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Kentucky Falls to Arkansas in Shootout at Home

In a game circled since the beginning of the season, Kentucky fell short to Arkansas, allowing the Razorbacks to score at will.

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Chet White | UK Athletics

Following a promising defeat of Tennessee on the road, Coach Mark Pope and the ‘Cats returned home to field John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks in the latter’s monumental return to Lexington. While Rupp Arena rose to the occasion in deafening fashion, the team unfortunately fell, 89-79.

Among many worrying trends, the near-90 points allowed Kentucky defensively rendered a statistically solid shooting night ultimately moot for the Wildcats. Kentucky shot 48% from the field, and 43% from long range. Arkansas’ split in the same regard was 55%/52%. Scorching, to say the least.

“Coach Speak”

Yet after the game, Coach Calipari, in his first press conference in Rupp as an opposing coach, hardly acknowledged his team’s success in that regard: “I said, we’re not gonna take 40 threes… we took 25. That ain’t too bad.” Ain’t too bad, indeed.

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On the other sideline, Pope commended: “They really did a terrific job making shots tonight.”

“If I could run it back… I maybe would’ve taken a more aggressive posture defensively… I would probably take some more risks there.”

After jumping out to an 18-12 lead early, Kentucky struggled to retain momentum at any point. Every big basket for the boys in blue was answered with one on the other end.

The first half went back and forth for its entirety, with Arkansas squeaking into the break leading 46-45. They wouldn’t trail again for the final 20 minutes.

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Adding salt to the wound is the assist to turnover ratio, a specific metric that Coach Pope has emphasized time and time again as instrumental in Kentucky’s success. Against Arkansas, they piled up 14 turnovers to only 11 assists. The Razorbacks? 17 to 8.

Navigating Space

“I think it’s (on) us,” Pope said. “We’re gonna learn some new ways to attack this, and we’ll get better at it… we’re navigating this space, trying to keep it super super simple, so that we can stay aggressive with guys playing new roles.”

“We’ll figure this part out.”

In reference to recent roster shake-ups and injury issues, Pope compared the necessary changes that come with such things to “starting a new season” that the team is only “two games into.”

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Not coincidentally, Lamont Butler has now missed two games in a row.

As a result, the team has seen extended, inconsistent minutes from guys on the bench like Collin Chandler and Trent Noah to Ansley Almonor getting the opportunity to start.

Yet Kentucky has certainly dealt with more than their fair share of injury-related queries, so has Arkansas. They won this game without their starting freshman guard, Boogie Fland.

What the Arkansas loss means for Kentucky going forward won’t be fully formed until March, but no matter how you spin it, this is a brutal loss for now. To boot, the Big Blue Nation will be forced to sit with it until next Tuesday, when Kentucky goes to battle with the Ole Miss Rebels on the road.

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Buckle up, Big Blue Nation: the SEC never stops coming.

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Men's Basketball

Lexington Native Transfer Center Commits to Kentucky: “I have always known what the blue and white means”

After a brief period of silence, Mark Pope stokes the transfer portal flames once more with the commitment of center Reece Potter.

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Reece Potter commits to Kentucky.
Miami Redhawks Athletics

Nobody in the “Bluegrass State” is saying no to a Kentucky kid… especially not if he’s seven-foot-two. Big Blue Nation, meet Reece Potter.

The latest to join Mark Pope’s ever-growing repertoire for the 2025-26 season, Potter is a junior center who spent his first two seasons of collegiate basketball with the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks.

In his sophomore season, the big averaged six points, four boards and one block per game in 17 minutes, shooting a 47/37/60 split. Potter’s sheer size and athletic potential on either end make him an intriguing prospect, especially as he enters a system built for offensively-inclined centers such as himself.

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“They didn’t really have to sell me on anything,” Potter said of Kentucky, to KY Insider, “I have always known what the blue and white means being a Kentucky kid, so it’s kind of hard to say no.”

Although he’s set to join what will potentially be one of the deepest, most varied front court arsenals in the nation, Potter still brings a unique skillset to the team that could emerge to no surprise as the season develops over time. To boot, he takes the title of the tallest player on the roster. You can’t teach 7’2″.

Not including the potential return of Otega Oweh, Potter slots in as the 12th of 15 potential scholarship players on Kentucky’s incoming roster. His being a native to the Commonwealth in tandem with the especial ability he brings to the table is likely to make him a fan-favorite from day one.

You’re a Wildcat, Mr. Potter. Welcome (back) to Lexington.

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Former Kentucky Guard Travis Perry Commits to Ole Miss

Kentucky native and fan-favorite guard Travis Perry has committed to Ole Miss following his surprising entry into the transfer portal.

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Travis Perry has committed to Ole Miss.
Chet White | UK Athletics

Travis Perry, a “hometown hero” for Kentucky fans, as well as the only player who remained on the roster during the transition between the John Calipari and Mark Pope tenures, has officially committed to Ole Miss.

Perry’s surprising entry into the transfer portal came just before the final hour of eligibility, throwing his name in the hat right before the door closed. Despite his fairly active role in the Wildcats’ rotation last season, with the influx of guards incoming on next year’s roster, his departure is sensible from a playing time perspective. Though the loss is still an unfortunate one, as the Big Blue Nation loves their Kentucky kids.

Ole Miss was involved in Perry’s recruitment before his initial commitment to Kentucky prior to last season, gracing his “final five” list as a team with a real chance to land the Lyon County guard. It’s apparent that, the second time around, Rebels’ coach Chris Beard wasn’t ready to lose out on him again.

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“Addicted to Basketball”

Just over one month ago, during March Madness, Beard reflected on his first chase for Travis Perry, saying, “I love Travis. He’s one of those guys that’s addicted to basketball.”

“I enjoyed recruiting him, getting a relationship with his family,” Beard continued. “In recruiting, you don’t get so many more guys than you do get… But I was really happy for him that he found a great fit and played a great role as a freshman for Coach Pope’s team.”

Not even one month later, Perry would enter the transfer portal, and now the rest is history. Now, ‘Cats fans can look forward to a rendezvous with their former point guard in Rupp Arena this season, as Perry and the Rebels are set to make the trip to Lexington during conference play.

When it comes to the portal, you win some, you lose some, and you make sacrifices along the way. Perry’s loss is a harrowing reminder of what college basketball has become, as well as the shifting importance of what it means to a player to “stay home.”

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Kentucky Set to Face Purdue in Exhibition Game at Rupp Arena

In another stout addition to Kentucky’s schedule, the Wildcats and Mark Pope will face Matt Painter and Purdue in an October exhibition game.

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Mark Pope and Kentucky will face Purdue in October.
Anastasia Panaretos | UK Athletics

Kentucky’s non-conference schedule just keeps getting stronger, with the latest addition coming in the form of an exhibition game at Rupp Arena.

It has been officially announced that, on Friday, October 24, Matt Painter and the Purdue Boilermakers will travel to Lexington to take on Mark Pope and the ‘Cats in a preseason bout unlike any other.

Kentucky has spent the majority of recent memory spinning wheels in exhibition games against unranked, mid-major programs. Rupp Arena fills up either way, sure, but the prospect of a potential top 10 team taking one of those spots brings a whole different kind of excitement to the scene.

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High Class Competition

The Boilermakers have cemented themselves as one of the greatest, most consistent powers in college basketball, making the national title game as recently as two years ago against the UConn Huskies. Despite their shortcomings in that battle, the program that Matt Painter has built in the B10 is nothing short of a powerhouse. They won their conference tournament as recently as 2023.

In addition, Purdue’s incoming class is as strong as any, coming in at #1 nationally on FOX Sports’ early top 25 rankings list. Their retaining star guard Braden Smith has much to do with that placement, no doubt. For comparison, Kentucky slots in at #8 on the list; one place below Louisville, and one above Duke.

Regardless of the exhibition, “it don’t count” nature of the game, amping up the competition before the season officially begins will benefit both squads in the long run, giving them a chance to hone their skills against another ranked, highly-touted team.

First it was the St. Johns game, and now Purdue, who join one of the most difficult growing non-conference schedules in the nation. Mark Pope and the Wildcats will have their work cut out for them, though it’s clear he wouldn’t have it any other way.

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