Heading into Tuesday night, Kentucky's bench had been underwhelming, and the stats backed up what fans were seeing. Before their trip to South Carolina, the plus/minus numbers in SEC play painted a clear picture:
- Denzel Aberdeen: +68
- Malachi Moreno: +68
- Andrija Jelavic: +29
- Otega Oweh: +23
- Collin Chandler: +19
- Mouhamed Dioubate: -12
- Trent Noah: -33
- Jasper Johnson: -44
- Brandon Garrison: -57
However, the game against South Carolina saw a dramatic shift in performance.
On Tuesday, the Wildcats turned their SEC narrative around. Except for starting forward Andrija Jelavic, who finished at -8, every other Kentucky player ended on a positive note. The bench, previously struggling, took control during their time on the court.
Here's how the bench players fared against the Gamecocks:
- Mouhamed Dioubate: +16
- Trent Noah: +7
- Brandon Garrison: +6
- Jasper Johnson: +2
This improvement is crucial, especially for a team that coach Mark Pope admits struggles with fatigue in tight games. The goal isn't for these players to drop 15 points each night, but to provide solid, positive minutes when the starters need a breather.
The potential is there if the team embraces the collective effort. Mouhamed Dioubate echoed this sentiment after their road victory, speaking with Goose Givens on the postgame radio show.
"We know what we are capable of doing," Dioubate said. "This team has a lot of talent."
And he's right. With a roster that includes a national champion, an SEC Preseason Player of the Year, and several top-30 freshmen, talent isn't the issue. The real question is whether they can gel as a unit.
If they manage to come together, this rollercoaster season could culminate in an unforgettable March run.