Kentucky coach Mark Stoops hasn’t spent much time dwelling on New Mexico State this week. He’s more concerned with the Wildcats.
“We’ve worked hard on getting better, being fundamentally better,” Stoops said Thursday. “Like I said early in the week, you can’t beat anybody until you stop beating yourself. That’s what we’ve concentrated on.”
The team’s first 0-2 start in 20 years has forced Stoops to simplify his team’s offensive and defensive schemes in an effort to get the Wildcats on track. Stoops also will have a bigger role in the team’s defensive scheme when Kentucky hosts New Mexico State (1-1) Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.
“I will be more active with play calling,” Stoops said.
Since his team’s 35-point outburst in the first quarter of a 44-35 loss to Southern Mississippi in the season opener, the Wildcats have been outscored 79-7 in the past six quarters. Through two games, the Kentucky defense has allowed 1,084 yards, including 564 in a 45-7 loss to Florida in last week’s Southeastern Conference opener.
Stoops said the key to better play on defense comes down to “just executing and being fundamentally sound.”
“That’ll help guys play harder and more aggressive and play with that sense of urgency that we’re all looking for,” Stoops said. “Sometimes as you get to trying to call things to stop people, it makes it worse. You got to be able to go out there and win some one-on-one matchups and make ’em earn their yards.”
The Aggies (1-1) are coming off a 32-31 win over instate rival New Mexico last week. New Mexico State trailed 17-9 at halftime before rallying for the narrow victory. A member of the Sun Belt Conference, the Aggies are a 19-point underdog going into their first matchup against the Wildcats.
Doug Martin, a former Kentucky player and graduate assistant at Kentucky under the late Jerry Claiborne, said the contest will be a challenge despite the Wildcats’ winless start.
“It’s going to be a real task for us,” New Mexico State coach Doug Martin said. “We have to learn how to win and we have to put last week’s game behind us and move ahead to this one — treat it like a one-game season. We’ll prepare well and give everything we’ve got Saturday.”
In addition to his team’s defense, Stoops also hopes the offense can regain the form it had in the first two quarters of the year. Quarterback Drew Barker, who threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns against Southern Miss, connected on just 2 of 10 passes for 10 yards and three interceptions against the Gators.
Stoops was disappointed in Barker’s performance in the conference opener, but has been impressed with Barker’s resilience this week.
“He’s been good,” Stoops said. “He’s been good. He’s been working hard. Had a good week of practice and I anticipate that he’ll bounce back well.”
Now that all game day preparations are set, the Wildcats are anxious to get back on the field.
“We really need to get back on the field and get the bad taste out our mouth,” Stoops said.
Scouting the Aggies
New Mexico State signal caller Tyler Rogers leads the Aggies in passing yards (411) and rushing (84 yards). In two games, Rogers has thrown for two touchdowns and rushed for another score.
“Anytime you have the dimension of the quarterback run game, you know those are aggravating teams and aggravating yards because again you are accounting for 12 guys essentially if the quarterback runs,” Stoops said. “That is what grabs my attention immediately.”
The Aggies have been without defending Sun Belt rushing leader Larry Rose III during the first two weeks of the season. Rose, who rushed for 1,651 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, has been sidelined by a sports hernia injury. Martin said Rose likely won’t play against the Wildcats.
Heroes Day
Kentucky will honor active, reserve and veterans of the armed forces, along with police, firefighters and first responders prior to kickoff Saturday.
Cpl. Matthew Bradford, a former Marine and Purple Heart recipient, who lost two legs and his eyesight in the Iraq war, delivered an inspiring message to the team Thursday.
“It was wonderful,” Stoops said. “It’s a real honor to have heroes like that here, and with the police and firefighters and everybody we’ve had this week. It’s been really good for our players to see them and just to invite people out to watch some practice. It’s been a nice week.”
Game tracker: New Mexico State at Kentucky, 4 p.m., Saturday. TV/Radio: SEC Network Plus, 98.1 FM WBUL.
Keith Taylor is a senior sports writer for KyForward, where he primarily covers University of Kentucky sports. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com or @keithtaylor21 on Twitter