Men's Basketball

Kentucky vs. Brown Recap: The Wildcats Dominate in Much Needed Win

Published

2 months ago

January 1, 2025

Kentucky's Brandon Garrison (10) celebrated after dropping in a three-pointer

Jeff Faughender | IMAGN

Fresh off a 10-day break between their gut-wrenching loss to Ohio State, Coach Pope and the Cats came back home to take on the Brown Bears of Providence, Rhode Island. With this being the last game before their intimidating conference schedule, Kentucky needed a convincing win to raise spirits and get back on the right track. The Wildcats managed that, and then some.

Slow and Steady

But as has been the pattern for the team this year thus far, Kentucky struggled to find their footing early on. Despite an immediate 3-0 thanks to a triple from Jaxson Robinson, the Cats could only tally one more point by the 15-minute mark, where they led 4-2.

The rest of the half was back-and-forth, with Kentucky jumping out to a 19-9 lead spurred by seven straight from Andrew Carr, only for Brown to answer with a 5-0 run of their own, drawing within five at 19-14.

Still, the Wildcats finished the first half on a high note thanks to a Travis Perry three (for which the crowd erupted,) and seven more from Carr. His 14 at the half set the team high.

What the Stats Said

Despite Kentucky forcing a staggering 14 turnovers in the first period, they were equally stifled by Brown’s 21-10 advantage on the glass. Kentucky has struggled mightily with physicality all season, and the Bears were able to keep the game within arm’s length for that very reason.

The Cats led at the end of the first half 39-27.

The Pope’s Plan

Yet Mark Pope always adjusts, and his team came out of the half with a newfound precision on both ends of the floor.

Kentucky broke off a 13-3 run to get things started, seven of which came unanswered from Otega Oweh. Amari Williams also got in on the fun with a back-to-the-basket floater to extend the Cats’ lead, 50-30, hardly five minutes into the second half.

From there, it was all Wildcats.

Finishing Strong

Ultimately, Kentucky would outscore Brown 49-27 in the second half and win the game 88-54, their largest margin of victory in more than a month. While the defense remained consistently strong throughout, the offense stood out, found their footing, and hit a stride that they’d been missing the last couple of games.

Among a flurry of encouraging stats, perhaps the most impressive was the Cats’ tally from the free throw line: 18/23 (78%.) This is a solid 5% above their season average, showing real improvement in a category in which the team has struggled often this season.

In addition, Kentucky shot 10/28 from long range (36%,) and 30/60 from the field as a whole, landing them at 50% total on the night. Questions about the team’s recent scoring struggles should be satiated for now, at least.

The Wildcats will carry this dominant win with them into conference play this weekend, where they’re set to kick things off against the undefeated, sixth-ranked Florida Gators at home on Saturday, Jan. 4th. You can cheer on the Cats on ESPN at 11:00 a.m.

Men's Basketball

Mark Pope Explains the Science of Arguing With SEC Officials: “It’s Just Kind of Picking and Choosing”

Does the squeaky wheel get the grease when it comes to referees? Mark Pope has an answer when it comes to his experience in the SEC.

Published

21 hours ago

March 11, 2025

Lane Mills

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope questioned a referee during the game

Matt Stone | IMAGN

In his first year in what is unarguably the toughest, most physical conference in college basketball, Mark Pope has become known for cutting SEC officials more slack than most of his coaching counterparts.

Time and time again, in the face of frustration from fans, journalists and even his own players, Pope has, for the most part, kept his cool with the black and white stripes. But his facial expressions tell all, and sometimes, that trademark smile fades fast when a questionable whistle blows.

On Monday’s Mark Pope show, the coach was asked about “squeaky wheels getting the grease,” in reference to coaches who chirp the officials getting a favorable whistle from them. His response should draw a sigh of relief from those who throw their hands up when the opposing team treks to the line once more.

I’ll be really honest,” he began. “Early on in our SEC run… it was unfortunate that it really did appear, like if you had a tantrum every two seconds that you kind of earned the attention of the referees, and they would actually respond. That’s how I felt.”

The Slightest Whisper

Pope then mentioned his plan coming in, which was to ignore the officials entirely. While he still views that ideal in a positive light, he didn’t deny the success that other coaches were having on the opposite end of the spectrum.

“I can be really productive to do it in a constructive way. Sometimes a whisper can be way more effective and way more moving than a tantrum,” he encouraged. “It’s just kind of picking and choosing.”

Pick your battles, Coach Pope. As long as this philosophy lasts, Kentucky could continue to get a less-than-favorable whistle against juggernaut conference opponents. Though, all the same, after an entire season enduring a controversy that seemed to only impact those watching from home, hearing Coach Pope even so much as acknowledge it is certainly a step in the right direction.

If you support Mark Pope’s positivity in one instance, you’ll have to deal with the ramifications in every facet: on the floor, off the floor, and everywhere in between. The Cats will have to win the occasional 8v5 until one side gives.

Men's Basketball

Rockets Rookie Reed Sheppard to Miss at Least Four Weeks With Thumb Injury

Published

2 days ago

March 10, 2025

Kai McClelland

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) reacts after a play during the game.

Troy Taormina | Imagn

On Thursday, March 6, Reed Sheppard slapped down on the ball while New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson had the ball in is hands around the halfway mark of the fourth quarter.

The Rockets, who were up a wide margin on the road, subbed in the former Kentucky guard to begin the fourth quarter, however, he would be subbed out soon after fouling Williamson.

Sheppard, drafted No. 3 overall after an illustrious freshman season, was coming off of one of his best professional performances, where he scored a career-high 25 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 3.

Rockets Head Coach Ime Udoka announced on Saturday, March 8, that Sheppard’s injury is to the top of his thumb and not the lower portion, which is the “better outcome” for the rookie. Regardless, he fractured his thumb.

Udoka added that Sheppard will be in a splint cast for about four weeks as he recovers.

Although the former Wildcat hasn’t particularly been great in the NBA thus far, averaging just 3.9 points, he was starting to see a jump in minutes off of the bench for one of the best in the West.

On Monday, Jan. 6, Sheppard was assigned to the team’s G-league affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The following day, in his debut, he dropped 49 points, going 17-33 from the field and 8-19 from three. He also tacked on six assists, five rebounds and three steals.

This performance kick started his role for the Rockets, seeing an increase of minutes from 5.3 per game to 11.8 per game as January turned to February.

Now, with an unfortunate setback, Sheppard will be forced to watch as the Houston Rockets look to finish their regular season with 50 or more wins for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

Men's Basketball

Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament Fate: The Latest in Bracketology

As the Mark Pope’s inaugural season comes to a close, where do the bracket experts see he and Kentucky landing on Selection Sunday?

Published

5 days ago

March 7, 2025

Lane Mills

Kirby Lee | Imagn

With the dust finally starting to settle on Mark Pope’s first year in the driver’s seat, Kentucky’s outlook for March Madness is beginning to take shape as Selection Sunday (March 16) closes in.

After entering the season ranked #23 in the AP poll, the ‘Cats have been in just about every possible position. From rising as far as #4 in week seven to dropping all the way back down to #19 (where they are currently), the team have been in-and-out of the “championship hopefuls” mix all season.

Big, trademark wins against teams like Duke, Tennessee (x2), Florida and Gonzaga had pundits singing the unit’s praises, while puzzling losses to Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas inspired the exact opposite sort of dialogue.

Though as confusing as the year has been on the whole, the overall consensus of the “bracketologists” seems see Kentucky between the 3-5 seed lines on that fateful day. Read below, and let us know what you make of Kentucky’s potential road to San Antonio!

Bracket Matrix: (3.21, last 3-seed)

*Combines all bracketology and averages each team’s seed.