By Keith Taylor
Special to NKyTribune
Kentucky failed to end a long losing streak last week. They will attempt to end another one Saturday.
The Wildcats (2-1) haven’t beaten No. 25 Missouri since the Tigers joined the Southeastern Conference three years ago. Kentucky, coming off a 14-9 loss to Florida, the 29th consecutive setback to the Gators, has lost three straight to the Tigers, including a 20-10 setback last season in Columbia. Prior to 2012, the Wildcats owned a 2-0 lead in the series between the two Eastern division foes.
It will be the league opener for Missouri, which has won its first three games, including a 9-6 triumph over Connecticut last week. Although struggling somewhat offensively, the Tigers rank first in the SEC in total defense and have surrendered just an average of 217 yards per game.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, a defensive-minded leader, said Missouri’s defense is reminiscent of Florida and likes the team’s approach on that side of the ball. Stoops said the Tigers “play hard and play with an edge to them.”
“What I like when I watch Missouri, and have a lot of respect for, is how hard they play,” Stoops said. “Defensively, they have been that way and play very hard, very disruptive and I appreciate that.”
Kentucky’s defense held its own in the loss to Florida, but the offense wasn’t as efficient, causing within and outside the camp. Stoops and his staff are seeking better performances from each facet of the offense. Despite the struggles, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said the team can’t dwell on the five-point loss.
Missouri at Kentucky
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: Kentucky 2-1, Missouri 3-0
TV/Radio: SEC Network; 98.1 WBUL
“We didn’t play good Saturday,” Dawson said. “Obviously, everybody in the stadium can see that. … It happens in this game that every now and again you’re going to have a game that you don’t play well, so you gotta move on. If you let that game linger, then it’s a problem.”
Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles said the Cats wanted nothing more than to end the losing streak to the Gators, which added more pressure from within.
“Everybody on that team wanted that game with everything we had, and I think sometimes we got a little tight because of that,” he said. “Whether it was in the fourth quarter on that last drive, I think sometimes you can want it too much and I think we did that.”
Towles, the subject of much criticism this week, has taken the complaints in stride and isn’t looking back.
“You always get too much credit and too much blame,” Towles said. “I probably got too much credit after the South Carolina game, and I’m not going to speak about the Florida game, but yeah. I don’t need it. I’m moving forward.”
As an outsider looking in, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel has been impressed with Towles and said the junior signal caller has been “executing well” in the first three games of the season and also praised Kentucky’s entire squad.
“He’s experienced, he’s been playing, and I think he’s doing an exceptional job,” he said. “I’m Impressed with their (receivers). Their running backs are excellent. Defensively they run well, they’ve got an excellent scheme. It will certainly be a challenge for us.”
Although still relatively a newcomer to the league, Missouri has won the past two Eastern division titles and have exceeded many expectations of being a competitor in the conference. Stoops said the team’s success is a “compliment.”
“They’ve always played hard and they win close games,” Stoops said. “That’s credit to what they’re doing and how they’re coaching them. The energy that their team plays with is good.”
Stoops hopes his team regains the swagger they had in the first two games. There’s another losing streak to halt.
Keith Taylor is a columnist and senior sports reporter who covers UK sports for the NKyTribune