National analysts have Kentucky concerns, but 'this is not panic mode' for Cats

Did Kentucky‘s loss at Louisville say more about the Wildcats or the Cardinals? National experts woke up Wednesday morning with plenty of takes to fire off featuring a little bit of both, understanding the circumstances surrounding rivalry history with just three wins for UofL dating back to 2009 and none in a half-decade with the home environment reflecting that now or never energy. They also felt UK got outplayed in many areas, led by a combined 53 points for Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell.

Does it mean Mark Pope’s group is overrated or Pat Kelsey’s is underrated? Both? Neither? See what the likes of CBS Sports and The Field of 68 had to say about the Wildcats.

Eye on College Basketball with Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander

“Louisville was just on all cylinders. They looked tremendous, they looked like the team ready to go and ready to make the statement,” Norlander said. “… You’re on the road if you’re Kentucky, you play a Louisville team that is inside the top 15, and justifiably so. The Cardinals were able to score at a high clip. … You need a little push and pull with this one, Kentucky owns the series and hadn’t lost a game in five years. Louisville gets the game on its home floor, puts up 96 points. … I’d say I was surprised by the fact that even though it was in hostile territory, you’ve got to go into the Yum! Center, you wouldn’t have expected Louisville to crack, I don’t know, 83 or 84 against a Kentucky defense that I think is going to round into shape? …

“If you’re a Kentucky fan, you never want to lose to Louisville, but at least it’s a Louisville team that’s going to have the capacity to really make a push in the ACC.”

“Big-picture stuff, this is the first Louisville victory for Kentucky since December 26, 2020, so roughly five years,” Parrish added. “The program (Pat Kelsey) took over had been driven down to a place I didn’t think a program of that stature could be driven down. For him to get it back to a great place so quickly is a testament to, yes, the program he’s running, but the administration that has set him up for success. That’s what leads to this night.”

David Cobb, CBS Sports

“Louisville’s offense is unequivocally the real deal. The Cardinals hoisted 40 3-pointers for just the second time in coach Pat Kelsey’s two seasons and drilled 13. They also racked up 20 assists for the second time under Kelsey and shredded a Kentucky defense that faces a long road toward competence,” Cobb wrote. “… Kentucky is an unfinished product still garnering offensive chemistry with point guard Jaland Lowe, who suffered a shoulder injury last month that kept him out of action until last week’s win over Valparaiso. But the Wildcats showed their offensive potential against Louisville by roaring back twice from deficits of 18+ points to make Louisville earn it.”

The Field of 68 with Jeff Goodman, Robbie Hummel and Matt McCall

“I do give Kentucky credit for finding a way, but Otega Oweh was disappointing. He really was. I thought that he would, in that type of game and environment, find a way to rise up,” Hummel said on The Field of 68. “Denzel Aberdeen was phenomenal and Kam Williams was able to come in there and give them some juice in the second half, he played really well. I still think Kentucky can have a terrific year, but my biggest takeaway was that Louisville is going to be a problem. …

“That fanbase is not taking silver linings and they’re definitely not taking moral victories, especially not against Louisville, but I would have some solace that the defense will be better and we didn’t roll over in a game where we were down 20 in a crazy atmosphere against a really good team.”

“I know Aberdeen played well, I get it, but they can’t win if he’s taking 20 shots. … He was terrific, and you’re talking about a guy who was a backup on a national championship team. … They have to get other guys involved,” McCall continued. “… Louisville was the way more unselfish team. I think Pope has to find a way to get Jaland Lowe more involved, and he has to be in the starting lineup. He’s your most unselfish guy with the ball in his hands. They turned it over 14 times and Oweh had five of them. … He has to be better, let’s call it like it is. His plus/minus in the game was a minus-16 for the worst on the team. He has to be better as the superstar and Preseason SEC Player of the Year. … Bottom line, that guy has to be better for Kentucky to reach its potential as a basketball team.

“This is not panic mode, ‘Here we go, BBN, hit the panic button.’ It was on the road, unbelievable environment. We need more games like this.”

The difference comes down to the future lottery pick in Kentucky’s back pocket, waiting to be unleashed at some point in the next month or so.

“Kentucky, when you add Jayden Quaintance to this team, he’s gonna add a different dimension. They’re going from, to me, subpar bigs to elite bigs — when he gets healthy. Now, that may be January. I don’t think he’s gonna be out till January — I think he’s gonna be back in December, but January is when he finds his stride and they figure it out with him. Brandon Garrison is a good backup, let’s face it, and Malachi Moreno is a freshman big, then you’re playing (Andrija Jelavic) who can stretch it a little bit.

“Jayden Quaintance is a lottery pick talent who gives them rim protection and a big-time athlete up front, size, strength and athleticism. The biggest thing he gives you is a guy you can actually run your offense through at times. He’s a really good passing big.”