Kentucky Basketball: The Top Five Factors Facing the Wildcats

Kentucky (16-5, 5-1 SEC) walked into Oxford tonight as the team to beat. UK was on a strong 5-0 run, winning 11 of their past 12 games, and the Associated Press had rewarded this effort with a Top-25 ranking (No. 24).

However, after being caught off guard by Ole Miss (11-9, 2-4 SEC), who have been sitting near the bottom of the SEC-West, the Cats have lost their momentum and are struggling to find the groove that they used against Tennessee and Georgia just weeks prior.

Billy G, take note: the following are currently the biggest issues that are keeping your team from climbing back into the Top 25.

1) Get a consistent third man

The Cats have a great duo in Meeks and Patterson—this is undeniable. However, when two guards swarm Jodie as soon as he touches the ball and the defense gets solid positioning inside the paint around Patterson, the shots don't fall.

Solution? If another Wildcat can step up and average 10+ points a game (here's lookin' at you, Perry Stevenson), the pressure on Meeks and Patterson will be relaxed enough so that they can be more efficient scorers.

2) Turnover troubles

This ain't your grandma's kitchen, so get rid of the turnovers. You don't go far in March when your squad averages 18.4 of them a game. This problem has plagued Kentucky all season, and it needs to stop if they want to make it to an SEC championship game, much less the second round of the Big Dance.

Solution? Pass efficiently and reduce the turnovers now; otherwise, you can say goodbye to hanging up another banner in Rupp for quite a while.

3) Take advantage of the glass

The Wildcats are averaging 38.8 rebounds a game, as well as any other squad in the NCAA. A majority of these come from the combination of Patterson and Stevenson, both of whom have demonstrated great presence down low.

However, Ramon Harris, UK's No. 3 man in the post, is only pulling down 3.1 a game. The rest of the squad doesn’t average much higher than that.

Solution? If injury-laden Harris can get back to full strength and take full advantage of the boards he pulls down, the Cats stand a much better chance come tournament time.

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