QUICK TAKES: Kentucky 77, Nicholls 51

In our regular postgame feature, the Cats Illustrated staff offers its first impressions from Kentucky’s 77-51 win over Nicholls on Tuesday night in the season opener at Rupp Arena. CI publisher Justin Rowland and managing editor Jeff Drummond give their three main takeaways from the UK victory…

JUSTIN ROWLAND:

1. It was the first game. Don’t overreact. I have far too many early-season college basketball overreactions in my head to engage in that. The first game of the season almost certainly tells you very little about how the season is going to play out.

2. The offense was out of sync early. It just looked like they weren’t firing on all cylinders. UK settled for some bad shots. They seemed to not have their best energy or even effort off the ball compared to what you’d expect from a Mark Pope team. But the offense did look better coming out in the second half. It’s too early to worry about anything on offense other than maybe shooting but the first half was ugly.

3. This team’s floor is high. Nicholls probably isn’t good in the big picture, but they’re not terrible, and UK was able to run away with it in spite of a D effort on offense in the first half.

JEFF DRUMMOND:

1. The first half may have been the worst half of college basketball I’ve ever covered in 30-plus years of following the Cats. UK and Nicholls were a combined 13 of 56 (23%) from the field, 3-for-30 from beyond the arc, 14-of-22 at the line, and committed 14 turnovers en route to a 28-15 halftime score. Burn the tape.

2. The second half was much more encouraging for Big Blue Nation. Kentucky put 49 points on the board, got a highlight-reel dunk from Collin Chandler, and continued to play smothering defense. We fretted all of last season about how defense would ultimately trip up the Cats. I don’t think that will be a concern for this team, especially when Jayden Quaintaince returns as a rip protector.

3. Three-point shooting remains a concern. The Cats are now 23 of 86 (26.7%) in their two exhibition games and tonight’s regular-season opener. Chandler was 4-for-7, but everyone else was 3-for-20 tonight.