Reports: Mark Pope explains how Kentucky’s defense has been elite lately

Kentucky is gearing up for their final regular-season game this Saturday as they travel to Columbia to face the Missouri Tigers, who boast one of the most potent offenses in the nation. The good news for the Wildcats? Their defense has shown significant improvement over the past few weeks, especially with the return of Lamont Butler, who’s back in action after recovering from a shoulder injury.

During his press conference on Thursday, head coach Mark Pope shared some encouraging updates on the team’s health. Both Butler and Andrew Carr, who’s been working his way back from a back injury, came out of Tuesday’s win over LSU in great shape. This is a huge positive for Kentucky as they head into the postseason, and they’ll look to build on their recent defensive strides. Pope emphasized the importance of defense when previewing the Missouri matchup, stating, “You don’t have a chance to be competitive if you can’t function defensively.”

The numbers tell the story of Kentucky’s defensive turnaround. According to KenPom, an advanced analytics site, the Wildcats rank 56th in defensive efficiency and an impressive 18th in three-point defense, holding opponents to just 30.1% shooting from beyond the arc. They’ve also been dominant on the defensive glass, ranking 27th nationally in that category.

With Butler back in the lineup, the Wildcats’ defensive intensity should only get stronger. As fans saw in the LSU game, their defense has the ability to spark their offense, creating fast-break opportunities and momentum-shifting plays. Saturday’s game against Missouri will be a key test as Kentucky looks to carry this defensive momentum into the postseason.