LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After a heavy loss to Michigan, No. 11 Gonzaga was ready to make a statement in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. And they did just that. No. 18 Kentucky faced an even worse fate than their last defeat here—a 29-point loss to Alabama during the SEC Tournament last March.
Gonzaga came out strong, dominating the game from the start. The end score was a staggering 94-59.
Kentucky struggled right from the beginning. They fell behind quickly with a score of 19-2 before many fans were even settled in their seats. Gonzaga shot an impressive 57% from the field, including 50% from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Kentucky’s shooting was abysmal: they missed their first ten attempts and ended with just 27% overall, including a mere 21% from three-point range.
Graham Ike, who scored only one point against Michigan, rebounded with 28 points and 10 rebounds for Gonzaga. Branden Huff added 20 points, missing just twice. Kentucky’s performance, on the other hand, looked more like a scrimmage than a competitive game.
This loss marked Kentucky’s worst in several years, the largest since they lost to Duke by 34 points to start the 2019 season. They’ve now lost all four games against ranked teams.
Analyst Jimmy Dykes summed it up well: “Mark Pope has several things that are going to keep him up nights.” The reality is Kentucky’s hopes for a solid NCAA Tournament run are dwindling.
Yes, injuries are part of the problem, but they don’t account for a 35-point deficit. Fans were excited for a new direction this season, but they are instead facing challenges that feel insurmountable.
Otega Oweh scored 16 points, and Collin Chandler had 11. But there were few bright spots. Point guard Jalen Lowe returned from an injury but finished with just one point and one assist. Gonzaga out-rebounded Kentucky 43-31, further underlining their dominance.
In the last two games, Kentucky has only managed to make ten of 37 three-point attempts.
Despite having talent, Kentucky now finds itself in a tough spot. They have time to turn things around, but right now, they lack answers. The echoes of Gonzaga’s warm-up drills are still ringing down Broadway, a haunting reminder of what just happened.
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