Kentucky left its second exhibition with a lot more than a final score to feel good about. The Wildcats knocked off No. 19 Texas Tech 76-65 on Friday, and the story was less about smooth, pretty offense than it was about how Kentucky kept finding ways to create scoring chances when the halfcourt stuff bogged down.
That had been the issue in the first exhibition win over Little Rock, when Kentucky’s defense showed up but the offense never fully settled in. Against Texas Tech, the early stretches looked similar.
The ball stuck, the rhythm was off, and the Wildcats opened 0-8 from three. But once Kentucky started turning defense into offense, the game changed fast.
A 17-3 run late in the first half gave Kentucky control, and the Wildcats carried a 37-33 lead into the break. Texas Tech closed the half by hitting its last three shots, while Kentucky went through a two-minute drought late, but the first-half surge gave the Wildcats room to breathe.
The big shift came from steals and transition. Justin McBride sparked it with a fastbreak layup, then Ousmane N'Diaye followed with a fastbreak dunk as Kentucky piled up 14 points off turnovers before halftime.
That pressure fed the rest of the night. Kentucky’s ball movement improved, the shots started to come, and the Wildcats were much sharper after the break, going 6-13 from deep while turning it over just four times in the second half. Texas Tech got within three late, but Kentucky answered with a 14-6 run to finish the job and put the game away by 11.
Milan Momcilovic was a major reason the offense eventually opened up. He scored 10 points in the first half alone, knocking down a three and going 5-5 at the line.
His cutting gave Kentucky a reliable way to create offense when the perimeter game wasn’t cooperating, and his presence clearly stretched the defense. Even with Kentucky’s uneven shooting night from outside, Momcilovic remained a threat, and he capped it with a big three that pushed the Wildcats ahead 73-63 with 1:45 left.
Mason Williams also gave Kentucky a lift off the bench. He finished with 14 points in 27 minutes, including 10 in the second half, while shooting 5-8 and hitting a pair of threes.
Diallo had trouble generating shots, and Alex Wilkins had a rough night overall despite a pair of big makes late, but Williams kept delivering clean, efficient offense. After hearing plenty about what he could do all offseason, he backed that up in a real way on Friday.
Kentucky didn’t shoot it cleanly for long stretches, but it made enough plays on both ends to get the win. The Wildcats now move on to UCF in their third and final exhibition before the real thing begins.
In Other News...
Kentucky Showed Real Promise And One Clear Concern Against Texas Tech
Kentuckys exhibition win over No. 19 Texas Tech at Rupp Arena offered a useful early snapshot of where this group is starting to take shape. The Wildcats worked through an uneven opening stretch, including some early turnovers and a slow start, but still managed to settle in and carry a 37-33 halftime lead into a second half that ended with a 76-65 victory.
Milan Momcilovic and Alex Wilkins were among the key contributors in helping Kentucky finish the job, a reminder that there is enough production here to like even before the games start counting. The cleaner takeaway, though, was the one the Wildcats could not ignore: the early sloppiness that nearly let Texas Tech control the tone, something they will want to clean up in their next exhibition against UCF before the regular season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Saban Sees Something Real In Kentuckys Fast Start
Kentuckys quick climb under first-year coach Will Stein has started to draw attention well beyond Lexington. On College GameDay, Nick Saban pointed to the Wildcats 6-1 record and No. 12 ranking as evidence that this is more than a hot opening stretch, noting the kind of details that usually travel with teams that sustain success: a sturdy offensive line, disciplined play and a knack for winning tight games.
The broader SEC picture only adds to the intrigue. Kentucky heads into Week 8 tied with Georgia atop the conference standings, and its turnover margin has been among the best in the league. For a team that has spent the early part of the season turning close calls into wins, the next stretch will help show whether this fast start is a real leap forward or just the first chapter of a much tougher test. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Point Guard Battle Is Suddenly Getting Tougher To Ignore
Kentuckys point guard picture is starting to take shape in the exhibition games, and the early read has made the competition harder to ignore. Zoom Diallo and Mason Williams are both getting a look as the staff evaluates who can best steady the offense, and the difference so far has come down to control, decision-making and the little plays that tend to decide who earns more run once the games start counting.
Diallo has shown flashes, but the turnover-to-assist balance has been an issue, while Williams has looked more composed with the ball and has added value on the defensive end with fewer turnovers and more steals. Mark Pope now has a real rotation decision to sort through, and how he divides the minutes between the two guards could tell you plenty about what kind of backcourt Kentucky wants to build. [Read more 🡒]