Kentucky Handles Oklahoma with Authority, Picks Up Statement Win in Lexington
The Kentucky Wildcats didn’t just beat the Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday night-they made a statement. In front of a raucous Rupp Arena crowd, the Cats took control early and never let go, cruising to a 94-78 win that looked even more lopsided than the final score suggests.
For a team that’s earned the nickname “the comeback Cats” thanks to a string of slow starts this season, this one felt different. Kentucky came out firing, matching Oklahoma’s early energy, then turned up the heat late in the first half with an 8-0 run to take a 43-32 lead into the break. From there, it was all Wildcats.
Mark Pope’s squad has now won seven of its last eight, and this one might be among the most complete offensive performances of the stretch. With Texas A&M falling elsewhere in the SEC, Kentucky now finds itself tied atop the conference standings with seven league wins-and a big-time rivalry game against Tennessee looming on Saturday night.
Let’s break down three key takeaways from the Wildcats’ 16th win of the season.
1. Defense Optional, But the Offense Delivered
Let’s not sugarcoat it-this wasn’t exactly a defensive clinic. Oklahoma has struggled all season on that end of the floor, and it showed again in Lexington. The Sooners gave up open looks all night and now find themselves in the middle of a nine-game skid, largely due to their inability to get stops.
Kentucky’s defense? Still a work in progress.
The numbers on the season aren’t terrible, but in SEC play, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. One night they’re locking down, the next they’re trading buckets.
This game leaned toward the latter.
To be fair, Oklahoma can score. They’ve hung tough with some of the SEC’s better teams thanks to their offensive punch.
But that didn’t translate on Wednesday. The Sooners missed a ton of open shots-shots they usually hit-and Kentucky’s offense made sure they paid for it.
Given the emotional win the Cats just picked up on the road and the rivalry game against Tennessee just days away, this had all the makings of a trap game. But Kentucky’s offense came ready to play, and that was more than enough to keep things under control.
2. Oweh and Garrison Had Something Extra for the Sooners
There’s no question Otega Oweh and Brandon Garrison had this game circled.
Oweh, a former Sooner, has a history of torching his old team. Last season, he dropped 27.5 points per game against Oklahoma, including some clutch, game-winning moments. This time around, he kept the streak alive, putting together another strong performance as he continues to look every bit like the Preseason SEC Player of the Year.
Garrison’s connection is a little different. He came over from Oklahoma State and hails from Oklahoma City, so the rivalry runs deep.
And while his production has dipped this season, he picked the perfect time to remind everyone of his potential. Garrison notched a double-double in what was easily his best game of the year-a throwback to the player who earned McDonald’s All-American honors not so long ago.
Oweh’s consistency has been a major storyline in conference play-he’s scored 20+ in eight of ten SEC games. But if Garrison can build on this performance, Kentucky just got a lot more dangerous.
3. Chandler’s Steady Rise Continues
Collin Chandler’s season has been a tale of two halves. He started strong, hit a rough patch that lasted nearly six weeks, and now seems to be back on solid ground. And not coincidentally, so is Kentucky.
Chandler has scored in double figures in five of the last six games. The one outlier?
A 25-point loss to Vanderbilt. The rest?
Wins.
He’s not the kind of player who’s going to carry a team to a national title on his own, but he doesn’t have to be. What Chandler brings is stability, maturity, and a growing sense of confidence that’s starting to show up in the box score. He’s figuring out how to be a reliable contributor in a deep rotation, and that’s huge for a team with championship aspirations.
A year ago, Chandler started to find his groove around this same time. If history repeats itself, the Wildcats could be peaking at just the right moment.
What’s Next
With momentum building and the SEC standings tightening, Kentucky heads into Saturday’s showdown with Tennessee with plenty on the line. The Wildcats are tied for the most conference wins, and with players like Oweh, Garrison, and Chandler all trending upward, this team is starting to look like more than just a second-half comeback story.
This win over Oklahoma wasn’t just another tally in the win column-it was a sign that Kentucky might be turning a corner.