Crawford: Georgetown Dominates Kentucky in Painful Exhibition for Pope

Bassyonni

ago 8 hours

In a closely watched exhibition match, Georgetown University decisively defeated the University of Kentucky, 84-70, at Rupp Arena, signaling potential challenges ahead for the Wildcats this season. The loss marked Kentucky’s first exhibition defeat since 2014 and only the 13th in the program’s history, which spans 128 exhibition games.

Crawford: Georgetown Dominates Kentucky in Painful Exhibition for Pope

Mark Pope, the newly appointed head coach of Kentucky, faced a tough reality after the match. He described the game as “incredibly brutal,” “painful,” and “embarrassing.” Despite the disappointing outcome, Pope emphasized the importance of being exposed early in the season.

Key Statistics from the Game

Georgetown’s Paint Dominance: Outscored Kentucky 38-24 in the paint.
Turnovers: Kentucky committed 15 turnovers.
Shooting Percentage: The Wildcats shot only 33% from the field.
Three-Point Shooting: Kentucky went 0-for-13 from beyond the arc in the second half.
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 14 assists to 15 turnovers.

Georgetown’s physical play overwhelmed the Wildcats, with Pope admitting that their effort did not meet the challenge. Compounding the difficulties, Kentucky played without its two point guards: Jaland Lowe, a transfer from Pitt, and Denzel Aberdeen, a transfer from Florida.

The performance was marked by issues on both ends of the floor. The Wildcats appeared disjointed, struggling to collaborate effectively as a team. “We turned down the simple play a lot,” Pope noted. He described the team’s gameplay as a mixture of impatience and indecision.

Looking Ahead

As the season approaches, Kentucky will need to build on this experience. Pope is optimistic that these struggles can foster growth. He indicated that understanding the lessons from painful games is vital. “This gives us a chance to grow,” he stated, reinforcing the need for teamwork over individual talent.

Next, the Wildcats will face Nicholls in their season opener. Pope hopes his team learns from the painful exhibition loss against Georgetown, using it as motivation to improve throughout the season. The ability to trust and support each other will be essential for building resilience and chemistry on the court.