Mark Pope knows Kentucky has to improve before the end of the regular season, after a devastating loss to Auburn.

The Kentucky Wildcats could not keep up with the nation’s top-ranked team on Saturday, as No. 1 Auburn cruised to a commanding 94-78 victory inside Rupp Arena. The loss marked Auburn’s first win in Lexington since 1988 and exposed several issues for Kentucky, particularly on the defensive end.

Following the defeat, Wildcats head coach Mark Pope took full responsibility for his team’s lackluster performance, pointing to energy issues and Auburn’s relentless attack.

“I would love to make excuses on that. That ultimately falls on my shoulders,” Pope said. “Credit goes to Auburn also. They’ve done this, you know they’re a good team. They made really hard shots tonight, and their switching was a de-energizer for us. We didn’t respond to it well at all.”

Kentucky’s Struggles

The Wildcats (19-10, 8-8 SEC) never found their rhythm against an Auburn team that looked poised and dominant from start to finish. Kentucky struggled defensively, allowing Auburn to shoot 51.8% from the field and 44.4% from three-point range. The Tigers capitalized on nearly every opportunity, punishing Kentucky in transition and executing well in the half-court.

Pope admitted that various factors may have contributed to his team’s energy issues, including a tight turnaround after their road win at Mississippi State earlier in the week.

“It was probably a whole slew of excuses—late travel, late game, all the things with a quick turnaround,” Pope said. “At the end of the day, that’s just what you deal with as a basketball player.”

Auburn’s Statement Performance

Auburn (27-2, 15-1 SEC) entered the game as the No. 1 team in the nation, and they played like it. The Tigers controlled the pace, forced turnovers, and made difficult shots to keep Kentucky from gaining any momentum.

Kentucky trailed by double digits for all of the second half, unable to slow down Auburn’s offensive attack. The Wildcats had no answer for the Tigers’ depth and physicality, particularly in the paint, where Auburn held a significant advantage.

Looking Ahead

Despite the disappointing loss, Kentucky still has time to regroup before the SEC Tournament. The Wildcats will need to address their defensive lapses and energy concerns if they hope to make a deep postseason run.

“I failed to lead our team today to have the energy that is required for us to come out and be great,” Pope said. “It’s not a lack of desire. It was a whole cocktail of some energy miscues, some being sped up miscues, some terrific shot-making from Auburn. All put together resulted in a really, really terrible day for us.”

Kentucky will look to bounce back in its next matchup as the Wildcats continue their push for SEC Tournament positioning and an NCAA Tournament bid.