Kentucky’s perimeter game has officially arrived - and it didn’t happen by accident.
Through 18 games this season, the Wildcats are shooting just 34.9% from three overall, a mark that ranks middle-of-the-pack nationally and in the SEC. But zoom in on conference play, and you see a different story unfolding.
In five SEC games, Kentucky is leading the league in 3-point shooting at 38.7%, hitting 41 of 106 attempts. And that’s even with a rough 4-for-19 start in Tuscaloosa.
Since that clunker at Alabama, the ‘Cats have steadily climbed in efficiency: 38.8% vs. Missouri, 40.9% against Mississippi State, 43.5% at LSU, and 45.8% at Tennessee.
That kind of upward trend isn’t just encouraging - it’s dominant. Kentucky isn’t just leading the SEC in conference play from deep; they’re doing it with breathing room.
LSU is next closest at 36.7%, followed by Tennessee and Missouri at 36.0%. From there, the drop-off continues.
And here’s the kicker - head coach Mark Pope saw this coming.
Back in mid-December, after a 3-for-15 performance against Indiana had Kentucky sitting at 20% from deep in that game and ranked No. 243 nationally in 3-point percentage, Pope didn’t flinch. He stood in front of the mic and said, “By the end of the year, I think we’re going to be really dangerous shooting the ball.”
It wasn’t just coach-speak or blind optimism. Pope had the data.
Inside the Joe Craft Center, Kentucky’s shot-tracking system - NOAH - was telling a different story than the box scores. The team was shooting well in practice, and Pope believed it was only a matter of time before that translated to game nights.
“I’ve never been on a team where the NOAH numbers don’t eventually show up in games,” Pope said. “It’s just a matter of time.”
That time appears to be now.
In three straight SEC comeback wins - each by double digits - Kentucky has had at least three players knock down multiple threes. Against Mississippi State, it was Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen, and Kam Williams.
At LSU, Oweh and Aberdeen were joined by Collin Chandler and Andrija Jelavic. Then in Knoxville, Aberdeen, Chandler, and freshman Jasper Johnson stepped up from deep.
The volume is there. The efficiency is climbing.
And the offense? It’s starting to resemble the kind of high-octane, free-flowing system Pope’s teams are known for.
But this isn’t just about hitting shots. It’s about how those shots are being created.
This group has learned to generate quality looks through better spacing, smarter passing, and a commitment to sharing the ball. Pope made it clear: the improvement from deep isn’t just about guys getting hot - it’s about guys playing for each other.
Take Mo Dioubate, for example. Earlier in the season, he caught criticism - even from opposing coaches - for being too shot-happy in the post.
But in a recent game, Dioubate made the right play: instead of forcing a contested shot, he kicked it out to Oweh for a jumper. The shot missed, but Dioubate grabbed the board, swung it to Aberdeen in the opposite corner, and watched him pump-fake his defender and knock down a floater.
That’s growth. That’s unselfish basketball.
A few plays later, it was Chandler drawing defenders in the paint and finding Dioubate for an easy bucket. That’s the kind of ball movement Pope is preaching - and it’s paying off.
“We’ve done a much better job of earning guys shots,” Pope said. “Down the stretch against Tennessee, our execution was special. We’re actually shooting the ball better because we’re making plays for each other at a higher level.”
Spacing has been a factor, too. With Jaland Lowe out for the season and Jayden Quaintance’s status still uncertain, Kentucky has leaned on players deeper in the rotation. Kam Williams and Andrija Jelavic have earned extended minutes, and backcourt pieces like Chandler and Johnson have delivered in big moments.
As the Wildcats have adjusted to roster changes, they’ve also adjusted their spacing and offensive structure. Pope says the team has gone smaller at times and reworked their floor alignment - and it’s helping players get more comfortable in their roles.
“We’ve revamped our spacing vibe on the floor,” Pope explained. “Guys are getting more comfortable, understanding concepts better. We still have work to do, but we’ve gotten better.”
That improvement has been steady, not sudden. It’s the result of hard work, trust in the system, and a belief that the numbers would eventually reflect the effort.
Now, the question is whether Kentucky can sustain it.
They’ve found their rhythm from deep. The ball is moving.
The chemistry is building. And Pope’s belief in this group - even when the shots weren’t falling - is starting to look like more than just confidence.
It’s looking like conviction.
“Hopefully that continues,” Pope said. “If it does, we have a chance to be a really good offensive team.”
If recent games are any indication, that chance is starting to look a lot more like a promise.