Kentucky Handles Business vs. Bellarmine, But Defensive Concerns Linger Ahead of SEC Play
Kentucky entered its final non-conference matchup with one job: take care of business against Bellarmine and head into the holiday break riding the momentum of back-to-back wins over Indiana and St. John’s. Mission accomplished - but not without a few uneasy moments along the way.
The Wildcats came away with a 99-85 win at Rupp Arena to improve to 9-4 on the season, wrapping up the non-SEC portion of the schedule. But while the scoreboard shows a double-digit win, the game itself was anything but a stress-free cruise.
Let’s break down the key takeaways from Kentucky’s final tune-up before SEC play begins.
Another Slow Start, Another Defensive Letdown
The Rupp Arena crowd was lively - a holiday matchup with alumni and families in the stands - but early on, the energy didn’t quite translate to the court. Bellarmine kept things tight through the opening 20 minutes, tying the game at 19 midway through the first half and staying within a single possession until the final minute before halftime. Two quick Kentucky buckets gave the Wildcats an eight-point cushion at the break, but it was clear this wasn’t going to be a walkover.
Offensively, Kentucky did enough. The ball movement was solid, shots were falling, and the scoring balance was there.
But defensively? That’s where the red flags popped up again.
Bellarmine shot a scorching 52.2% from the field and hit half of their threes in the first half. And they didn’t cool off much after that, finishing the game shooting 52% overall, 36.8% from deep, and 86.7% from the line. Jack Karasinski led the way for the Knights with 24 points on an efficient 6-of-9 from the field and 9-of-10 at the stripe, adding four boards and two assists in 30 minutes.
For a Kentucky team that’s been leaning on its defense lately, this wasn’t the kind of showing you want to see heading into the grind of SEC play.
Kam Williams Breaks Out in a Big Way
It’s been a slow burn for Kam Williams, the Tulane transfer known for his shooting stroke. But after showing signs of life against St. John’s - where he knocked down two second-half threes - Williams finally delivered the kind of performance Kentucky fans had been waiting for.
He hit two triples in the first half to get going, then absolutely caught fire in the second. Williams finished with a game-high 26 points on a blistering 8-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc, adding a rebound and a steal for good measure.
What makes this breakout even more meaningful is that Williams had already been contributing in other ways - finishing around the rim, playing hard-nosed defense, doing the little things. But when the guy who shot over 41% from deep last season finally finds his rhythm? That’s a game-changer.
And with conference play looming, the timing couldn’t be better.
Jasper Johnson and Denzel Aberdeen Step Up With Lowe Out
When Jaland Lowe went down just seven seconds into the St. John’s game, there was real concern about how long he’d be out - or if we’d see him again this season. But after returning in the second half of that game and putting together a strong 13-point effort, Kentucky made the smart call: sit him against Bellarmine, let him heal, and keep him fresh for SEC play.
That opened the door for Denzel Aberdeen and Jasper Johnson to take on expanded roles at point guard - and both delivered.
Aberdeen started hot, hitting a pair of early threes before foul trouble limited his first-half minutes. He bounced back in the second to finish with 14 points, four assists, and two rebounds.
Johnson, meanwhile, shook off a few early misses and settled in nicely. He ended the night with 11 points, seven assists, three boards, a block, and just one turnover in 22 minutes.
Not only did both guards hold their own, they showed the kind of poise and playmaking that Kentucky will need if Lowe’s availability becomes a question again down the line.
Mo Dioubate Dominates the Paint
Bellarmine’s frontcourt had no answers for Mo Dioubate. The Alabama transfer bullied his way to 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting, adding five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in 32 minutes of work. This was grown-man basketball - Dioubate found mismatches and went to work, overpowering defenders and cleaning up around the rim.
Since returning from a five-game absence, Dioubate has looked more and more like the physical presence Kentucky needs in the paint. He put up 14 points and 12 boards with five steals against Indiana, and while turnovers limited him a bit against St. John’s, he bounced back in a big way here.
Kentucky doesn’t need Dioubate to be a 20-point scorer every night, but when he’s this efficient and this active on both ends, he brings a physical edge that few teams can match.
Otega Oweh Nearly Joins Elite Company
Otega Oweh didn’t lead Kentucky in scoring on this night, but he arguably had the most complete performance on the floor. The senior guard flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 10 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds - just two boards shy of joining a very exclusive club in program history.
Only four Wildcats have ever recorded a triple-double: Chris Mills (1988), Isaiah Briscoe and De’Aaron Fox (2016), and Amari Williams earlier this year. Oweh nearly became the fifth.
He’s coming off a 20-point outing against St. John’s that earned him SEC Player of the Week honors, and while he wasn’t as aggressive as a scorer in this one (2-of-7 from the field, 6-of-8 from the line), he impacted the game in every other way. The 10 assists were a team-high, and his eight rebounds were second only to Dioubate.
When Oweh is this locked in - defending, rebounding, facilitating - he raises Kentucky’s ceiling in a big way.
Final Word
Kentucky got the win it needed, and that’s what matters most heading into the holidays. But the defensive lapses and another sluggish start are things head coach Mark Pope will need to address before SEC play begins.
The good news? The offense is clicking, Kam Williams is heating up, and the backcourt depth showed up when called upon. Add in Dioubate’s interior dominance and Oweh’s all-around impact, and there’s a lot to like about where this team is heading - even if the road ahead gets tougher from here.