Kentucky Was 'Dared' to Shoot Threes By Bellarmine's Zone Defense and They Knocked Them Down

Kentucky three-point shooting was tested on Tuesday versus Bellarmine, and the Cats passed the test. UK went 16-for-30 (53.3%) from three-point range in a 99-85 win to wrap up non-conference.

Part of Bellarmine’s strategy was to allow Kentucky to shoot the ball. As Bellarmine head coach Doug Davenport said, the Knights “pretty much played all zone.”

“I told the team, make them put the loss on me. 100 percent on me,” Davenport said. “We were going to dare them to shoot the ball, and they did, and they made them. Tip your cap to them. One of our big numbers that we live by is points in the paint plus free throws. 68-51 on points in the paint plus free throws.”

Kam Williams Shoots Light’s Out

Kentucky was especially lethal from deep in the second half, going 9-for-14 during the period. Kam Williams was a key piece of that, going 6-for-7 from three-point range in the second half.

“Anyone who has an understanding of basketball understands that three-point shooting is the highest variance of the game, and they’re the big blue,” Davenport said. “They started playing. Give them credit. They made a bunch of shots. The kid Williams, kudos to him.”

Williams scored a career-high 26 points in 22 minutes during the win. He was 8-for-10 from beyond the arc and 2-for-2 from the free throw line.

“I think it was good for him to make them here too.  I think it was good for him to make them here at Rupp,” Kentucky head coach Mark Pope said postgame. “But at the end of the day, I just never been, I think I told you guys this for the last two months.  I’ve never been in a space where the numbers don’t actually translate. It’s just time, it’s just time and reps.  He’s an elite level shooter and it’s just his time.  That’s all it is.”

It wasn’t just Williams, however. Denzel Aberdeen was another bright spot, scoring 14 points on 4-for-7 from three. Jasper Johnson had 11 points on 3-for-5 three-point shooting.