Overview
- Kentucky fell 83-66 to Michigan State at Madison Square Garden, dropping the Wildcats to 3-2.
- Mark Pope said he saw one team that was really well coached and one that was really poorly coached, adding that he has to take the hit.
- Michigan State hit 11 of 22 threes, won the boards 37-24, and logged 25 assists on 32 field goals, while Kentucky shot 35%.
- ESPN showed Pope entering the arena with downcast body language, a moment widely noted by observers on social media.
- Coverage framed the defeat as a reality check for a roster assembled largely through the transfer portal following a recent loss to Louisville.