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Men's Basketball

Kentucky vs. Missouri: Postgame Recap and Things to Know

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UK Athletics

After the Christmas break, the Kentucky Wildcats kicked off their SEC schedule on Wednesday, taking on the Missouri Tigers in Columbia. Coming in, Kentucky looked to have made some offensive changes for the better against Florida A&M, and Missouri beat a ranked Illinois team by 20+.

From the jump, Kentucky looked ill-prepared and dysfunctional. Just five minutes in, the Wildcats were already facing a double-digit deficit, 15-5. With little offensive production and poor defense, Kentucky continued to play one of their worst halves of the season as the Tigers entered the half up 42-30.

Coming out of the second half, Missouri threw the first punch and connected on an and-one to push the lead to 15. Yet, Kentucky stayed in it with an unusual lineup of Wheeler-Wallace-Thiero-Ware-Tshiebwe. That five was able to go on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to just 9 and put Kentucky within striking distance.

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However, that was as close as the Wildcats got for the remainder of the game as Missouri quickly responded with back-to-back threes. In the end, the Wildcats performed embarrassingly bad in their SEC opener, losing by a final score of 89-75.

Let’s take a closer look at the loss.

Offensive Struggles Continue

In the first half, Kentucky could not buy a bucket, shooting 40 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from three. This was far from ideal given the looks that they had received on offense, but they couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities and made several key errors.

While improved in the second half, it was far too late for the Wildcat offense to force a comeback.

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In the end, three players made a three, but none of them were named CJ Fredrick or Antonio Reeves. To be fair, Fredrick played just four minutes before suffering a dislocated finger. Combine this with the failure of getting Oscar Tshiebwe paint touches, and that is a recipe for the putrid offense that was seen for much of the game.

Twelve games into the season, practically a third, Kentucky has no offensive identity and has not figured out their rotations. This is concerning for any team, let alone a team with preseason top 5 talent.

Defensive Woes

Once a strength that this Kentucky team could rely on to keep them in games, their defense, has regressed as of late.

Against Florida A&M, one of the worst teams in the country, Kentucky allowed them to record a season-high in points (68) and a shooting percentage (52%). On Wednesday, the Wildcats’ performance wasn’t any better.

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Coming in, the Missouri offense was ranked top two in the country in scoring and shooting percentage, but had played one of the country’s easiest schedules. Yet, Kentucky even looked subpar as they gave up 89 points and allowed the Tigers to score at will.

This team has the length and ability to be an elite defensive team. If they want to reach their potential, it has to start on the defensive end, which could also be another way to generate offense.

Morale

There’s no hiding from it, this is the most negative the Big Blue Nation has been during the John Calipari era. While it is a culmination of things, the biggest piece is the product that is on the court. To put it simply, it is not good nor fun to watch.

As others have thought, this team has plenty of talent, and it was assumed that they would play their way out of their struggles. Now through a third of the season, that has yet to happen and there is no clear answer.

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Technically, the opportunity is still there for this team to turn this around, but there is not a lot of reason to believe that will happen. A convincing win over Louisville on Saturday is a must for the team and the fanbase.

Men's Basketball

Amari Williams Picked 46th by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft

Amari Williams is the second Kentucky player selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, as Boston takes the big man with their second round pick.

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Amari Williams is drafted by the Boston Celtics.
Wesley Hale | Imagn Images

Fan-favorite big man (and official Weetabix sponsor) Amari Williams has officially made it to the big leagues, taken by the Boston Celtics with the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, via a trade with the Orlando Magic.

The selection makes Williams the second Wildcat to be scooped up from this year’s pool, following Koby Brea being picked by the Phoenix Suns just five picks earlier at the 41st spot. From Mark Pope’s first Kentucky team, two transfer athletes (thus far) in their last year of eligibility have achieved next-level dreams by way of the blue and white.

Williams, who averaged 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game during his lone season in Lexington, will look to aid Boston in filling their recently vacant five-spot, left by the recently traded Kristaps Porzingis.

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As Wildcat fans surely know, not only can Williams battle with the best of them in the paint, but he can run the floor as efficiently as just about any guard, too. His versatility and sizable frame ensure a high ceiling in the NBA and, despite not every draft board seeing him selected, the league champions two years removed made the call when it mattered.

Hailing overseas from Nottingham, England, and spending his first four years of college basketball at the University of Drexel, Williams’ success is a testament not only to Kentucky Basketball’s immaculate tradition, but to his own incredible work ethic and intangible ability.

Cats fans will be sure to follow and support their point-center to the next level, as they always do. Go be great, Amari – all of BBN has your back.

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Men's Basketball

Koby Brea Selected to the Phoenix Suns With the No. 41 Overall Pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

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Tristan Pharis | KY Insider

Koby Brea arrived at Kentucky last season as one of the nation’s deadliest shooters, lived up to the billing, and reaped his rewards on Thursday night at the NBA Draft. The former Kentucky star is heading to the Phoenix Suns with the No. 41 overall pick

As a 6-foot-7 wing, Brea entered the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most experienced prospects after spending four years at Dayton and a fifth at Kentucky during Mark Pope’s successful first season as head coach, where he became one of the best three-point shooters in all of college basketball.

Last season at Kentucky, the Bronx native averaged 11.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc on nearly six attempts per game in 36 games, 16 of which were starts, showcasing his scoring ability in transition, off the catch, and via handoffs and screens.

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Not only did Brea achieve his own dreams of playing at the next level, but becomes a piece of history for Pope, becoming the first player drafted out of Kentucky during the Pope era.

Brea joins a rebuilding franchise with a notorious background for drafting Kentucky guards. Eric Bledsoe rings the bell, Tyler Ulis of course, and the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, Devin Booker obviously leads the pack.

Go be great Fuego!

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Men's Basketball

How a Call with Mark Pope Led Denzel Aberdeen to Kentucky

After winning a national title at Florida, Denzel Aberdeen committed to Kentucky without ever visiting campus—thanks to a revealing three-hour call with head coach Mark Pope.

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Chet White | UK Athletics

As a junior, Denzel Aberdeen was a key part of Florida’s national title run. But a certain phone conversation convinced him to leave his home state and head north to Lexington in hopes of experiencing that feeling once again.

He had never set foot in Lexington before deciding to become a Kentucky Wildcat — and he didn’t need to. All it took was one phone call — three hours long, on Easter Sunday — with head coach Mark Pope to convince him that he belonged in blue and white.

“Our phone call lasted about three hours, to be honest,” Aberdeen said, meeting with the media in Lexington for the first time earlier this week. “A lot of it was just getting to know me and getting to know the school, the university, getting to know him (Pope), how their style was, a lot of film. Once I saw that, I was like this looks like a great guy to play for.”

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The two went on to discuss Aberdeen’s role at Kentucky in more depth, including how Pope envisions him fitting into Kentucky’s new system — a system that, according to Aberdeen, is very similar, if not better than the one he just left.

“We had a lot of great players at Florida, especially the tall bigs. Bigs that love to run there, and we have just as much here; our bigs love to run, they play defense, and they play at a fast pace. So I think the things that we’ve got here are just as good, or even better,” Aberdeen said.

Averaging 7.7 points and nearly 20 minutes per game off the bench for the Gators last year, it’s clear to see what Aberdeen brings to the team: experience, versatility, calmness in the backcourt, and championship pedigree. Pope’s phone conversation with Aberdeen wasn’t just impactful on the court — it also speaks volumes to what he is doing off the court in pursuit of the goal he laid out in his introductory press conference: to hang banners.

This phone call wasn’t just about Denzel Aberdeen. It was a glimpse into Pope’s player-first, transparent coaching approach, which could define his era at Kentucky — and potentially make this season a special one, with Aberdeen playing another key role in a deep NCAA Tournament run.

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“I know the goal is to win No. 9,” he said. “I know the fans want that, we want that, all the staff and coaches want that. That pushes us. We know what we gotta do when we come here and put on that Kentucky jersey. Just playing for the University of Kentucky is a big thing. Being here is a blessing, and I can’t look back.”

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