Kentucky WBB '23-24 Season Recap, Pt. 1: A slow start to the non-conference

Now that Kentucky Women’s Basketball’s 2023-24 season has come to a close, I think it’s time we take a blast to the past and look at how the ‘Cats performed throughout the entire season. Of course, after 30-something games, we’re looking at a lot of information being crammed into one article. Which is why myself and KSR’s Phoenix Stevens will be recapping the entire season through four different parts.

Up first: the opening seven games of Kentucky’s 14-game non-conference slate.

For starters, Kentucky went 7-7 in non-conference play (12-20 overall; 4-12 SEC), but started the season just 2-5. With a couple of embarrassing losses here and there (I’m looking at you, Austin Peay), and a winless Paradise Jam, non-conference play was everything but easy for the Wildcats.

As a reminder, Kentucky played their non-conference home games at three different venues: Rupp Arena, Georgetown College, and Transylvania. The ‘Cats also traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the 2023 Paradise Jam.

Let’s dive into a recap of UK’s first seven non-conference games.

(H) Kentucky State [EXH]: W, 88-71

While an exhibition doesn’t count toward their official record, in Kentucky’s season opener against Kentucky State, this game was definitely an indicator of how this entire season would go. Kentucky shot 32-59 (54.2%) from the field, but only 3-12 (25%) from the three-point line. Plus, with only 36 total rebounds, Kentucky didn’t look all that great. However, there were four players in double digits: Ajae Petty with 19 points while Saniah Tyler, Emma King, and Eniya Russell each had 12.

Kentucky State is currently 19-6 (15-4 SIAC) and is actually ranked No. 1 in their conference.

(H) ETSU: W, 74-66

For the official season opener, Kentucky traveled to Transylvania’s Clive M. Beck Center to take on ETSU. Again, this game was a very clear indicator of how the season would turn out. 25-58 (43.1%) from the field, and only 2-15 (13.3%) from the three-point line. Those two makes came from none other than Saniah Tyler, but even she was 2-6 (33%). Ajae Petty recorded her first formal double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Aside from Petty, there were four other players in double-digits: Amiya Jenkins (16), Maddie Scherr (14), Tyler (14), and Brooklynn Miles (10).

ETSU is currently 18-11 (7-7 Southern Conf.) and is ranked No. 5 in its conference.

(H) USC Upstate: W, 82-54

This is the first (and only) game in which Kentucky truly dominated an opponent. Again, the shooting was lackluster: 32-66 (48.8%) from the floor and just 2-18 (11%) from the perimeter. In fact, USC Upstate actually made five more three-pointers than the ‘Cats. I would say what saved Kentucky was their free throw shooting, 16-22 (72.7%), and USC Upstate’s 22 turnovers.

USC Upstate is currently 15-14 (10-6 Big South) and is somehow still ranked No. 2 in its conference.

(H) Austin Peay: L, 68-63

As much as I’d like to skip talking about this one all together, I’m afraid it’s unavoidable. Not only is this Kentucky’s first loss of the season, I’d argue it’s their worst. All around, this game was just horrible. Kentucky shot 22-70 (31.4%) from the field, and 4-20 (20%) from the perimeter. The worst part is that Austin Peay led for nearly the ENTIRE game, aside from the first minute of the first quarter when Kentucky led by two. Kentucky even outrebounded Austin Peay, 39-32. The Governors committed 19 turnovers and scored only two second-chance points. I’m honestly not even sure where this game went wrong.

Nonetheless, Eniya Russell somehow managed to score a basket for the other team. She did finish with 11 points and seven rebounds, though. And Ajae Petty recorded another double-double, with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Austin Peay is currently 15-15 (8-8 ASUN) and is ranked No. 6 in its conference.

(A) Florida Gulf Coast: L, 59-48

The Austin Peay loss was just the beginning of a five-game losing streak, continued by Kentucky’s first away game of the season. Maddie Scherr was unavailable due to an ankle injury she sustained during the Austin Peay game. There were only two Wildcats in double-digits: Ajae Petty (15) and Amiya Jenkins (18). Petty also had 13 rebounds, marking her third double-double of the season.

As a whole, Kentucky shot only 19-50 (38%) from the field, and only 2-13 (15.4%) from three. The ‘Cats won the battle on the boards, 38-31, but were outscored in the paint 32-28. Kentucky was also outscored at the foul line, 12-8.

Florida Gulf Coast is currently 26-4 (16-0 ASUN) and is ranked No. 1 in its conference. The Eagles are also on a 19-game win streak with their last loss coming from Duke back in December.

(N) No. 10 NC State: L, 84-55

The loss against NC State marked the first of three in the 2023 Paradise Jam event in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Kentucky played all three games without Maddie Scherr (ankle). In the first half alone, the ‘Cats were outscored 55-24 and only shot 6-30 (20%) from the field. Not a single Kentucky player made it into double-digits, despite the fact that the team took 59 total shots. Three players, however, did make it to nine: Ajae Petty, Eniya Russell, and Saniah Tyler. Those three also happen to be the players who turned out to be the most consistent shooters on the squad.

NC State is currently 25-5 (13-5 ACC) and is ranked No. 2 in its conference, only behind Virginia Tech.

(N) No. 3 Colorado: L, 96-53

Against Colorado, the ‘Cats were a doozy. Despite showing signs of life in the first half, only being outscored 45-34 by the break, Kentucky only scored 19 points to end the game. The ‘Cats even led the Buffaloes 9-2 at the beginning after going 4-4 to start the first quarter. Colorado, on the other hand, didn’t step on the brakes in the second half. Senior Maddie Scherr made her return to the court after an ankle injury and was one of three ‘Cats to break double-digits.

As a whole, Kentucky shot 17-41 (41%) from the field and only 1-10 (10%) from three. The ‘Cats only grabbed 23 rebounds compared to the Buffaloes’ 31. Maddie Scherr, Ajae Petty, and Eniya Russell were the only Kentucky players in double-figures, with 13, 11, and 14, respectively. Kentucky had a total of 27 turnovers, 10 of which came from Ajae Petty. At the time of Kentucky’s loss, Colorado was ranked No. 3 overall.

Colorado is currently 22-9 (11-7 Pac-12) and is ranked No. 5 in its conference. The Buffaloes lost in overtime to Oregon State in the Pac-12 Tournament, 85-79.

(N) Cincinnati: L, 65-41

Whether it was fatigue that caused Kentucky’s 12-46 (26%) performance against Cincinnati or not, the final game of the Paradise Jam is one I’m sure most Kentucky fans would like to forget. The only thing that kept the ‘Cats even within 25 points, was the fact that they made six three-pointers and went 11-14 (78%) from the free-throw line.

The only Kentucky player in double-digits was Maddie Scherr, who finished with 25. The next closest player? Saniah Tyler, with five total points. Even Ajae Petty, who was very consistently breaking 10 points per game, only finished with four. The ‘Cats finished with 33 rebounds, but compared to the Bearcats’ 38, those didn’t make a difference.

Cincinnati is currently 14-16 (5-13 Big 12) and is ranked second-to-last in its conference.