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Men's Basketball

KY Insider Preview: Kentucky vs. Arkansas

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Kentucky is coming off I believe one of their two best performances (both coming in the last 9 days) with an 80-53 thumping of Auburn. In their first game without Travis Reid, the Cats shot astoundingly well form three hitting their 2nd most in a game this season, and absolutely dominating the Tigers on the boards.

Arkansas is coming into Rupp on Tuesday on a 5 game losing streak. Arkansas currently sits at 10th place in the SEC with a 14-13 (5-9 SEC) record. ESPN’s power index is giving Kentucky a 95.6% chance to win however, Arkansas was at one point in the hunt for an NCAA tournament bid and has an All-SEC first team player in Daniel Gafford. Let’s take a closer look at the matchup.

Daniel Gafford

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The 6-11 sophomore forward is playing like an All-SEC First Team player this year. As a freshman, Gafford received SEC All-Freshman honors on 11.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.2 bpg, and 60.5% FG. This year Gafford has increased his production and is averaging a near double-double with 16.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.0 bpg, and 66.3% FG.

Gafford is the biggest part of the Razorback team as their leading scorer, an elite rim protector, and collecting nearly 25% of the team’s rebounds. Getting Gafford in foul trouble or wearing him out in the post will pretty much guarantee a Kentucky win on Tuesday.

Rebounding

Kentucky has been a beast on the glass this season and that doesn’t need to change on Tuesday night. The Razorbacks are not a great rebounding team as their second-leading rebounder is a guard, Mason Jones. However, Daniel Gafford is the leading rebounder in the SEC at 8.9 per game and keeping him off the glass will be key in completely shutting out Arkansas.

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Force Turnovers

Arkansas is one of the worst teams in the SEC at turning the ball over with an average of 13.8 per game. Gafford averages 2.7 turnovers with the rest coming from the Razorback guards. Kentucky’s defense should be able to pressure the Razorbacks and force plenty of turnovers. Ashton Hagans should be able to add to his steal total with quite a few steals in this game.

Let PJ Get His

It is no secret that PJ Washington is playing as well and as dominant as anyone in the country at the moment. Arkansas doesn’t really have anyone to matchup against PJ. With his historically great shooting season, he is capable of pulling Gafford out of the paint and giving others inside opportunities or driving right by him. If PJ were to get matched up with Arkansas’ other starting forward, 6-6 Adrio Bailey, PJ should have a field day in the post. PJ will likely see a mixture of both but I expect PJ to exploit them and to dominate as he has since the start of SEC play.

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Give Nick and EJ Some Confidence

Arkansas is ranked 66th in the KenPom rankings and on paper, this should be the easiest game left on Kentucky’s regular season schedule. Outside of Gafford, Arkansas doesn’t have a good defensive quality big man and will be matched up with PJ a lot. With Reid out it is important to get Richards and Montgomery involved and give them the chance to play well and gain some confidence before tournament play.

Take Care of the Ball

One of the few areas that Arkansas does excel in is getting steals. Arkansas is top 25 in the country at stealing the ball with 8.9 per game. The Razorbacks don’t have a single player that is considered a “pickpocket” but they are able to get into passing lanes. Kentucky will need to execute and throw strong and smart passes (please improve on entry passes).

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Prediction

Arkansas has had one quality win all year, with a 90-89 win at LSU. The Razorbacks are a terrible shooting team in all areas shooting 44.5% FG, 66.2% FT, and 32.4% 3P. With the way the Cats are playing they shouldn’t have much trouble and should be able to get another comfortable win at Rupp and Cal one win closer to no. 300.

Kentucky-73 Arkansas-48

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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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