy offense, Saturday night’s showing left more questions than answers — and even fewer threes.
This matchup had all the makings of a statement opportunity, but instead, it exposed several glaring weaknesses that Kentucky must fix immediately if they want to stabilize a season that is slipping fastest than anyone expected. From brutal rebounding lapses to stalled offensive possessions, Kentucky looked out of sync — and one statistic stood out above the rest: only 13 three-point attempts, far from the 30+ attempts Pope publicly emphasized as a foundational part of Kentucky’s new identity.
Even more stunning? Only one of those 13 threes went in, and it came from center Brandon Garrison. When your five is the only player who hits a three, something is fundamentally off in the system, the spacing, or the confidence level of the shooters.
After the game, sophomore guard Otega Oweh was asked why a team built to let it fly from deep barely attempted threes at all. His answer shed real light on the issue — and hinted at deeper problems the Wildcats must confront immediately.
“We just weren’t making shots,” Oweh said. “But then the fact we got up 13, I think we didn’t see the opportunity. I think we were getting into the paint. We were being aggressive, but we weren’t playing off two feet a lot, where we could hit guys for open shots. We are going to see all of that in film.”
Oweh’s explanation points to more than just a cold shooting night. It hints at a lack of awareness, spacing discipline, and recognition — all key elements in a system that relies on drive-and-kick basketball. Kentucky didn’t just miss shots; they missed chances. They didn’t create the types of inside-out looks Pope’s scheme demands, partly because players weren’t under control when attacking and partly because ball movement stalled.
This offensive stagnation was highlighted by the Wildcats’ dreadful 10-plus-minute stretch in the second half without a made field goal. In a game this tight, that kind of drought is practically a death sentence. Still, Kentucky remained in striking distance, but the inability to hit open jumpers — or even generate enough of them — ultimately cost them.
The problems didn’t end with shooting. North Carolina dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 20 offensive rebounds that led to 22 second-chance points. No team can expect to win while giving the opponent that many extra opportunities.
But the shooting concerns are louder because they stem from philosophy, not just execution. Pope was hired, in part, because of his innovative, spacing-based, high-volume shooting systems at BYU. Fans expected that “rain threes” identity to carry over immediately. Instead, Kentucky looks hesitant, unsure, and inconsistent from deep. That lack of confidence is bleeding into the offense and altering the team’s overall rhythm.
Personnel issues certainly aren’t helping. Kentucky played without Jaland Lowe, Mo Dioubate, and Jayden Quaintance, and while all three are important, only Lowe projects as a true perimeter solution. The rest of the roster has shooters, but not enough of them playing with rhythm or reliability.
Freshman Jasper Johnson, expected to be a spark, has struggled in recent weeks. Kam Williams and Andrija Jelavic have shown flashes but not consistency. When your shooters aren’t shooting with freedom, a spacing-centric offense collapses quickly.
And now the schedule tightens — significantly. Kentucky faces looming battles with **Gonz
