Kentucky basketball can score. Mark Pope, Wildcats can beat teams with more than just 3s

Posted by Admin October 30, 2024 Basketball

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LEXINGTON — There’s a belief surrounding Kentucky basketball in 2024-25 that it will live and die by the 3. Shoot them early. Shoot them late. Shoot them when they’re open. Shoot them when they’re guarded.

The UK coaching staff is as guilty as anyone — particularly assistant (and offensive coordinator) Cody Fueger — of furthering that line of thinking, regularly voicing its goal of attempting at least 35 triples per game this season.

But in its exhibition finale Tuesday against Minnesota State Mankato, Kentucky showed it can do far more offensively than merely fire away from long range.

The Wildcats knocked down shots from near and far against the Mavericks, easing to a 98-67 victory at Rupp Arena.

UK was 13 of 37 beyond the 3-point arc Tuesday, totaling 39 points. But the Wildcats actually scored more points in the paint (46).

Any way a team can play offensively, Kentucky displayed it in the 31-point win.

The Wildcats had 39 points from their reserves. They scored 18 off the Mavericks’ 17 turnovers. UK tallied 35 fast-break points.

The best measure of the hosts’ excellence offensively: UK scored on 58.1% (43 for 74) of its possessions — an average of 1.324 points per possession.

Senior guard Jaxson Robinson led the way, pouring in a game-high 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting (61.5%). All eight of Robinson’s field goal makes were 3-pointers, going 8 for 12 from deep. Fellow guard Otega Oweh was next in line with 15 points, missing just one of his eight shots from the field. UK had two other players finish with in double figures: forwards Andrew Carr and Brandon Garrison had 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Kentucky now awaits the opening of its 2024-25 regular season, which begins Monday. UK hosts Wright State at 7 p.m. in Lexington.

The game will air nationally on ESPNU.

This story will be updated.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.