Alabama Is Built to Punish It
Kentucky walked off the floor at Rupp Arena with a 14-point win over Bellarmine, and at first glance, everything appeared to be trending in the right direction. The Wildcats poured in 99 points, shared the ball effectively, and wrapped up nonconference play with confidence.
But beneath the surface, there was a defensive issue that should have Mark Pope uneasy as SEC play approaches.
Bellarmine — a mid-major team that entered the game with a losing record — scored 85 points against Kentucky and did its damage in the one area the Wildcats are supposed to control: the paint.
Bellarmine went right at Kentucky’s interior
This wasn’t a fluky shooting night or a case of tough shots falling. Bellarmine shot 52 percent from the field and repeatedly found clean looks near the rim. The Knights finished with 38 points in the paint, nearly matching Kentucky’s output despite being undersized.
Bellarmine head coach Doug Davenport highlighted the stat that best explains how the game unfolded.
“One of our big numbers is points in the paint plus free throws,” Davenport said. “We won that 68–51.”
That number should jump off the page.
When a smaller opponent is winning the physical battle inside, it usually points to breakdowns in rotations, help defense, or overall discipline. Against Bellarmine, Kentucky struggled in all three areas. Backdoor cuts were available throughout the game, dribble penetration came too easily, and help defense often arrived a step late.
Defensive stops never came consistently
The issues were most obvious in the first half. Each time Kentucky extended the lead to seven or eight points, Bellarmine responded with quick scores — frequently off straight-line drives or second-chance opportunities.
Even Davenport wasn’t satisfied with his team’s defense.
“We didn’t get a lot of stops,” he said.
Neither did Kentucky.
Offensively, the Wildcats looked the part of a high-level team. Scoring 99 points with 24 assists is exactly what Pope wants from his offense. But the lack of defensive consistency allowed Bellarmine to remain competitive far longer than expected.
Alabama won’t let Kentucky survive this
This isn’t about one December game. It’s about what comes next.
SEC opponents punish defensive mistakes, and Alabama thrives when games become fast, physical, and downhill. If Kentucky allows the Crimson Tide to attack the paint the way Bellarmine did, the result in Tuscaloosa won’t be a comfortable win — it will be a long night.
Pope has roughly ten days to prepare for that challenge.
If Kentucky hopes to navigate the SEC grind, most of that time needs to be spent sharpening defensive slides, fixing rotations, and protecting the rim. Trading baskets might work against Bellarmine.
Against Alabama, it’s a formula for getting overwhelmed.
