If you turned off the TV at halftime during the Kentucky vs. LSU game last night, nobody would’ve blamed you. Honestly, it looked like the same old story. Kentucky was down 18 points. The offense was stagnant, the energy was low, and the "Mark Pope era" skeptics were starting to get loud on Twitter. But if you did bail, you missed what basically feels like the turning point for this 2025-26 season.
Kentucky won. 75-74.
It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. This wasn't a slow grind-it-out comeback where the other team just choked. It was a second-half explosion that saw the Wildcats shoot over 65% from the floor. By the time Malachi Moreno hit that game-winning jumper at the buzzer, the Pete Maravich Assembly Center was stunned into silence.
The Reality of Who's Winning The Kentucky Basketball Game Right Now
So, who is actually winning the Kentucky basketball game in the grander scheme? If we’re looking at the scoreboard from Wednesday, January 14, it's Kentucky. But the "win" is bigger than one game in Baton Rouge.
The Wildcats are currently 11-6 overall and 2-2 in the SEC. That might not sound like the dominant "blue blood" record fans are used to, especially after that rough patch against Missouri and Alabama earlier this month. However, the momentum has shifted. The team that lost to Missouri 73-68 at home wouldn't have had the guts to come back from 18 down against LSU.
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What Changed in the Second Half?
It’s kinda wild how different this team looks when they actually move the ball. In the first half against LSU, they had two assists. Two. That’s playground basketball. In the second half, Mark Pope clearly got into them because they started playing like a unit.
- Otega Oweh is the engine. He finished with 21 points and basically willed the team back into it during that mid-second-half stretch.
- Denzel Aberdeen finally woke up. All 17 of his points came in the second half.
- Malachi Moreno played like a veteran despite being in foul trouble most of the night.
The stat that really jumps out? Kentucky is now 5-0 this season when they shoot at least 40% from three-point range. They hit 43.5% against LSU. Basically, when the shots fall, Kentucky wins. When they don't, things get ugly fast.
Why This Win Matters More Than The Records Suggest
Let's be real for a second. The SEC is a gauntlet this year. Alabama is a problem. Tennessee is always a physical nightmare. For Kentucky to go into a hostile environment like Baton Rouge and steal a win when they had no business winning—that builds a type of chemistry you can't coach.
It was the biggest comeback of the Mark Pope era so far. It matches the 18-point rally they had against Gonzaga last year.
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"It wasn't quite the Mardi Gras Miracle of '94, but it was a Mini-Miracle," as some fans are already calling it.
The "who's winning" conversation usually centers on the final score, but for UK fans, the real win is seeing Andrija Jelavić get his first start and contribute 11 points and 5 boards. It's seeing the bench actually provide a spark instead of just eating minutes.
The Road Ahead: Can They Keep It Up?
Next up is a massive test. Kentucky travels to Knoxville to face Tennessee on Saturday, January 17. That game is at noon on ESPN. If you want to know if the LSU win was a fluke or a foundation, that’s the game to watch.
Tennessee is physical. They’re going to try to bully Oweh and Moreno. If Kentucky can handle the pressure and keep their turnovers low (they only had 9 against LSU, which is great), they might actually be a threat for a deep SEC tournament run.
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Actionable Insights for the Upcoming Games
If you're following the Cats or looking at the betting lines for the Tennessee game, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Three-Point Percentage: As mentioned, 40% is the magic number. If UK hits their first few, the confidence spreads.
- Fast Break Points: Kentucky has won the fast break point battle in every single game this season. If the game slows down into a half-court slugfest, advantage Tennessee.
- Moreno’s Foul Trouble: Malachi is the rim protector. If he gets two quick fouls in the first five minutes, the defense collapses.
The narrative around who's winning the Kentucky basketball game has shifted from "are they even good?" to "how high is their ceiling?" It’s a fun time to be a fan again, even if the heart attacks during these close games are becoming a weekly tradition.
Check the Saturday lineup and make sure you're tuned in by noon. The SEC standings are a mess right now, and a win in Knoxville would catapult Kentucky right back into the top-tier conversation.
Next Steps for Fans:
Keep an eye on the injury report for the Tennessee game, specifically regarding the rotation depth. Make sure to track the shooting splits in the first ten minutes of the next matchup, as it has historically dictated the outcome for Pope’s squad this season.