Kentucky didn’t show any signs of a letdown a week after recording the first signature win of the Mark Pope era.
Coming off a 77-72 upset of Duke that propelled the Wildcats (4-0) into the AP top 10 for the first time this season, ninth-ranked Kentucky rolled to a 97-68 win over Lipscomb Tuesday night in the first of four straight home games to close out November.
Pope liked the way his team responded after the win over the Blue Devils. The Kentucky coach said that he doesn't stress the possibility of a letdown to his team after big accomplishments or “overkill” the narrative of an off-night after experiencing an emotional high.
“We're going to always be focused on what we need to do and so we really work hard,” he said. “It's human nature to worry about (a letdown) a little bit, but we really work hard to focus on what we are trying to do. Our guys are really hungry to get better. We're hungry to become a great team.”
Kentucky’s guards — Jaxson Robinson, Lamont Butler, Otega Oweh and Koby Brea — paved the way for the Wildcats by combining for 62 points. The three veteran guards made 10 of the team’s 12 3-pointers and it marked the first time in school history the Wildcats have made at least 10 threes in the first four games to open the season.
It was an offensive bounce-back game for Robinson, who scored just one point in Kentucky’s win over the Blue Devils, but finished with 20 points against the Bisons. Robinson, Butler and Oweh combined for 29 points in the first half, with Robinson paving the way with 13.
Pope singled out Robinson’s defensive performance in the win over Duke and remained confident in his guard’s ability to respond on offense.
“What's really interesting is he had a terrific game against Duke,” Pope said. “The weird part is, he actually played really well. He came up with massive defensive stops down the stretch. They were game-determining stops that we really needed.”
Robinson sought a reboot on offense and got it against the Bisons.
“One game doesn't define me as a player or a person,” Robinson said. “Just coming out and starting out fresh (was important). I know my teammates and coaches have got my back. They’ve got confidence in me.”
Butler wasn’t surprised by Robinson’s ability to bounce back to lead the Wildcats in scoring for the first time this season.
“I think every game he's going to do that,” Butler said. “last game he didn't have his best scoring night, but today he came out focused. I know he had some great shots and defensively he was great the last game. He's a big part of our team and we count on him every night.”
Lipscomb coach Lennie Acuff was impressed with Pope’s squad and added the Wildcats “make tough threes and “have real size” in the post.
“That's the best offensive, powerful team we played in my six years at Lipscomb,” Acuff said. “I will tell you what, if Butler, Robinson and Brady play like that, they're going to be a tough, tough, tough out.”
Kentucky’s defense limited Lipscomb to just 26 points in the first half. The Bisons (2-4) missed their first 13 shots from long range and made just five 3-pointers in the loss, the team’s third straight.
Gametracker: Jackson State at Kentucky, 6 p.m.CT, Friday. TV/Radio: SEC Network+, ESPN+, UK Radio Network-SuperTalk 94.3WKYX, WiLLiE 102.
Kentucky's Jaxson Robinson (2) drives near Lipscomb's Joe Anderson, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
