Stock up, stock down for Kentucky after N. Arizona win
The Kentucky basketball team narrowly defeated N. Arizona on Friday. Here's whose stock is up after the win, and whose is down.
After Northern Arizona's 78-77 victory over Kentucky basketball, it's clear that some players' stock has risen while others have plummeted. Alex Wilkins led the charge for the Wildcats, sinking the game-winning three-pointer with just seconds left on the clock, and also contributed with 4 assists. However, it was a lackluster defensive performance that defined the game.
Northern Arizona made 50% of their shots from three-point range, including the game's big win, thanks to open shots that Wildcats defenders repeatedly failed to cover.
Milan Momcilovic, who had struggled in previous games, showed improvement with 14 points and three three-pointers. His performance is a bright spot for Kentucky. On the other side, the frontcourt has been struggling, particularly in rebounding. Despite being out-rebounded 32-20 by the smaller Lumberjacks, the Wildcats only secured one offensive rebound all night.
This glaring issue could prove to be a season-defining problem if they don't improve their rebounding efforts. Mark Pope, the coach, is also facing scrutiny after yet another disappointing performance. Fans are calling for his dismissal, citing his inability to improve the team's performance despite the presence of veteran players. The Wildcats desperately need to address these issues if they hope to avoid a losing season.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.