March Madness is usually about the glass slipper fitting or shattering. When people talk about Kentucky vs Troy basketball, they often think of a mismatch. A blue blood against a Sun Belt team. But honestly, if you watched that NCAA Tournament first-round game on March 21, 2025, you know the final score of 76-57 didn't tell the whole story. Not by a long shot.
It was a Friday night at Fiserv Forum. Milwaukee was cold. The atmosphere inside was anything but. Troy was coming off a historic 23-win season. They weren't just happy to be there; they were looking to cause a riot in the bracket.
The Night the Trojans Almost Flipped the Script
Scott Cross had his guys ready. You've got to give credit to the way Troy approached the opening minutes. They weren't scared of the jersey. Tayton Conerway, the Sun Belt Player of the Year, went coast-to-coast for a layup that put Troy up 9-7 early. The Trojan bench went wild.
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Kentucky, coached by Mark Pope in his first tournament run with the Wildcats, looked a bit tight. You could feel the pressure of the seed. For a good chunk of that first half, it was a literal dogfight. Every time Kentucky tried to pull away, Troy had an answer.
Basically, the score was tied at 19 with about seven minutes left in the half.
The turning point? It’s always those three or four minutes before the buzzer. Kentucky went on a 10-0 tear. Suddenly, a one-point game became a double-digit lead. Troy’s Jackson Fields hit a clutch three just before the half to keep it respectable at 35-27, but the momentum had shifted.
Why the Second Half Got Away
If you’re looking at the box score of Kentucky vs Troy basketball, you’ll see Otega Oweh’s name at the top. He was a problem. 20 points, eight boards, six assists. He played like a man who realized his season could end in forty minutes.
Troy actually cut the lead down to six early in the second half. 45-39. The Troy fans in Milwaukee were starting to believe. Then, Kentucky did what Kentucky does. They punched back. Hard.
A 16-0 run is a death sentence in the tournament.
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Collin Chandler hit a couple of threes. Brandon Garrison, who came off the bench, was huge with 13 points. By the time the dust settled, Kentucky was up by 22. Troy never got closer than 13 the rest of the way.
Key Stats from the March 2025 Matchup
- Kentucky Shooting: 47.5% from the floor, 38.5% from three.
- Troy Shooting: 34.9%—the length of Amari Williams and Garrison really messed with their rhythm.
- Rebounding: Thomas Dowd for Troy was a beast with 11 rebounds, but Kentucky’s depth wore them down.
- Ball Movement: Kentucky finished with 23 assists. That’s Mark Pope’s system in a nutshell.
The Historical Context of Kentucky vs Troy Basketball
Before that 2025 meeting, these two programs had only met once. That was back in November 2017. John Calipari was still the king in Lexington then. Kentucky won that one 70-62, but it was another one of those "too close for comfort" games.
Troy has this weird knack for making Kentucky sweat.
They play a gritty, defensive style that frustrates high-octane offenses. In 2017, it was the "Adolph Rupp Classic." In 2025, it was the big stage. Both times, Troy showed they belong on the same floor, even if they couldn't find the firepower to finish the job.
Looking at the Programs Today
Fast forward to the current 2025-26 season. Both teams are in different places but still feeling the effects of that Milwaukee clash.
Kentucky is deep into the Mark Pope era now. They’ve been battle-tested this year with games against North Carolina and Gonzaga. Otega Oweh is still the engine. Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno have added that freshman spark that UK fans crave. They’re currently sitting on a solid record, recently coming off big wins against LSU and Tennessee.
Troy is still a force in the Sun Belt. Scott Cross didn't let that tournament loss break them. They’ve already pulled off a massive upset this season by beating San Diego State 108-107. Thomas Dowd is averaging a double-double, and Cobi Campbell has stepped up as a primary scoring threat.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People think these mid-major vs. blue blood games are about talent gaps. Honestly? It's usually about depth and length.
In the 2025 game, Troy’s Myles Rigsby had 17 points and looked like the best athlete on the floor at times. But when Kentucky can rotate ten guys who are all 6'5" or taller, the cumulative fatigue is what kills the upset bid. Troy shot 33% in the first half not because they missed open shots, but because every shot was contested by a hand that felt two inches longer than what they saw in conference play.
Lessons from the Series
If you're a bettor or a hardcore fan watching a future Kentucky vs Troy basketball matchup, keep these things in mind:
- The "Troy Hangover": Troy doesn't quit. They are a terrible team to "schedule for a win" because they will make you work for every bucket.
- The Pope Factor: Under Mark Pope, Kentucky prioritizes the extra pass. They had 23 assists on 28 made baskets against Troy. If you don't play elite perimeter defense, they will pick you apart.
- The Glass Matters: Troy’s Thomas Dowd showed that even against a giant like Kentucky, you can win the rebounding battle if you're hungrier.
Moving Forward
For Kentucky, the win over Troy was a stepping stone to a deeper run. For Troy, it was a statement that the Sun Belt is no joke.
If you're tracking these teams for the rest of the 2026 season, watch how Troy handles the pressure of being the hunted in their conference. They’ve got the target on their back now. For Kentucky, the focus remains on whether Pope can translate regular-season efficiency into a Final Four banner.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal trends for both. Troy has become a destination for guys who want to play in a high-motor system, while Kentucky is hunting for specific pieces that fit the "Pope Code" of shooting and IQ.
To keep up with the latest, check the official SEC and Sun Belt standings. Watching the film from the Milwaukee game is also a great way to understand how high-level defensive rotations actually work under pressure.