The Kentucky Wildcats have stumbled out of the gate this season, dropping disappointing matchups to both Louisville and Michigan State. Those early setbacks have left many fans wondering the same thing: What exactly is going wrong with this roster right now?
It’s a fair question. With the combination of proven talent and veteran experience Kentucky put together, few expected the Wildcats to look this disjointed in their first two major tests. But when the program is searching for answers, there’s no voice more respected than Kentucky legend and UK Sports Network analyst Jack “Goose” Givens.
Following Tuesday’s loss to Michigan State, Givens joined KSR to break down the issues he sees on both sides of the ball. For him, one of the biggest problems is how late Kentucky starts to defend.
“Just like in the Louisville game, that defense that you’re talking about that makes the other team feel uncomfortable didn’t come until midway through the second half,” Givens said. “That is way too late. The game has already been established… the other team has gotten all the confidence.”
Kentucky’s identity was supposed to revolve around tough, disruptive defense — but through the early part of the season, that edge hasn’t shown up until the game is already slipping away. That slow start has been a major contributor to the Wildcats’ struggles.
Another glaring storyline revolves around senior wing Otega Oweh. Picked as the SEC Preseason Player of the Year, Oweh has yet to find his rhythm in Kentucky’s first five games. Givens believes overthinking may be the root of the issue.
“A year ago, Otega caught the ball and reacted,” he explained. “He didn’t spend time thinking. Now he’s catching the ball and thinking, ‘Am I open?’ That’s his first thought. When he played instinctively, there was nothing opponents could do with him.”
Givens pointed out that when Oweh’s mind is made up — when he attacks decisively — he becomes the physically dominant player Kentucky expects him to be. But hesitation is disrupting his natural flow.
There’s plenty happening around this program right now, both internally and externally, but head coach Mark Pope remains adamant that this team will figure things out. After Tuesday’s loss, Pope assured fans that Kentucky “will not fail.”
Wildcat Nation hopes he’s right, as the team heads deeper into its non-conference schedule searching for traction — and an identity.
