The Kentucky Wildcats walked into Bud Walton Arena with something to prove-and they left with a statement win.
In a high-energy showdown against No. 15 Arkansas, Kentucky delivered an 85-77 victory that not only snapped a rough patch but also marked a milestone 15th win on the season. For head coach Mark Pope, it was a particularly satisfying result, coming against his predecessor John Calipari in a game that had more than a few fireworks.
From the jump, Kentucky controlled the tempo. They led for most of the contest, showing poise on the road in one of the SEC’s toughest environments.
But while the Wildcats were trying to grind out a gritty win, the officiating crew-led by the ever-controversial Doug Shows-became an unexpected subplot. Seven technical fouls were handed out over the course of the night, four to Kentucky and three to Arkansas, turning what was already a heated matchup into a full-on pressure cooker.
The second half was particularly chaotic. In a span of just 38 seconds, Shows and his crew assessed three technicals-one each to Brandon Garrison, Mo Dioubate, and Coach Pope-as Kentucky tried to protect a narrow lead.
The most puzzling came when Dioubate was hit with a technical after a clean block that sent the ball out of bounds. There was no taunting, no contact, no celebration-just a whistle that left players, coaches, and fans scratching their heads.
Despite the officiating drama and a shaky night at the free throw line-Kentucky shot just 63% (19-of-30) from the stripe-the Wildcats kept their composure. Freshman guard Trent Noah was particularly clutch, knocking down 6 of his 8 free throw attempts in key moments to help seal the win.
The game’s final exclamation point came with just 14 seconds left. Arkansas big man Trevon Brazile, visibly frustrated, committed an intentional foul on Noah, grabbing him by the jersey and tossing him down the court. It was Brazile’s fifth foul, and a moment that summed up the Razorbacks’ unraveling down the stretch.
Kentucky now turns its attention to a midweek matchup at home against Oklahoma-a team that brings some recent history with them. Last year’s clash between the two programs was anything but ordinary, and with Otega Oweh facing his former team, Wednesday night at Rupp Arena has all the makings of another thriller.
Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2.