Kentucky needs to show us something vs. Gonzaga in Nashville

Last year, Kentucky went to Seattle to play Gonzaga after its first loss of the season, a 70-66 dud vs. Clemson in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Mark Pope’s first team had already won fans over with a gutsy win over Duke in the Champions Classic. They further endeared themselves with another comeback, this one from 18 points down in the second half to beat the No. 7 Bulldogs in overtime 90-89. It was a stunning victory, Kentucky overcoming injuries and a brutal first-half performance to notch the second big win of the Pope era.

Fast forward a year, and Mark Pope’s second team is still looking for its first big win eight games in. After the Cats ran Purdue out of Rupp Arena in the preseason, it seemed like it wouldn’t take long, but Kentucky has failed each test since, losing to Louisville, Michigan State, and North Carolina. The loss to the Tar Heels was the closest of the three, but may have been the most alarming. The Cats only made one three-pointer and went over 10 minutes without scoring a field goal. The game was still close in the final minutes, but North Carolina closed it out, securing its first win over Kentucky in Rupp Arena since 2007.

Thank goodness for Will Stein and the energy he’s bringing to the fanbase, because on the basketball front, vibes are not good. Pope’s first team was thrown together in a matter of weeks, the best of what was left in the transfer portal. Seeing that group band together, beat some of Kentucky’s biggest rivals, and make it to the Sweet 16 while battling injuries gave you faith in the Pope era and what he could do with more time and resources.

Pope had them, spending a reported $22 million on his second roster. The Cats are still without their best pro prospect, Jayden Quaintance, and two starters, Jaland Lowe and Mo Dioubate, are dealing with injuries, but the rest of this group should be better. The team that lost to UNC barely resembled a Mark Pope squad, raising some serious concerns that Pope overcorrected (and overpaid) in the offseason, going too far toward the toughness and physicality his first Kentucky team lacked at the expense of the ball-handling and shooting his system is based on. Equally worrisome is the chemistry. It’s impossible to have a conversation about Kentucky Basketball right now without someone talking about how this team doesn’t seem to like each other, all stemming from the mysterious “pregame experience” at Louisville.

That brings us to tonight, Kentucky’s fourth test of the season, vs. No. 11 Gonzaga. It takes place in Nashville, a game that KenPom has dubbed “semi-home” due to the number of Kentucky fans expected at Bridgestone Arena. In March, Otega Oweh broke the Cats’ Nashville losing streak with a buzzer-beater vs. Oklahoma in the second round of the SEC Tournament, but they got crushed by Alabama in the quarterfinals the next night. Add in football’s loss to Diego Pavia a few weeks ago, and Music City isn’t the happy playground for BBN that it once was. A lot of fans had this game circled on the calendar. Given how the season has gone so far, I know several who have canceled their plans or are coming to Nashville just to party, result aside.

This Kentucky team has done little to get fans excited this season. The exhibition win over Purdue now feels like a cruel joke. Fifty-point wins over cupcake squads won’t move the needle with this fanbase. They need to see results against a team with a pulse, and in their three chances so far, the Cats have flatlined. Of the three big non-conference games remaining (Gonzaga, Indiana, St. John’s), this is probably the most difficult. The Bulldogs are legit, maybe the best team Kentucky has faced all season. A win would help reel in fans who are already out or headed toward the door. Build on it with wins vs. NC Central and Indiana at home, and you can head into the game vs. St. John’s with some real momentum to prove the first month of the season was a fluke. Lose tonight, and you’ll give fans reason to believe this season will be more of the same.

Kentucky’s win vs. Gonzaga last season was one of its most memorable. The Cats need to conjure some of that same magic tonight in Nashville to make sure this season doesn’t continue to be forgettable.