Kentucky freshman Malachi Moreno is starting to look like a player who’s figured it out-and it’s showing up in all the right ways.
The 7-footer has found his rhythm over the past couple of weeks, and the results have been loud. He hit a buzzer-beater to lift Kentucky over LSU in Baton Rouge, 75-74, back on Jan.
- Since then, he's been averaging 9.5 points over the last four games and has turned up the heat defensively, swatting away nine shots in his last two outings.
That includes a five-block performance in Kentucky’s 80-75 win over Texas on Wednesday night-a game that showed just how much impact he can have on both ends of the floor.
“I’m just finding my fit,” Moreno said. “Being able to make plays for my teammates has really been the biggest impact for me. Once I saw I could do that, it just made the game a lot easier.”
And it’s not just about scoring and rim protection. Moreno’s passing has been a revelation-especially for a guy his size.
He handed out six assists against Texas, matching the six he dished out in a 92-68 rout of Mississippi State earlier this month. That Mississippi State game kicked off Kentucky’s current four-game win streak, and Moreno’s playmaking has quietly been a key ingredient in that run.
“I’m always connecting passes with my teammates, making sure they’re getting open buckets,” he said. “I think me being 7-foot, a lot of people don’t expect that from my game. I almost took that as disrespect, because I can pass.”
That chip on the shoulder? It’s working. And Moreno’s not doing this alone-he’s leaned on advice from former Kentucky forward Amari Williams, a big man known for his passing touch.
“Amari has been a big help,” Moreno said. “He’s reached out a couple of times, just talking me through things, asking how I’m enjoying it.
He was one of the best passing big men in college last year, if not the best. I’ve tried to take that from his game and add it to my own.”
As Kentucky (13-6, 4-2 SEC) prepares to host Ole Miss on Saturday morning, Moreno’s emergence couldn’t come at a better time. After wrapping up this two-game home stand, the Wildcats will hit the road for matchups at Vanderbilt and Arkansas.
But while Moreno’s growth has been a storyline in its own right, Otega Oweh has been the engine driving Kentucky through SEC play. The sophomore guard is averaging 23 points per game in conference action and has scored in double figures in all 19 games this season. His consistency and leadership have been vital-especially during tough stretches.
“His energy is unmatched,” Moreno said. “It kind of leads everybody else.
What really shifted us was how he played 38 minutes at LSU while being sick. That set a standard.
Even though he wasn’t 100 percent, he gave 100 percent. That gave us a mentality shift-if he’s doing that, then we need to be willing to give more too.”
That kind of accountability has been contagious, and it’s helped the Wildcats find their stride in a competitive SEC race.
Ole Miss (11-8, 3-3) comes into Saturday’s matchup looking to bounce back after a 78-66 loss to Auburn. The Rebels had won three straight before that, including a wild 97-95 overtime win at Georgia.
And they’ll bring some familiar faces to Rupp Arena-none more notable than Travis Perry. The former Kentucky Mr.
Basketball and Lyon County star is averaging 5.7 points per game for the Rebels this season. He’s hit 30 threes while playing about 15 minutes a night, including four triples in that win over Georgia.
Last season, Ole Miss got the better of Kentucky in Oxford with a 98-84 win. This time, the Wildcats have a chance to return the favor at home-and with Moreno and Oweh leading the charge, they’ve got the momentum to make a statement.