'Gonzaga can tame this beast in Kentucky': How the Bulldogs can exploit the Wildcats' reeling defense

Bulldogs look to take advantage of a Wildcats team that allowed 98.5 points per game in their last two home games

Unsurprising to most, the Gonzaga Bulldogs will be heavy underdogs when they face No. 17 Kentucky on Saturday at Rupp Arena, though they aren't completely outmatched in every phase of the game. 

Kentucky, which has dropped three of its last five games, is ranked 102nd in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom at 102.8 — the program's worst mark since the stat was first tracked in 1997. Inconsistencies on defense have hurt the Wildcats as of late, as they dropped back-to-back home games against Florida (94-91) and Tennessee (103-92) last week before righting the ship with a 104-77 win at Vanderbilt on Wednesday. 

Perhaps the Bulldogs, coming off a 96-64 win over Portland in which they knocked down a season-high 15 3-pointers, can carry some momentum from its latest outing with them for the trip down to Lexington, Kentucky, where they hope to pull off a big upset and earn their first Quad 1 win of the season.

Former Gonzaga All-American Dan Dickau and Gonzaga Nation reporter Cole Forsman broke down the Bulldogs' keys to victory against the Wildcats and much more on an episode of Gonzaga Nation.

Produced by Christian Pedersen.

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Cole Forsman
COLE FORSMAN

Cole Forsman is a reporter for Gonzaga Bulldogs On SI. Cole holds a degree in Journalism and Sports Management from Gonzaga University.