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Things to Know Following Kentucky’s Double OT Loss to Michigan State

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UK Athletics

Sitting at No. 4 in the country with a 2-0 record, the Kentucky Wildcats looked impressive after one week – albeit against less competition.

The Wildcats faced their first true challenge on Tuesday night against Michigan State in the Champions Classic. With Oscar Tshiebwe announced to make his season debut, putting the Wildcats back at full strength for the first time this season, it was an opportunity to make a statement.

However, the Wildcats fell short 86-77 in double overtime, but the final doesn’t tell the full story.

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The Spartans entered Tuesday’s contest coming off a one-point loss to No. 2 Gonzaga, a game where they proved their defense was the real deal, and they brought the same level of defense on Tuesday.

Simply put, Kentucky struggled to find any offensive rhythm and looked like a shell of what they showed in the first two games of the season, shooting just 38.6 percent from the field and 28 percent from three.

While Oscar Tshiebwe had his typical 22-point, 18-rebound double-double, only three other players scored more than 5 points. Not to mention, Kentucky’s two leading scorers, CJ Fredrick and Antonio Reeves shot just 3-14 from the field.

Despite that, the Wildcats controlled the majority of the game, leading for over 33 minutes compared to just 7 minutes led by Michigan State. As Tom Izzo said after the game, “it’s about what you do at the end.”

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Let’s take a deeper look at the disappointing loss.

Free Throws

Up 61-60 with 15.8 seconds left in regulation, then up 70-69 with 7.6 seconds left in the first overtime, the Wildcats had two great opportunities to close out the game with free throws.

However, in both cases, Cason Wallace made just 1 of 2 and the Spartans answered with a basket to extend the game.

Under three minutes in regulation through the end of the game, the Wildcats shot just 7-12 (58.3%) from the free throw line, which isn’t too far off from their season average. In fact, Kentucky’s season average is just 60.5 percent, which is ranked 309th of 352 D-1 teams.

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For a team that shot over 50 percent from three entering Tuesday’s contest and has several capable shooters, the Wildcats must improve on their free throws to pull out close games.

Offensive Struggles

Entering Tuesday night’s game, Kentucky was ranked top three in offensive efficiency according to KenPom. With that said, it did not look like it.

In their first two games, without the paint presence that Oscar Tshiebwe is, Kentucky put up an average of 77 points. In those games, the offense looked to have much better spacing, which allowed them to score inside and out, shooting over 50 percent from the field and three.

On Tuesday night, the offense looked much like it did last season. The reason for that could be that they reverted to what they knew after not practicing as a full team for six weeks.

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As proof of that, three of Kentucky’s double-digit scorers were returnees – Toppin, Tshiebwe, and Wheeler – also showing that the stage may have been too big for some this early. As for the rest – Collins-Fredrick-Livingston-Reeves-Ware – combined for just 13 points on, shooting just 4-19 (21%) from the floor.

On a side not, one of the more perplexing things from the game is why Fredrick and Reeves – Kentucky’s two leading scorers – did not play together more to help with the struggling offense. In fact, they played together for just 4 minutes and 39 seconds.

It is much more difficult to stop Fredrick, Reeves, and Tshiebwe together, rather than just two of them.

Late Game Execution

Up two with less than 5 seconds left in regulation, then up 2 with less than 10 seconds in overtime, chances were very high for a win barring a collapse. Yet, that is what happened TWICE, as Kentucky allowed two wide-open layups to Michigan State and allowed them to tie the game.

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It wasn’t just defensive lapses, but the offense as well.

With 5:23 to go in regulation, Kentucky led 56-52 after a CJ Fredrick 3-pointer. Over the final 15 minutes (including two OTs), the Wildcats made just 5 of 19 shots and had seven turnovers and three assists. In the second overtime alone, Kentucky jumped out to 76-73 a minute in, but missed their last six shots as the Spartans went on a 13-1 run to end the game.

Down the stretch, when it mattered, Michigan State executed and Kentucky didn’t.

John Calipari made sure to take the blame for that as well, “When it comes to late-game situations, that’s on me as a coach. Let’s get that figured out.”

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Don’t Jump Ship

It is a disappointing loss, but it was to a quality team, in double overtime, and in November. After the game, Tom Izzo had a message for the Big Blue Nation, “Kentucky fans, don’t jump off the ship. That’s a really good team.”

Looking at the schedule in the preseason, one would think that Kentucky would probably go 1-1 between Michigan State and Gonzaga. With the game against Gonzaga on Sunday, this team also has a chance to redeem themselves.


Kentucky will look to bounce back against South Carolina State on Thursday night at 7:00 PM EST on the SEC Network.

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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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