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Morning After: Kentucky vs. Arkansas

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Kentucky is playing like one of the best teams in the country, but Tuesday night was a different story. In a game where Kentucky grabbed more defensive rebounds than the opponent had rebounds, one wouldn’t expect for the game to be particularly close. However, with a 9 P.M. ET tipoff, the Cats came out very sluggish and sloppy and Kentucky got down as much as 15 early in the second half. The Wildcats were able to fight back with the help of the Big Blue Nation at Rupp Arena and win a game they probably didn’t deserve to win.

This team wanted this game and fought back and won with heart and toughness. A gritty win is still a win, let’s take a closer look at how the Cats clawed back and completed their biggest comeback of the season.

Herro of the Night

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Tyler Herro may have played one of the most offensively efficient games in
Kentucky basketball history against Arkansas. Herro finished the game with 29 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. Herro singlehandedly kept Kentucky in the game after an atrocious first half and was a primary reason that they won.

With PJ the focus of the Arkansas defense, Herro was able to provide all of
his offensive production and more. Herro didn’t play great defense for the
first 25 min of the game but you can’t really complain when he is shooting 90%from the field and providing 42% of the team’s points.

Herro definitely didn’t lack confidence on Tuesday night, telling the world “I’m a bucket” as he sealed the game with two free throws.

https://twitter.com/barstooltweetss/status/1100613174355734528

Turnovers. Turnovers. Turnovers.

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The story of the first half was the sloppy play of the Cats and their turnovers. Kentucky looked like they had never played against a zone before Tuesday. At the end of the first half, Kentucky had 12 turnovers, while Arkansas had just 1, which resulted in an 11-point deficit. In my game preview, I noted that Arkansas is one of the best teams in the country in getting steals but most of Kentucky’s turnovers were just from poor decision
making.

The first half was a wake-up call to the Cats as they only turned the ball over 3 times and forced six Razorback turnovers in the second half. Kentucky’s second-half execution allowed for a much more efficient offense, as the Cats were able to outscore Arkansas 42-27 while shooting 54.6% from the field.

Second Half Defense

Kentucky played a very lackluster first half on the defensive end, giving up 37 points to a not-so-good Arkansas team. However, in the second half, it was clear that Kentucky came out and took pride in their defense.

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In the second half, the Cats held Arkansas to just 29 points in the second half and at one point only gave up 14 points in 13 minutes. Kentucky’s cranked u intensity and pressure forced the Razorbacks into two shot clock violations and a 31% clip from the field.

Arkansas guard Isaiah Joe, was defended by Tyler Herro and lit it up in the first half with 16 points, including 3 threes. In the second half, the UK coaching staff made an adjustment and put Ashton Hagans on Joe and was held to just three points (a late three-pointer). At one point, Hagans even refusing to come out for a breather. It seems like ELITE perimeter defender Ashton Hagans is back and is a very promising sign going forward.

When locked in, this Kentucky team is just special to watch on defense and is something they really take pride in.

Big Nick Energy

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With Reid Travis out it is no secret that the Cats need Nick Richards and EJ Montgomery to embrace the opportunity and contribute as much as they can. While EJ struggled, Nick provided a lot in the second half.

Nick Richards was BIG on Tuesday night, with 7 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Richards had the toughest match-up of the night dealing with Arkansas big and All-SEC talent, Daniel Gafford. Outside of a few plays, Richards was able to keep Gafford in check and really challenge him, as he finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds both below his season
averages.

Calipari sees Nick Richards’ potential, and he has something that you can’t teach, size. Although Richards still has his moments, he is starting to put it together and is capable of offering things Reid Travis can’t. Richards still needs to improve on his hands made of rock, but he is showing promise of what he can be next year.


The game definitely didn’t go expected and showed room for improvement, but it also showed some bright spots. This team is special and is capable of winning in a variety of ways with different guys. On Saturday we will see what this team really is without Reid Travis in a physical game against Tennessee in Knoxville.

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Men's Basketball

The 2025-26 Cats Consensus: It’s Time for Banner Number Nine

Every new and returning Wildcat shares the same dream: bringing a championship trophy to Lexington once more.

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Mark Pope in a crowd of fans at Big Blue Madness
Tyler Ruth | UK Athletics

“We are here to win banners.”

While just about everything Mark Pope said at his introductory press conference went viral in one way or another, that aforementioned declaration stood out amongst his crowd of quotes like no other to a fanbase more than a decade removed from a national championship.

To the big blue nation, Coach Pope’s words last spring were a much needed battle cry. Now, as he’s set to enter his second year at the helm, Pope has made sure the team he assembled for the 2025-26 season shares the same hunger.

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It begins on a basic level, with players across the board throwing the number “9” around on social media in posts, replies, and commitments. Much like the Kentucky faithful, the newest roster to roll through Lexington isn’t afraid to make reference to the top task at hand.

For (likely) starting point guard Jaland Lowe, it’s an opportunity he “can’t miss.” “See y’all soon #BBN,” he said in a post on X, announcing his return to the collegiate level. Lowe chose a junior season at Kentucky over a chance to be chosen in the NBA Draft. Otega Oweh, the now-projected SEC player of the year, would follow suit shortly thereafter.

The Ultimate Goal

Andrija Jelavic, a primary member of the incoming unit, as well as the team’s lone international player, dubbed the title chase as “the ultimate goal” in his interview with KY Insider. “We all [the team] agree that the ultimate goal is the same and that is to bring a championship to Kentucky, to the state and the fans,” he said.

To Jelavic, it goes further than hunger. It’s a responsibility.

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And that responsibility is what sets Kentucky apart from other programs. As awkward as the conversation around John Calipari can get, when push comes to shove, much of the dissatisfaction growing within the fanbase as his tenure came to a close was rooted in the coach’s apparent disinterest in winning another championship.

Year after year went by; top-ranked roster after top ranked roster. After a while, it seemed that Kentucky was more often mentioned in the first round of the NBA Draft than it was in the NCAA Tournament. The problem persisted, the tension festered and, ultimately, the two sides split… and it all goes back to that elusive ninth title.

Name on the Front of the Jersey

Mark Pope has said before that he wants to bring in guys who are playing for the name on the front of their jersey. It just so happens that there are enough of those like-minded athletes across the nation to build one of the consensus best teams in college basketball, all of whom are in full pursuit of a new blue banner in the rafters of Rupp.

With a mindset like that shared across the board and talent like the 2025-26 team has at hand, it’s only a matter of time before that dream becomes a reality once more. For the first time in more than a decade, the entire Big Blue Nation is on the same page – and that includes the guys who can actually make it happen.

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Men's Basketball

Koby Brea Talks With Andrija Jelavic About His Legendary Chapter Awaiting At Kentucky

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ABA League (Left) | Imagn (Right)


Andrija Jelavic, in a recent Q&A with Kentucky Insider, revealed that he exchanged messages with former Wildcat Koby Brea, who will be handing down his No. 4 jersey to Jelavic.

The big man was asked if he had spoken with any former Wildcats after comparing his play style to Karl-Anthony Towns, and what he knew about Kentucky growing up.

“I exchanged some messages with Koby Brea because I’m gonna be wearing his number four,” Jelavic said. “About Kentucky, I always knew that they are the biggest franchise in college basketball history, and just everything about them is legendary.”

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Jelavic added on what exactly Brea said in those messages.

“He just told me to go be great and that he can’t wait to see me play,” Jelavic said. “Also, that he likes my number decision.”

Alone, the fact that Brea reached out speaks volume to the culture that is established at Kentucky. The lethal sharpshooter from Mark Pope’s first team at Kentucky played only one season in the blue and white, yet, seems interested in the future of the program despite chasing his own big league dreams.

To end our exclusive interview, Jelavic talked about the goals he has now as a Wildcat and how he wants to be a legendary piece to this year’s roster.

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“Definitely to bring many wins and hopefully a championship to Kentucky, Jelavic said. “To be a player that Kentucky will always remember.”

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Men's Basketball

The Bluegrass Call: Otega Oweh Returns To Kentucky For The 2025-26 Season

The wait is over. Otega Oweh is returning to Kentucky.

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Otega Oweh and Mark Pope
Chet White | UK Athletics

Big Blue Nation has been waiting weeks for Otega Oweh’s decision, and the moment is finally here.

After participating in the 2025 NBA Draft Combine and testing his luck against the best young talent in the world, Oweh has officially decided to withdraw his name from the draft and return to Kentucky for his senior season.

Jonathan Givony was the first to report Oweh’s decision on May 28, sending Wildcat fans into a flurry of emotion that their leading scorer from last year’s team is officially back.

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Before last season began, fans knew that Oweh was a highly regarded prospect with loads of potential, but until he proved it night in and night out, it remained uncertain who the star was going to be on the 2024-25 roster.

Many expected it to be Jaxson Robinson, who played under Mark Pope at BYU and held four years of experience under his belt at the collegiate level. Next in line was Lamont Butler, who also opted into his fifth-year option and brought Pope’s squad a level of confidence and dependability with the ball, having played deep into the season with San Diego State multiple times.

However, when the Wildcats were riddled with injuries, Oweh emerged as “the guy” in the blue and white. There’s countless moments you can reflect on from his junior session: locking up the nations’ best with Cooper Flagg, dropping 20 or more points on a nightly basis, embarrassing his former team, the Oklahoma Sooners, not only once but twice with his clutch performances, and ultimately walking off of the court as a leader, a mentor and a legend in every associated Kentucky fan’s eyes.

Oweh gave the season hope, taking on a role that was unexpected.

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When the final buzzer of the season sounded, many of the Kentucky faithful wondered what was next for double-zero, and if he wanted to “run it back” with Pope and company.

On April 15, Oweh declared for the NBA Draft, calling Kentucky fans the “best fans in the world.” At the time, the decision seemed quite scary for those keeping tabs on Pope’s second-year roster, but the last line in Oweh’s announcement remained crucial: “…while maintaining my NCAA eligibility.”

Looking back, maybe awaiting the decision was probably stressful for the best fans in college basketball, seeing the “former” Wildcat bully defenders in the combine and have his way offensively. Oweh waited until the day of the withdrawal deadline, and even had another workout the same day. Reports came out that he was receiving great feedback from the NBA programs, and that sentence sounds scary.

When he originally entered the draft process, he was presumed to be just be trying his luck, which did a complete 180 when he stated that he’s wasn’t doing anything “one foot in, one foot out” and that he wanted to achieve his dreams.

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Well, look at it now. The decision has been made and Oweh is going to put on the blue and white once again. He followed his heart, and soon his own form of the bluegrass call, “Oweh, Oweh, Oweh”, will be chanted throughout Rupp Arena after every captivating play and bring a fire to his soul.

The ninth championship in Kentucky basketball history is long overdue, but now, the odds are ever in their favor. Pope has his superstar back, and he’s prepared to lead his team its former glory.

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