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Kentucky Falls to South Carolina: Where Does Kentucky Basketball Go From Here?

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UK Athletics

After a 26-point point embarrassment on Saturday, the Kentucky Wildcats returned to Rupp Arena as a 20-points favorite to play the South Carolina Gamecocks, in what was expected to be a “pick-me-up” game.

However, that was far from the case.

The start of the game felt like a resumption of the blowout in Tuscaloosa as South Carolina built a 13-2 lead by the first media timeout. The lack of fight and effort was met with a lot of fan displeasure, as a noticeable amount of boos rang through the crowd.

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As the half progressed, Kentucky showed some life on the offensive end, led by Oscar Tshiebwe and Antonio Reeves, but failed to get consecutive stops on defense. As a result, the deficit was never really in danger and South Carolina entered the half with a 42-32 lead.

To start the second half, the Gamecocks picked up right where they left off and extended the lead to twelve with 13 minutes to go. As things started to look their bleakest, Kentucky fought back to cut the lead to just three. South Carolina answered with an 8-0 run to extend the lead back to double digits.

In a last-ditch effort, the Wildcats showed their most fight of the game and cut the lead to one after a CJ Fredrick three. However, it was all too late and Kentucky suffered one of the worst losses in recent memory, 71-68.

What went wrong?

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Poor Defense

Entering Tuesday night’s game, South Carolina came in ranked 251st in KenPom’s offensive efficiency rankings and 311th in points per game (64.3 ppg). Without that background and their burgundy jerseys, you would have thought they were the Golden State Warriors.

On the game, South Carolina was 11-19 (57.9%) from three, including Meechie Johnson who hit six threes of his own. This mark was the Gamecock’s best percentage from three on the season, besting their second-best mark by more than 10 percent (45.5%).

This isn’t a testament to an improving South Carolina offense, but rather a testament to Kentucky’s defensive struggles. Against power five opponents, the Wildcats are allowing more than 75 points per game and there appears to be little hope that will improve.

Rebounding Battle

Under John Calipari, Kentucky has consistently been a good rebounding team, and even more so with Oscar Tshiebwe on the roster. However, the Wildcats were on the losing end of the rebounding battle on Tuesday.

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It is cliché, but South Carolina was simply the tougher team, and it showed as they out-rebounded the Wildcats 32-28. Of those rebounds, fifteen came on the offensive end which led to 21 second-chance points, preventing Kentucky from ever building any momentum.

Where does Kentucky go from here?

Kentucky needed to win, and win big, to regain a sense of optimism. Instead, they lost by three to a South Carolina team that is arguably the worst in the SEC.

While a 26-point loss at Alabama was embarrassing, this game feels like rock bottom of the John Calipari era. It’s January, halfway through the season, and this team has only regressed. No longer will fans be patient when little hope has been given.

With fifteen regular season SEC games remaining, Kentucky is no closer to finding answers. Yet, with a backloaded SEC schedule, things could get even worse.

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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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