Malachi Moreno isn’t just a big body in the paint - he’s a true seven-footer with a 250-pound frame and a growing presence that Kentucky fans are starting to feel more and more. But while his size has always been undeniable, it’s the way he used it against Tennessee that really turned heads.
In Saturday night’s 74-71 comeback win over the Volunteers at Rupp Arena, Moreno didn’t just show up - he imposed himself. The freshman out of Georgetown, Kentucky, played 27 minutes and delivered a stat line that tells part of the story: 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. But the real impact came from his physicality - a noticeable shift from the more tentative version of himself earlier in the season.
From the opening tip, it was clear Moreno came in with a point to prove. Within the first two minutes, he went right at Tennessee’s frontcourt - a group known for its toughness and rebounding edge - and didn’t back down.
On back-to-back possessions, he bullied his way into the paint: drawing a foul on one, finishing strong on the other. And yes, he let them know about it with the “too small” gesture.
It was a swagger Kentucky hadn’t seen from him in the first meeting between these two teams, when he managed just three points in 22 minutes.
This time, he was a different player. One with purpose.
“How physical was Malachi offensively in the post tonight?” head coach Mark Pope said after the win.
“We could have milked him a lot more. He was just a monster.
He was so determined in the post offensively.”
That determination showed up in the little things, too. Moreno wasn’t just scoring - he was making smart reads, anchoring the defense, and even facilitating the offense when needed.
The first play of the second half - with Kentucky trailing by 14, their largest deficit of the game - was drawn up for Moreno. He delivered a slick backdoor pass to Otega Oweh for a dunk that sparked the rally.
“Offensively, I think he really took it to their bigs, being decisive and getting to his spots,” Oweh said. “And on top of that, he was blocking shots, getting rebounds, deflecting passes - he was really good.”
And when the game got tight late, Moreno didn’t fade. With just over two minutes remaining and Kentucky down three, he caught the ball several feet off the block against Tennessee’s Felix Okpara - no slouch himself at 6-11, 240 pounds.
Moreno took his time, lowered his shoulder, created space with a subtle elbow, and hit a smooth hook shot to cut the deficit to one. On the next possession, he grabbed a loose ball off a Tennessee miss, then set a textbook Gortat screen to free up Denzel Aberdeen, who was fouled and sank both free throws.
That sequence? That’s winning basketball.
And the numbers back it up. Kentucky is now a perfect 9-0 this season when Moreno scores in double figures.
They’re 13-3 when he grabs at least five rebounds. When the big man gets going, the Wildcats usually go with him.
Moreno’s evolution isn’t just about stats - it’s about presence. He’s learning to play big, not just be big. And if this version of him sticks around, Kentucky’s ceiling just got a whole lot higher.