Kentucky pulled off a much-needed victory tonight, overcoming South Carolina 72-63 to break a tough three-game losing streak-their first in five years. It wasn't the prettiest win, but it was exactly what the Wildcats needed. The game saw Kentucky struggle with slow starts in both halves, something head coach Mark Pope partially blamed on the emotional toll of a challenging ten-day period.
“Our guys are good at creating their own energy,” Pope explained. “I was confident they’d compete.
They made some shots early in the first half, and it took us a bit to find our rhythm in the second half. The emotional weight of the last 10 days was hard to shake, but I thought we managed it well.”
Denzel Aberdeen was pivotal, giving Kentucky its first lead with about eight minutes left in the first half, sparking a 13-0 run-their largest in SEC play. South Carolina didn't back down, tying the game at 48 with just over eight minutes remaining.
Kentucky answered with a 9-2 run, and when the Gamecocks closed the gap to two with under three minutes to play, the Wildcats sealed the deal with a decisive 10-0 run. The Kentucky fans at Colonial Life Arena had plenty to cheer about.
“DA was key in that 13-0 run,” Pope noted. “Getting consistent stops was crucial.
Our bench, though small, was fantastic tonight, all posting positive plus/minus numbers. They played a vital role.”
This win was crucial for Kentucky. A fourth consecutive loss, and another in Quad 2, would have pushed them dangerously close to the NCAA Tournament bubble. In his postgame chat with Tom Leach, Pope discussed the “emotional toll” of the past ten days, especially after the tough loss at Auburn.
“There’s pressure whether you’ve won three in a row or lost three,” Pope joked. “Pressure is a privilege here at Kentucky.
Nobody wants to play where it doesn’t matter. The emotional toll was real, especially after Saturday’s game.
We focused more on purging that energy than on Xs and Os, and it worked well enough. We’ll aim to peak for Saturday’s massive game at Rupp.”
Saturday’s matchup against No. 25 Vanderbilt is indeed significant.
It’s a chance for redemption after last month’s 25-point loss in Nashville and the first of three Quad 1 games to close the season. Kentucky will need to bring their A-game to upset the Commodores.