Kentucky basketball gets an opportunity to put Tuesday’s disappointing loss behind it when Northern Arizona visits Rupp Arena on Friday night.

The Wildcats are coming off an 89-69 loss to No. 15 Kansas in the Champions Classic. Kentucky struggled to find its rhythm offensively, turned the ball over 15 times and went just 4-21 from 3-point range. It was a frustrating performance after opening the season with wins over Manhattan and James Madison.

There is no reason to overreact to one loss this early in the season, but Kentucky needs to show some improvement. Friday’s matchup is a chance to get back on track before the schedule gets tougher.

Kentucky Needs Better Performances Across the Board

The loss to Kansas exposed some issues that Kentucky needs to address. The Wildcats struggled with turnovers, had trouble getting consistent offense outside of Zoom Diallo and Malachi Moreno, and could not keep up with Kansas physically.

Diallo and Moreno were two of the few bright spots, combining for 43 points. Kentucky will need more players to step up if it wants to reach the level expected of this team.

Friday is a good opportunity for several Wildcats to respond. Alex Wilkins, Ousmane N’Diaye, Justin McBride and Milan Momcilovic are among the players who could use a stronger performance after the Kansas loss.

Kentucky does not need to make major changes after one game, but it does need to look more connected. Better ball movement, fewer turnovers and a more consistent defensive effort would be a good place to start.

Northern Arizona Players to Watch

Northern Arizona enters Friday’s game with an 0-3 record after opening the season against a challenging group of opponents. The Lumberjacks are led by head coach Shane Burcar, who is in his eighth season with the program.

Sophomore guard Chris Komin is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 20.7 points per game through the first three contests. He is also averaging 4.3 assists and has been a consistent scoring option for the Lumberjacks.

Senior guard Ryan Abelman is another player Kentucky will need to keep an eye on. He is averaging 12.7 points per game and has made 10 3-pointers, shooting 40% from beyond the arc. Abelman gives Northern Arizona another perimeter scoring threat.

Kentucky will need to defend the 3-point line and avoid allowing either guard to get comfortable. The Wildcats have the talent advantage, but they still need to take care of the ball and bring the right level of focus.

An Opportunity to Quiet Some Noise

There is already plenty of attention surrounding Kentucky after the loss to Kansas. That comes with the territory, especially when expectations are high and the Wildcats are under the spotlight.

At the same time, this team has plenty of opportunities ahead. Kentucky has Northern Arizona on Friday, Grambling next week and then a matchup with Indiana the following Friday.

The Wildcats do not need to prove everything in one game, but they do need to show progress. A cleaner performance, better contributions across the roster and a convincing win would go a long way toward putting Tuesday night behind them.

Kentucky should be able to handle Northern Arizona, but the bigger focus is how the Wildcats respond. The opportunity is there to get back to playing the kind of basketball this team is capable of.

For more Kentucky news and coverage, follow me on X @DrewByousBBN.