Kentucky Basketball had another thriller Wednesday night inside Rupp Arena, this one coming in an 85-80 win over the Texas Longhorns.
As has been a trend under Mark Pope, Kentucky got off to a slow start again against Texas, but fortunately, the Longhorns struggled early as well. The first half featured runs from both teams, with momentum swinging back and forth.
By halftime, the game was tied at 40-40. Denzel Aberdeen and Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 10 points apiece, combining for half of Kentucky’s total.
The second half was pretty similar to the first half, and Kentucky also had to adjust when Kam Williams missed the majority of the second half due to a foot injury, but other players stepped up to fill the void. Kentucky was also without big man Jayden Quaintance, who has missed the past several games due to knee swelling, while Jaland Lowe still is out for the season after shoulder surgery.
The Wildcats went on to defeat Texas, 85-80, moving to 13-6 overall and 4-2 in SEC play. With the win, Kentucky remains tied for No. 2 in the conference.
Coming into the day, Texas was among Joe Lunardi’s last teams in the field of 68, and the Horns already had a pair of top-25 wins vs. Vanderbilt and at Alabama.
Make no mistake about it. This was a good win, and an important one at that.
Here are five things to know from another thrilling night at Rupp Arena.
Kam Williams suffers foot injury
Kam Williams was forced to miss most of the second half Wednesday night against Texas after suffering a foot injury. Williams played just 16 minutes in the game, including only four minutes in the second half, but he still scored nine points on 2-of-3 shooting from the field and 1-of-2 from beyond the arc. He also added a rebound and a steal.
Williams’ absence came at a critical moment, as Kentucky was looking to maintain momentum after a tied 40-40 halftime score. With Jaland Lowe already out for the season due to a shoulder injury and Jayden Quaintance still sidelined with knee swelling, the Wildcats had to rely heavily on their remaining starters and bench to carry the team through the second half.
Now the staff will be watching Williams closely in the coming days, as the team hopes the foot injury is minor and does not require an extended absence. Hopefully, Williams can return soon as Kentucky continues SEC play and aims to stay competitive in the conference without key players Lowe and Quaintance.
Collin Chandler has career-night
Kentucky guard Collin Chandler turned in a performance to remember by scoring a career-high 18 points off the bench while under the weather, showing that his confidence is back on track. 14 of them came in the second half after the game was tied 40-all at halftime.
At the start of the season, Chandler looked confident going into his sophomore year, coming off a strong finish to his freshman campaign. However, as the season progressed, his confidence appeared to dip, and for a stretch, he looked like a shadow of the player fans once knew.
Since SEC play began, Chandler has regained his rhythm, and the game versus Texas was a prime example. Despite being sick leading up to the game, many wondered if he would even take the floor. His decision to play paid off, as he helped lead Kentucky to a crucial SEC win over Texas.
In the previous game against Tennessee, Otega Oweh battled illness but still helped wheel Kentucky to a comeback victory on the road. Against Texas, it was Chandler’s turn to step up, providing energy, scoring, and leadership when the team needed it most.
If Chandler continues playing with this confidence and production, he could be a central figure in Kentucky’s push toward the top of the SEC.
Fans who witnessed his performance were thrilled to see him playing confidently and back to being a difference-maker for the Wildcats.
Otega Oweh does it all
As previously mentioned, Oweh once again delivered a complete performance for Kentucky by setting the tone in the win versus Texas. Oweh stayed active across the stat sheet in the first half, scoring 10 points while adding a rebound and a steal to keep Kentucky within striking distance.
Beyond the numbers, it was Oweh’s athleticism, with two electrifying dunks in the first half, including one on Texas big man Matas Vokietaitis, that brought the Rupp Arena crowd to its feet. In another play, Oweh jumped a passing lane, took it coast-to-coast, and had another big dunk off a steal.
Oweh continued that momentum after halftime, playing with confidence on both ends of the floor. He finished the game with 18 points.
Performances like this continue to strengthen Oweh’s case as one of the SEC’s most impactful players and firmly keep him in the conversation for SEC Player of the Year.
Kentucky gets off to another slow start
One of the key issues once again was Pope’s substitution pattern. The Wildcats went with changes, pulling multiple starters out at once, which caused Texas to go on runs, and Kentucky had to get back in the game. At one point in the first half, the Longhorns went on a 7-0 run while Kentucky’s bench players were in, swinging momentum in favor of Texas.
When the starters returned, the Wildcats were able to slow Texas down and keep the score even, but the pattern raises questions. Heavy rotations have worked in some games, giving players rest and keeping them fresh, but in tight contests, it has allowed opponents to build momentum.
Mark Pope may need to think about his substitution patterns, especially against teams like Texas that can capitalize on extended bench stretches. Keeping the starters on the floor longer could help Kentucky avoid early holes and reduce stress on the team in the second half.
Kentucky locks down 3-point line
Kentucky’s defensive effort was the difference-maker in the Wildcats’ crucial SEC victory. The Longhorns, typically a strong outside shooting team, struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 2/18 from th3ree-point range. Holding Texas to one of their worst performances from deep was a major reason Kentucky was able to pull off the win. Had Texas been able to knock down its usual perimeter shots, the game could have swung in the visitors’ favor.
The defense came up huge in the final moments as well. With Texas trailing by four, the Longhorns launched a potential 3-pointer to make it a one-point game. Kentucky forced the miss and was sent to the free-throw line after a foul. That stop essentially sealed the win for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats’ defensive adjustments, particularly in the second half, were textbook Mark Pope. Kentucky was contesting shots aggressively, forcing turnovers, and converting defense into offense.
Now, let’s celebrate the win!
Go Cats!!
