Highlights, MVP, and Twitter reactions to Wildcats’ win over Hilltoppers

Posted by Admin November 27, 2024 Basketball

The Kentucky Wildcats took the floor to face Western Kentucky on Tuesday night as one of the hottest teams in America. At 5-0 on the season, the Cats were averaging an impressive 97 points per game while shooting just over 42% from 3.

Mark Pope kept the usual starting lineup of Lamont Butler, Otega Oweh, Jaxson Robinson, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams.

It was a slower start from UK than we’ve grown accustom to seeing. The Cats weren’t making shots from outside and struggling to find a rhythm for most of the first half.

Despite the lackluster play, Kentucky never let the game get away from them and took a healthy 45-33 lead into the break.

Otega Oweh and Andrew Carr led all scorers with nine points apiece.

Seven uncharacteristic turnovers for the Cats allowed the Hilltoppers to stay in the game.

WKU fought tooth and nail to keep the game close. At the under-12-minute timeout, the lead had been cut to six, with UK narrowly staying ahead.

Shots from outside just weren’t falling, and the offensive struggled to find any prolonged spurts. It didn’t help that WKU was playing fearless and outhustling UK to loose balls.

Despite all the adversity, there was never a point when you felt Kentucky was truly on the verge of blowing it and taking a bad loss, as the Cats would finish this one out for an 87-68 win.

It was an ugly contest loaded with an unsettling number of free throws. Kentucky shot 29/42 from the line, which, while not great, was enough to get the job done.

It was a solid 19-point win, considering the UK shot just 8/29 from behind the arc while missing 13 free throws and committing 11 turnovers.

If this is a bad game, we’ll take it.

Game MVP

I’m going with Andrew Carr as my game MVP for his across-the-board contributions.

Against the Hilltoppers, Carr would go for 18 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. He was impressive.

So far this season, Andrew Carr has been a pillar of consistency for this team of transfers.

The Wake Forest transfer has a calm disposition and often helps Kentucky turn a good shot into a great shot.

In a game where Kentucky struggled to get any sustained team effort, it was Andrew Carr who answered the bell when his team needed him most.

Anybody who watches UK basketball can see all of the things that Carr does that don’t necessarily make the box score.

WKU was scrappy so who knows how this game turns out if Andrew Carr doesn’t dominate with his versatility.

An honorable mention goes to Otega Oweh, who also poured 18 points in 6/14 shooting. He continues to look like a future NBA Draft pick, though hopefully in 2026.

Highlights

Box Score

Kentucky vs. WKU Twitter Reactions

Kentucky barely leads WKU 9-7 at the first timeout. This Hilltopper squad knows what a win inside Rupp Arena would mean for the rest of the year, and they are definitely putting forth their best effort.

— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) November 26, 2024

As expected, Western Kentucky is switching all ballscreens and handoffs 1-5. Lamont Butler just exploited the mismatch for an And-1 going into the first media timeout.

Kentucky NEEDS Amari Williams to be a better finisher. Two feet. Two hands. Use your STRENGTH!

— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) November 26, 2024

Kentucky has 5 turnovers from a big at the top of the key trying to generate offense

It is honestly the only part of the Pope system I don’t love. I am not sure Amari/Garrison are great for that role

Everything else though, I love

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 26, 2024

Cats lacking energy tonight and Western seems to have it and then some.

— Hunter Raikes (@BBNBiscuit) November 26, 2024

Too many challenged 3’s. Move the ball around to get the defense out of rotation.

— D9NSTY-UK (@scoutingU) November 26, 2024

We knew this game was going to happen. Nothing is falling. How does the team respond?

— KentuckyFan #8 (5-0) #14 (6-0) (@KentuckyF34638) November 27, 2024

Amari’s focus seems to be an issue. And Pope has to recognize when he’s checked out and get him to the bench. It could be when he’s physically tired it all goes kaput, but it’s an issue in the season’s opening month.

Fanta said on KRC this summer it was his biggest worry about…

— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) November 27, 2024

Never got going from 3, missed a few free throws and had 3-4 totally unforced turnovers. Still put up 45 and held them to 30% shooting. Clean up some things and go close this one out in the final 20 min.

— Michael Paul Clark (@UKDad21) November 27, 2024

Feel like that was about as bad a half of offensive basketball we’ve seen from Cats, and they still got 45 on the board. Bad offensive halves used to be 20-something points.

— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) November 27, 2024

Ravi Moss introduced Jasper Johnson at midcourt to a loud roar in Rupp for the UK signee

— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) November 27, 2024

Well this is what it looks like when Kentucky plays really athletic teams and struggle from the outside. Auburn plays a similar style, but they are better. The Cats are 5-22 from 3PT

— Anthony Wireman (@awireman) November 27, 2024

Kentucky having to play through bumps and grind through a game where it isn’t making shots will be a healthy growing experience.

— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) November 27, 2024

Cats have looked sluggish all night, and WKU has played physical to knock them off their spots.

Upset alert is on at the moment.

— Ethan DeWitt (@EthanDeWitt1) November 27, 2024

First stinker of the year.

Just win by 10+

— Big Blue Carti (@BigBlueCartii) November 27, 2024

I think the officials in this UK-WKU game should blow the whistle a little more. I mean… They do think they’re why everyone is watching. #BBN

— Chris Bailey❄️ (@Kentuckyweather) November 27, 2024

2024 BBN Invitational Champions.

Can’t imagine what State Street looks like right now.

— Steven Peake (@StevenPeakeKSR) November 27, 2024

Wasn’t pretty but we played our worst game of the year and still win by around 20. I’ve said before and will say it again, midweek games are so hard in college. Proud of our kids grinding it out when they didn’t have their best night.

— Hunter Raikes (@BBNBiscuit) November 27, 2024

Beautiful win tonight for the cats. You have to have gritty “ugly” wins like this to build character and chemistry. I LOVE this team

— ATWildcats (@ATWildcats) November 27, 2024

50 fouls and 71 free throws in a 40 minute game is crazy…

— D9NSTY-UK (@scoutingU) November 27, 2024

Cats off to a 6-0 start for the first time since 2016-17 when UK won first 7 games of season

— Keith Taylor (@keithtaylor21) November 27, 2024

Kentucky did not hit 10 3-pointers for the first time this season and shot poorly across the board, but still managed to win by 19

Wanted to see the Cats in a game like that, like the result. Ugly, but it’ll do.

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) November 27, 2024

A sloppy win, but Kentucky could use some adversity and film to improve on going into next week as the schedule starts to pick up.

Traveling on the road to take on Clemson and Gonzaga.

— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) November 27, 2024

Tonight was the most combined free-throw attempts in a @KentuckyMBB game at Rupp Arena (71) since January 5th, 2008 vs. Louisville (73)

— Corey Price (@coreyp08) November 27, 2024

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