UK’s struggle from behind the arc continues against Eastern Kentucky

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By Nick Gray

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There is a distinct sound of disappointment in Rupp Arena when UK misses a 3-point shot.

When a player rises and releases a shot, a rush of excitement fills the air for basketball’s most valuable play. When UK misses those kinds of shots, the air is let out of the building.

That deflating sound has filled the rafters of Rupp Arena lately, and its cause is the chief concern for UK in the navigation of its most difficult month of the schedule.

Sunday, as a mostly-silent blue-clad crowd watched the Cats dispatch of Eastern Kentucky, UK went into the second half without a made 3-pointer for the third consecutive game.

Devin Booker knew that the streak was on the line, said freshman forward Trey Lyles. “He let us know, and so we started to shoot a little more (toward the end of the game).”

The tension and frustration grew throughout the second half. It took the Cats until 2:57 remained in the game before sophomore guard Aaron Harrison launched one that finally fell through, and UK’s vaunted streak of hitting at least one 3-pointer in a game reached 909 consecutive games.

Needless to say, the crowd’s reaction was the loudest it had been all night.

Maybe the Cats’ style of bludgeoning opponents in the paint is not for the easiest of eyes. Against sub-par competition, that much may be true.

Engaging fans and winning games are not one of UK’s largest concerns. What should be one of the biggest concerns is the Cats’ trending lack of 3-point shooting.

“We would obviously like to make more,” UK assistant John Robic said after the game, filling in for head coach John Calipari. “There may have been just a couple that weren’t at the right time, forced a little bit. It’s just repetition.”

UK would have cruised — and did — without making any 3-point shots against EKU on Sunday.

However, against more lethal teams such as North Carolina and Louisville, it may bring a less kind result, where going cold in the first 35 minutes of a game may cause trouble.

“We’ll knock them down when it’s needed,” Robic said.

The Cats aren’t staffed without shooters. Harrison and freshman guard Devin Booker have shown the ability to hit from outside. Right now, they’re both ice cold.

Harrison hasn’t shot particularly well all season and is an abysmal 22 percent on 3-point shots. Booker was 12-of-18 from behind the arc in three games during Thanksgiving week but has made 1-of-11 in the last three contests.

The numbers are concerning, but the players aren’t as alarmed as the numbers — and the UK faithful — believe they should.

“We are a very good shooting team, if you watch us in practice,” said freshman forward Karl-Anthony Towns, who made his first 3-pointer of the season in the final minutes. “That’s the thing about the game of basketball — it can go both ways on you.”