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Kentucky vs. Kansas: Postgame Recap

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© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

In early January, the Kentucky Wildcats looked dead in the water, especially after a home loss to South Carolina, who has still yet to win another SEC game. After that game, the players had a “come to Jesus” meeting and have responded in the best way, by winning.

Kentucky ignited a four-game winning streak to put themselves back afloat and back in the NCAA Tournament conversation. On Saturday, they were given the opportunity to really bolster their case with fellow blue-blood, No. 9 Kansas visiting Rupp Arena.

With a sold-out Rupp Arena just waiting to cheer, Jacob Toppin gave them a reason to after scoring on the first possession of the game. As the game progressed, it was clear that both teams came ready to play. After 15 minutes, the score was 32-29. However, poor free-throw shooting and rebounding eventually caught up to them as Kansas was able to extend the lead out to seven at halftime, 41-34.

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To start the second half, the back-and-forth continued. At one point Oscar Tshiebwe and Cason Wallace went on a mini-run of their own to cut the deficit to 1 with just under twelve minutes to go. However, Kansas with five straight to push the lead back out.

Kentucky once again narrowed the lead to just two under five minutes. However, even with Kentucky answering in between baskets, Kansas converted on four well-defended three-pointers over their next five possessions to extend the lead out to seven.

In the end, Kansas’s last push was too much to overcome. While frustrating, a loss against a top-10 team is nothing to cause too much concern. As John Calipari said after the game, “We are not where we need to be, but we are certainly not where we were.”

Let’s take a closer look.

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Poor Three-Point Shooting

Over the last two-three weeks, Kentucky’s opponents have played defense one of two ways with the Wildcats’ new ‘Basketball Benny’ lineup. One, teams choose not to double Tshiebwe and focus on shooters, or two, teams do choose to double Tshiebwe which leaves shooters open.

The Jayhawks chose to do the latter, but unfortunately for Kentucky, they could not capitalize on their open opportunities. For the game, the Wildcats were just 2-13 from deep, both coming from Cason Wallace in the second half.

Kentucky’s two best shooters, CJ Fredrick and Antonio Reeves combined to shoot 0-8 from three. On several occasions, Kentucky had a chance to make three to regain the lead, but it never happened.

When your ‘shot makers’ aren’t making shots it makes it much more difficult to win. However, chances are slim that neither hit a three in a game again, and despite that, it is promising to see that Kentucky had a chance to win.

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Losing the Rebounding Battle

Kentucky is one of the best rebounding teams in the country, and against an undersized Kansas team, that should have been one area where they succeeded. However, the Wildcats never matched the level of physicality of Kansas.

Losing the rebounding battle 34-29, Kentucky was neutralized on the offensive boards. For the game, Kentucky grabbed just four offensive rebounds and scored ZERO second-chance points, which has typically been a large part of the offense.

In their four-game winning streak, Kentucky averaged over 38 rebounds per game, and outrebounded their opponent by more than 13 per game. Each player must do their part, and Kentucky has to get back to rebounding as a team.

Great Atmosphere

Students started lining up at the doors at 6 AM on Saturday morning, over 12 hours before the game. That line continued to grow and before they opened the doors the line stretched the length of Rupp Arena.

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While the student section was at its best, the common fan showed up as well. In true Kentucky fashion, Rupp Arena was packed from upper endzone to upper endzone and provided arguably Kentucky’s best home environment since 2019.

Kentucky couldn’t pull out the win, but John Calipari is still confident and had a message for the fans at the end of his pregame show. “I wish we would have rewarded you, but we’re gonna reward you before this year is out.”

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Men's Basketball

CBS Sports: Kentucky Has “ended pursuits” in Transfer Portal Following Aberdeen Commitment

In the wake of yet another addition to Kentucky’s incoming roster, CBS Sports reports that Coach Pope and staff may have closed the portal.

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Mark Pope and staff may have everything they need from the transfer portal.
Chet White | UK Athletics

Following another flurry of transfer portal additions in his second year at the helm, it appears that Mark Pope and staff are satisfied with their sophomore haul. The portal in Lexington may be officially closed for the 2025-26′ season.

Right after Kentucky received the surprising commitment of Denzel Aberdeen, Matt Norlander, an analyst for CBS Sports, posted the following on X (Twitter):

“Barring any portal defections, Kentucky has ended its pursuits of all other portal targets, sources told CBS Sports. Getting Aberdeen today [April 21] meant they’ve moved off Andrej Stojakovic, Rylan Griffen, etc. Otega Oweh going through pre-draft process-but I expect him back in Lex”.

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With the addition of Aberdeen, the Wildcats’ roster ballooned to near-max capacity for next season. Seeing two of the team’s walk-on players, Grant Darbyshire and Walker Horn, enter the transfer portal seemed to all but confirm this suspicion, too.

Losing One of Our Own

That is, until last night. With less than two hours remaining for players to do so, Travis Perry shocked much of the Big Blue Nation by throwing his name into the hat. This came just weeks after a string of comments from the Kentucky-native point guard seemed to confirm his return for a sophomore season.

Though all the same, given Kentucky’s bulk of back-court additions this offseason, his departure makes sense for the sake of playing time alone. The Lyon King will be sorely missed.

So while the Kentucky staff may still be very much content with their current roster, with hundreds of players remaining in the portal and an unexpected spot on the roster coming open, another grab is far from out of the question.

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Who Coach Pope and company would go after is entirely unclear, as that potential player would likely have to accept a minimized role off the bench for a stretch of his time in Lexington. If anything, the logical replacement would be a direct fill-in at the PG2/PG3 spot in Perry’s absence.

Either way, the ‘Cats are set to come into next season as one of the most exciting teams in college basketball with a ceiling far out of view. Mark Pope continues to prove his prowess in the transfer market, too, easing the worries of Wildcats fans and closing the door on many supposed “insiders” who’ve spent the last month suggesting otherwise.

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Men's Basketball

REPORT: Travis Perry Enters Transfer Portal

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Kentucky basketball Travis Perry talks about growing more comfortable on the court.
Jordan Prather | IMAGN

The transfer portal has been kind to Kentucky in the Mark Pope era. Last season, the staff was able to build a Sweet Sixteen roster almost exclusively from the portal, and this offseason have put together a top-five portal class.

While the portal giveth, it also taketh. Just hours before the deadline to enter, Kentucky native and fan favorite Travis Perry has entered the transfer portal, per multiple reports.

Coming to Kentucky as the state’s all-time high-school scoring record holder, fans were excited to see how his career would unfold in Lexington.

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Not expecting to play much freshman, he was called upon due to injuries and played some key minutes for the Wildcats into the postseason. He averaged 2.7 PPG and .6 APG on 32% shooting from three.

Looking at the depth chart, it was difficult to see where Perry would get much playing time next season, leading to his decision to enter the portal.

Perry has yet to release an official statement, but all the best to him in his future.

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Men's Basketball

Top Transfer Guard Denzel Aberdeen Commits to Kentucky

Former Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky, likely closing the transfer portal for next year’s roster.

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Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky.
UF Athletics

Another day, another “boom.” Denzel Aberdeen has officially committed to Kentucky for the 2025-26’ season.

A soon-to-be senior guard fresh off his championship win with Florida, Aberdeen spent his first three years of eligibility in Gainesville. Now, following an apparent conflict in the Gators’ rotation, he’s swapped teams in the southeast.

At 6 ‘5”, 190, Aberdeen spent much of this past season beating defenders off the dribble and making them pay at the rim. His speed and size made him a nightmare off the bench for opposing teams, and for the short stretch of play that he started during the year, Florida didn’t miss a beat. 

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In 19 minutes, Aberdeen averaged 8 points, two rebounds and one assist per game. His consistent contribution to the Gators’ title run made him one of the most coveted transfers in the cycle this season, and given his big blue commitment just days after entering the portal, Mark Pope clearly wasted no time in Kentucky’s pursuit.

Aberdeen slots in as yet another addition to what was already one of the strongest portal classes going into next season. His SEC experience and combo-guard intangibles make Aberdeen one of the most exciting portal players to come through Lexington in a long while, reinforcing Kentucky’s back court to what may be the final degree.

Whether or not Mark Pope is officially done for next season, nobody is sure, but this commitment only further cements the fact that he knows exactly what he’s doing. Just like the  fanbase behind him, Coach Pope seems to never sleep.

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