Playing Kentucky? Hang Out On The Perimeter

Kentucky's 102-92 win over Sam Houston State Thursday night featured several bright spots for Wildcat fans. The team shot 60 percent from the floor.  Five players, including phenoms DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall, hit double-figures.

But not all is rosy in the Commonwealth.  One issue for John Calipari's team tonight was bench production.  Of the 102 points UK scored tonight, the five starters had all of them. (The bench's line tonight: 0-for-3 from the floor, 4 fouls.)  

More troubling for the Wildcats, however, is the perimeter defense. Miami (Ohio) lit up Kentucky on Monday, hitting 58 percent of their threes, and Sam Houston State was at those levels for much of Thursday's contest.  In the end, the BearKats shot 18 of 39 from beyond the arc (46.2 percent), with senior guard Corey Allmond setting the Rupp Arena record for 3-pointers.  He made 11 on his way to scoring 37 on the night.

If Calipari can't plug the leaks on the perimeter before the SEC season, the path to a conference title becomes considerably more difficult.  Well, meetings with Florida could be an exception, as the Gators are having as much trouble making outside shots as Kentucky has stopping them.