Kentucky head coach Mark Pope reflected on a 67-64 loss to North Carolina, pinpointing major issues such as rebounding, poor three-point shooting, and a prolonged second-half scoring drought.

The current season’s struggles contrast with last season’s honeymoon narrative, with injuries and inconsistency signaling a crossroads for Pope’s program.

Caleb Wilson was limited (5-for-19), while UNC reserve Derek Dixon provided a career-high 24 minutes and two go-ahead baskets in the final minute.

Defensive rebounding issues were tied to UNC’s size and length, with calls for better defensive execution and ball-screen coverage.

UNC’s resume boosts with wins over Kansas and a road victory at Kentucky, while Kentucky lacks a top-200 NET win and now faces tests against Gonzaga, Indiana, and St. John’s.

UNC dominated the rebound game, especially on the offensive glass, contributing to a 22-5 edge in second-chance points, while Kentucky went 1-for-13 from beyond the arc.

Pope noted specific stats, including UNC’s 20 offensive rebounds and 12 from the starting front line, alongside Kentucky’s 1-for-13 three-point shooting as critical factors in defeat.

Pope admitted fatigue and called for rotation adjustments, stressing the need for better decision-making, ball-handling, and pace moving forward.

Quaintance’s absence or limited play could have affected late defense, and Malachi Moreno shows promise, but health and roster depth remain pivotal.

Looking ahead, Pope emphasized regrouping quickly for upcoming tests against Gonzaga, Indiana, and St. John’s, urging a collective effort to learn and improve without a safety net.

He described the situation as lacking a safety net, with potential roster returns (Jaland Lowe, Mo Dioubate, Jayden Quaintance) expected to influence future performance, though Quaintance is still recovering from a knee injury.

Despite criticisms, Pope highlighted positive contributions from players such as Andrija Jelavic, Kam, and Otega as constructive takeaways from the loss.