When it comes to this year’s Kentucky Wildcats, one thing is clear: don’t count them out-ever. No matter how deep the hole, this team just keeps digging until they find daylight.
Saturday’s 80-78 win over No. 24 Tennessee in Knoxville was the latest chapter in what’s becoming a season defined by resilience.
Down by as many as 17 points, Kentucky clawed its way back and didn’t take its first lead until the final minute. The game ended in dramatic fashion after Tennessee senior Ja’Kobi Gillespie intentionally missed his second free throw with seconds left, hoping to give the Vols one more shot. But the Volunteers couldn’t get another attempt off before time expired-and a brief postgame scuffle added a little extra heat to an already fiery SEC showdown.
Aberdeen and Oweh Spark Another Wildcat Rally
Once again, the duo of Denzel Aberdeen and Otega Oweh played pivotal roles in Kentucky’s comeback. Aberdeen, the Florida transfer, poured in a team-high 22 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting night-18 of those coming in the second half when Kentucky needed a spark. This wasn’t just a hot hand; it was timely, composed scoring under pressure.
Oweh didn’t have his best shooting night (3-of-11 from the field), but his impact went beyond the box score. With 34.3 seconds left, he delivered a crucial and-one that gave Kentucky its first lead of the game. It was a momentum-shifting play that capped off a relentless second-half push.
These two were also instrumental in Kentucky’s win earlier in the week over LSU, when the Wildcats erased an 18-point deficit. That night, it was freshman Malachi Moreno who played the hero with a buzzer-beating game-winner, but Aberdeen and Oweh combined for 38 points to keep the comeback alive. This team doesn’t just rely on one guy to carry the load-it’s been a collective effort, with different players stepping up when it matters most.
Long-Range Shooting, Turnovers, and the Fight to Find Identity
Much like in the LSU game, Kentucky’s three-point shooting was a major factor in Saturday’s win. The Wildcats knocked down 11 of their 24 attempts from deep, helping them chip away at Tennessee’s lead despite some early struggles. Turnovers and a 36-29 rebounding disadvantage made the path to a comeback steep, but this team has shown it’s not afraid of the climb.
With guard Jaland Lowe out for the season due to a right shoulder injury, the emergence of Aberdeen and Oweh has been even more important. Their production has helped stabilize a team that started SEC play 0-2 and looked like it was still searching for an identity. Now, Kentucky has won three straight conference games-each one coming after trailing by at least 12 points.
That kind of grit is starting to bring back echoes of the 1997-98 “Comeback Cats,” who made a habit of rallying from double-digit deficits en route to a national championship. Let’s be clear: this year’s team isn’t on that level-at least not yet.
But the fight, the resolve, and the refusal to fold? It’s starting to feel familiar.
What This Win Means Moving Forward
Kentucky is currently projected as a 10-seed in the NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. A road win over a ranked Tennessee team is a résumé booster, no question. But the Wildcats know they can’t keep spotting teams double-digit leads and expect to survive come March.
The early deficits are still a concern. At some point, the comebacks might run out.
But for now, Kentucky is doing something rare. By joining the 2016-17 Florida Atlantic squad as the only programs in the last decade to pull off back-to-back road comebacks of at least 15 points, the Wildcats have made one thing clear: they’re never out of a game, no matter the score or the setting.
This team may still be figuring out exactly who they are, but one thing’s for sure-they’re not going down without a fight. And if you’re playing Kentucky, you better play the full 40 minutes. Because they will.