Kentucky‘s defense has been its weakness this season, and Saturday was no exception. After Kentucky’s 96-83 loss to Alabama, Wildcats head coach Mark Pope evaluated his team’s defensive performance. “Alabama is a terrific team and they put us in tough situations that we didn’t respond well to on the defensive end,

Kentucky basketball fell short against Alabama once again on Saturday in another high-scoring affair. Despite a strong start by Mark Pope and the Wildcats, the Crimson Tide rallied back late in the first half and ran away with the game in a 96-83 win in Tuscaloosa.

Kentucky couldn’t keep up with Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Afterward, Mark Pope explained the reasons for the SEC defeat.

Alabama scored 102 points with five different players scoring in double figures and two going for 20-plus — Grant Nelson went for a season-high 25 points while Mark Sears added 24. As a team, they shot 44.

Coach Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats lost their marquee matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide 96-83 on Saturday evening despite holding a healthy 30-18 lead midway through the first half.

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats have a massive game coming up on Saturday as they make the trip to Tuscaloosa to take on the #4 Alabama Crimson Tide. Alaba

Kentucky entered their road matchup against Alabama looking to secure a big win, but the Crimson Tide had other plans. Despite a strong start, the Wildcats couldn’t maintain their early momentum and were defeated 96-83.

Alabama basketball and head coach Nate Oats needed to bounce back in a big way Saturday. Both took two massive losses to Auburn and Missouri before facing No. 17 Kentucky. Oats is now standing alone in the Alabama record books.