The keys to the game for Kentucky against Troy

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- Friday is the day of Kentucky’s first chance to win an NCAA Tournament game in the Mark Pope era.

Pope is looking for his first-ever March Madness win as the head coach is 0-2 in the tournament. Two appearances with BYU in 2020 and 2024 are a couple of his six overall postseason trips, in which he is 6-6.

Kentucky has already taken some weight off of its shoulders after winning an SEC Tournament game for the first time since 2022 in Nashville last week versus Oklahoma.

If UK wins versus Troy, it will relieve the burden of only winning one March Madness matchup since 2022.

Here’s how they can do that when the Cats and the Trojans tip-off at 7:10 ET at Fiserv Forum in the third matchup of the day in Milwaukee.

LaMarch Magic

Kentucky guard Lamont Butler (1) drives the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)

Lamont Butler is the most experienced NCAA Tournament player on the floor for UK.

His stability and experience at point guard will be welcome after Kentucky has had to resort to using bench players to fill his shoes in his absence due to injury with backup Jaxson Robinson out for the season.

The former San Diego State man’s season statistics speak for themselves. He not only can make shots at a high rate (11.5 points per game on average), but also provides a career-best four assists per game on average.

Being the tip of the spear on defense is a part of his identity too.  Butler is second on the team in steals this season with 38. Otega Oweh is first with 52.

“I would say he’s a huge part of what (UK) does. You know they’re way, way better when he’s out there on the floor, especially defensively with his toughness defending the basketball. So I’m sure that will give them a boost,” said Troy head coach Scott Cross. “He’s a very good offensive player as well, but I think he kind of gives them the toughness and identity that make them better defensively.”

Troy is a team that likes to take the ball away themselves averaging nine steals per game. A physical point of attack from Butler on defense could help win that battle.

Win the Glass

Troy is the 11th ranked team in the nation in offensive rebounding with almost 14 per game.

Kentucky is the 7th ranked team in the country with defensive rebounding and the Cats pull down over 28 per game on average.

That battle will be highly important with two teams that pride themselves on toughness.

Limiting offensive rebounds from the Trojans and second chance points off of any boards that come Troy’s way will be a huge help to the Kentucky cause.

“To put it in perspective, in the SEC, the best conference in the country by a mile, the only team that we played that was more effective on the offensive glass in the entire league was Texas A&M in a league that prides itself on being on the offensive glass,” said Pope. “That’s how potent this Troy team is on the glass.”

Shoot the Three

Kentucky guard Koby Brea (4) celebrates play against Oklahoma during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Pope’s desire to shoot over 30 three-pointers per game is a distant memory to some from his early moments at UK.

But, this season, the makes from behind the arc have been a tremendous factor to whether the Cats can put a team away or not.

When Kentucky scores over 10 threes in a game they are 15-3. Shoot less than that and its a toss up of if the Wildcats will win with a 7-8 record.

Koby Brea, UK’s leading three point scorer with 86 made this season, is plenty more potent than Troy’s leading three-point maker Thomas Dowd.

Dowd has 47 makes from distance this year. Brea leading a three-point barrage would be quite helpful for UK.

Limit Turnovers

Even though UK averages 11 giveaways a game (114th in the nation), late turnovers almost cost the Cats the game versus Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament days ago.

Throughout the season, Kentucky has had a lofty assist-to-turnover ratio as they’re ranked 24th in the nation in that category. Keeping the clean ball movement that they’re known for up will be simply the standard.

“They’re one of the best offensive teams in the country, the way they pass the ball, shoot the ball. Very difficult to defend. We’re definitely going to go out there and try and be as aggressive as we can and take some things away,” said Cross.