Kentucky Basketball: 5 Early Adjustments Wildcats Should Consider

It's easy to want to make changes when a team is losing, although it is much harder when a team is winning. However, the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats still need to improve if they want to keep winning.

Despite a 7-0 record, the young squad has certainly had its share of close calls. The neutral-court win over Duke was certainly encouraging, but tough battles against Wright State and Illinois State at home show the squad isn't perfect. 

Some of the issues are obvious but can't simply be fixed, such as an injury to Tyler Ulis or the poor outside shooting. Still, a few key adjustments could make this talented group an unstoppable juggernaut.

Here is a look at some potential tweaks for Kentucky to follow going forward.

Force the Ball Inside

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Kentucky has survived every game this season despite being one of the worst shooting teams in the nation. The Wildcats have made only 27.6 percent of their three-point shots so far, ranking 325th out of 351 teams in Division I.

While there is clearly more talent on the roster than what the Wildcats have shown, the solution isn't just to keep shooting.

The strength of this squad is its ability to score in the paint, and this needs to keep up as much as possible. This not only includes the guards driving from the perimeter, but also passing into the post for players like Skal Labissiere to finish at the basket.

Labissiere has especially been a strange case this year as a clearly talented inside scorer who sometimes disappears for long stretches at a time. He has the ability to win any one-on-one matchup, but his passive style has limited the team's options.

If he can step up his game, Kentucky will be a dominant force offensively no matter how well it shoots from the outside.

Use Bigger Lineups

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When healthy, the three-guard lineup of Ulis, Isaiah Briscoe and Jamal Murray is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. However, it also comes with drawbacks. The defense has struggled to close out possessions with defensive rebounds, while there have been quite a few easy points inside in each game.

Although the starting lineup shouldn't necessarily change, the coaching staff shouldn't be afraid to mix it up during the game with some bigger rotations.

With Labissiere and Marcus Lee in the post, Alex Poythress or even Derek Willis can play at the wing and provide a new dimension to the offense. Both have the lateral quickness necessary to defend the 3 and can hit an open shot from the outside to spread the floor.

This type of lineup versatility could force opponents to keep adjusting no matter the circumstance. It will also keep plenty of options open for the rest of the year.

Take Better Care of the Ball

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This is more of a mental adjustment than a physical one.

One of Kentucky's biggest issues offensively this season, besides the inability to shoot, has been the struggles holding onto the basketball. After finishing with just eight turnovers against South Florida, the Wildcats gave the ball away 15 times against Illinois State to bring the season average to 12.9 per game (165th in the country).

While Ulis' absence was obviously a big factor, Briscoe and Murray combined for nine turnovers in the win. Considering these two players see themselves as point guards and plan to play that position in the NBA, this is completely unacceptable.

No matter who is on the floor, the Wildcats have to avoid turnovers and give themselves as many chances at the basket as possible.

Stay Aggressive Defensively on the Perimeter

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Kentucky's best performance of the season was the win against Duke, featuring some of the best defensive work of the year. Grayson Allen and Brandon Ingram were limited to 10 combined points on 3-of-17 shooting from the field, also totaling eight turnovers.

Players like Briscoe and Murray stuck with their matchups all game and didn't give up much space for anything.

This aggressiveness has slowed in recent games, and it has led to some quality performances from opponents. DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell had 22 points for Illinois State, while Grant Benzinger had 19 in a loss for Wright State.

These players have had too much success against the Wildcats in recent games, and they are helping their squads stay competitive. This needs to stop if Kentucky is going to reach its potential as an elite defense.

Go Deep Down the Bench

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In the first seven games, head coach John Calipari relied mostly on six players. Ulis, Murray, Briscoe, Labissiere, Lee and Poythress have all averaged 20 minutes per game, although the playing time for the rest of the roster has been inconsistent at best.

This could cause problems as the year continues.

With an inexperienced roster, the young players could wear down from the grind of the season. Fatigue also becomes a major issue late in games, especially against quality opponents. Meanwhile, Kentucky has already seen players miss time due to injury, and guys like Dominique Hawkins have been forced into action without warning.

You can shorten a bench as the year progresses and against top opponents, but now is the time to see what you have in the roster. Willis, Charles Matthews, Isaac Humphries (when healthy) and others need to get onto the floor to spell the starters and give the Wildcats some much-needed depth.

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