Reports: Big Blue Preview, Kentucky at Missouri
No. 19 Kentucky is gearing up for the final game of their regular season this Saturday, as they head to Columbia to face 15th-ranked Missouri. For head coach Mark Pope, this season has been a whirlwind filled with highs, lows, and everything in between. Reflecting on the journey, Pope shared, “It’s gone by so fast. Too fast, honestly. This Saturday, we play our last regular-season game, and it’s been an epic, dramatic, incredible, wonderful, and sometimes painful journey. But it’s everything you could ask for, and we’re excited for the postseason.”
Kentucky has already secured at least the eighth seed in next week’s Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament, but they still have a shot at climbing as high as fifth place, depending on how other games play out on the final day of the regular season. Pope admitted that he and his staff have been diving into the various seeding scenarios, saying, “We’re looking at it a lot now because it’s fun. It’s March—this is the best time of the year. We love every bit of it.”
The Wildcats are coming off a dominant 95-64 win over LSU on Tuesday, where they knocked down 12 of 32 three-point attempts. Pope was particularly pleased with his team’s willingness to let it fly from beyond the arc, noting, “For the last six to eight weeks, we’ve just been trying to stay afloat, managing all the changes we’ve faced. Early in the season, we were focused on improving, but then we hit a stretch where we had so much roster and rotation turnover that it became about survival. Now, we’ve had three straight games with the same lineup, and that consistency has brought some real comfort. We play our best when we have pace, so I was really happy with how we executed.”
Next up is a Missouri team that has made an impressive turnaround this season. After going winless in SEC play last year (0-18), the Tigers have bounced back to a 10-7 conference record under head coach Dennis Gates. Pope has nothing but respect for Gates, saying, “I’m really happy for him because I’m a huge fan. He’s one of the special coaches in college basketball.” Pope also acknowledged the challenge Missouri presents, adding, “They have incredibly capable shooters who are dangerous, and they’re really good at identifying and attacking weaknesses. Offensively, we run a lot of the same actions and value spacing in similar ways, so it’ll be a great matchup.”
Pope hopes his team can carry the momentum from Tuesday’s win into Saturday’s game and beyond. “This league is spectacular, and every win matters,” he said. “We’d love to finish strong and head into the SEC Tournament on a bit of a run.”
Kentucky’s Senior Night Dominance
Tuesday’s game against LSU wasn’t just a win—it was a celebration of Kentucky’s six seniors. But while the seniors were honored before tip-off, it was the underclassmen who stole the show during the game. Junior Otega Oweh led the way with 24 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, while sophomore Brandon Garrison tied his season high with 15 points, and freshman Collin Chandler set a career high with 11 points.
The seniors still made their presence felt, though. Ansley Almonor scored a season-high 15 points, Amari Williams added nine points and six rebounds, and Andrew Carr chipped in eight points and six boards. Lamont Butler and Koby Brea also contributed with five points and six points, respectively.
The 31-point victory was Kentucky’s largest margin of victory on Senior Night since 2003, and the Wildcats finished the season with a 15-3 record at home—their most home wins in the last three years. The team shot an impressive 50.7% from the field and went a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line, marking the third time in program history that Kentucky has had multiple perfect free-throw performances (minimum 10 attempts) in a single season.
SEC Tournament Seeding Scenarios
With just one game left, Kentucky’s seeding for the SEC Tournament is still up in the air. The Wildcats are guaranteed at least the No. 8 seed but could climb as high as No. 5 if they beat Missouri, LSU defeats Texas A&M, and Florida takes down Ole Miss. Other outcomes could land Kentucky in the No. 6 or 7 spot.
### A Balanced Attack
One of the keys to Kentucky’s success this season has been their balanced scoring. Seven different players have led the team in scoring through 30 games, and six players are averaging double figures—something no Kentucky team has ever accomplished over a full season. This depth and versatility have been crucial as the Wildcats navigate the challenges of a tough SEC schedule.
As the regular season wraps up, Pope and his team are focused on finishing strong and making noise in the postseason. “We’ve been through a lot this year,” Pope said, “but we’re ready for what’s next.”
