UK’s Focus Narrow Entering Challenging Stretch
There’s no getting around it: Kentucky is facing a brutal six-game stretch to close the regular season.
“Just the way that the schedule has fallen, it’s difficult, and tough teams down the stretch here,” Matthew Mitchell said on Wednesday.
The schedule will bring four road games and four against top-15 teams. The first fits both categories, as UK (12-12, 4-6 Southeastern Conference) will travel to face No. 15/15 Missouri (18-5, 6-4 SEC) at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Considering the magnitude of the first challenge, Mitchell isn’t spending much time talking about the five that will follow.
“You know, it’s our schedule,” Mitchell said. “So, I’m not talking to them about anything other than we need to box out better and rebound, and we better get ready for an unbelievably physical battle over there. I mean, we’ve got our hands full Thursday night and don’t have to think a whole lot more in the future.”
The Tigers certainly understand the challenge UK is about to face, as Missouri recently lost three straight games to ranked opponents in the rugged SEC. After losing at Georgia and South Carolina and at home to unbeaten Mississippi State – UK’s next opponent after Mizzou – the Tigers snapped their losing streak by downing Florida on Monday.
“They are such a tough team, such a physical team,” Mitchell said. “Love to watch them play, difficult to play against though. They are hard-nosed, aggressive. They just do so many things that I admire. They’re a really, really gritty bunch. So, that’s what jumps out at me first is just their toughness.”
Mizzou is led by one of the SEC’s best players in Sophie Cunningham, who is averaging 18 points and 5.2 rebounds. The Tigers outrebound their opponents by an average of 9.1 per game and allow them to shoot just 35.1 percent from the field.
Kentucky, meanwhile, is coming off a heartbreaking 72-70 loss to LSU that ended a three-game winning streak for the Wildcats. A subpar first quarter left UK in a big early hole, but the Cats charged back only to see a Maci Morris jumper that would have sent the game to overtime rim out.
“They bounced back from a disappointing start versus LSU and came within just an eyelash of either getting that thing in overtime or winning,” Mitchell said. “So, they’re working really hard and trying really hard.”
In the immediate aftermath of that loss, Mitchell couldn’t help but be disappointed by his team’s first-quarter effort. A few days and a couple strong practices have reminded him that he has a team improving every day.
“You definitely try to build on that,” Mitchell said. “I think offensively right now we’re doing some things that bode well for the future of this team. So, we just need to go down here and battle. See if we can get a win tomorrow night and that’s just where we need to be. We had a good practice yesterday. Thought the players worked hard on improving.”
All he can ask for is that they keep it up.
“We’re still showing improvement and getting better, so all of it will take care of itself,” Mitchell said. “But I’ve never been one that’s like, ‘Hey, if you win three of the next four…’ I mean, some coaches do that. I’ve always tried to focus on doing our best every day.”
