Kentucky women's basketball's dramatic win over Louisville far more than just one game

Kentucky women’s basketball’s dramatic win over Louisville far more than just one game

Posted by Admin November 17, 2024 Basketball

LEXINGTON — When Kentucky Athletics announced in February 2023 the renovation of Memorial Coliseum — the first refresh since 2008 to a facility that originally was completed in 1950 — nights like Saturday are what those who care so much about the Wildcats (the common fan, the deep-pocketed booster and the coaches and players) likely envisioned.

UK’s women’s basketball team hosted in-state rival Louisville in front of a sold-out crowd. There wasn’t a seat to be had. Had capacity allowed it, Kentucky probably could have sold even more tickets for those eager to watch first-year coach Kenny Brooks and his young charges.

What those in attendance — and those tuning in digitally, as the game streamed on SEC Network+ — witnessed was a high-level contest between two ranked clubs; the No. 18 Cardinals were one spot better than the 19^th-ranked Wildcats in this week’s USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

They witnessed nine lead changes. Six ties.

And they saw a UK win.

The hosts held on for a 71-61 victory, in overtime, giving Brooks his fourth win in as many games to begin his tenure.

“When you can win while you learn, that’s a really good thing,” Brooks said.

Winning at this clip, and beating a foe of the Cardinals’ (2-2) caliber, is a sign the Wildcats already are trending upward after the abysmal results of the past two seasons. Those seasons, which doubled as the final two campaigns for former UK coach Kyra Elzy, were two of the worst in program history. Kentucky combined to post a 24-39 record in that stretch, going 6-26 in regular-season SEC contests. And it’s not simply that the 2023-24 Wildcats lost; it’s that they routinely were blown off the floor.

An unfathomable 17 of UK’s 20 losses last season were by 10 or more points, including seven of 25 or more. The low point(s): a pair of lopsided setbacks to national champion South Carolina, one by 62 points (the second-largest margin of defeat in school history) and another by 48.

Brooks was brought in to change that.

So far, so good.

From Virginia Tech, he brought a Final Four appearance, an ACC regular-season title and an ACC Tournament crown, all in the past two seasons. He also brought talent.

In Georgia Amoore, an All-American point guard.

In Clara Strack, a promising sophomore center.

And in Lexi Blue, Amelia Hassett and Clara Silva, a trio that previously had pledged to Virginia Tech but instead followed Brooks to the Bluegrass State.

That quintet combined for 40 points (led by Amoore’s game-high 19), 13 assists (paced by Amoore’s nine, most of all players Saturday) and 24 rebounds (Hassett pulled down a game-high 13).

It was an immediate infusion of skilled players to a program desperately in need of such gifted hoopers.

“We came in here, and I think we had two players … and we had to hit the ground running,” Brooks said, “and we put together what I thought was a special roster. … We didn’t try to go out and get the best player. We went out and we tried to get the right player. And you can look at the (transfer) portal — the portal giveth, and it can taketh away.

“So we wanted to make sure that culture is the biggest thing for us. And every one of those kids in the locker room, they’re always on time, they always come out and they give their best. It might not be the best. But they’re gonna give a great effort.”

When that happens, Brooks said, program building begins in earnest.

Of course, Saturday night was just one game. It doesn’t count double in the standings. Nor does it guarantee Brooks’ maiden campaign will be abundantly fruitful.

Yet it’s a positive sign, to be sure.

The Cardinals have been a March mainstay under coach Jeff Walz. During his tenure, now in its 18th season, he’s led U of L to 12 Sweet 16s, eight Elite Eights, four Final Fours and a pair of national championship game appearances.

That a Kentucky squad, in just its fourth game together, could beat a Louisville team that returned more than 50% of its scoring and rebounding from a group that went 24-10 last season, is a statement for Brooks and Co.

If nothing else, the Wildcats spoiled the Cardinals’ chance at history.

Had Louisville won, it would have been its eighth straight triumph in the rivalry, tying the longest streak by either program, set by UK from 1979 through 1984.

“Final Four, ACC champs, all of that, that’s great,” Amoore said. “But I think this is up there, because it’s a big rival game. It’s the first win (over Louisville) in however long. It’s (in Brooks’ coaching) era. It’s my last time playing Louisville. Like, it’s a big win.

“It’s definitely a game I’ll be looking back on … for sure.”

Saturday transcended a game. And even the sport of basketball.

Events like this are why an athletics department sets aside $82 million to update a historic venue that had fallen out of touch with modern times.

It’s with the hope that not only will people come. But wins will follow.

Saturday was the latest of what Kentucky hopes will be many more.

Well before Brooks began his stint in Lexington with four straight victories, however, the UK volleyball program — which also calls Memorial home — had made winning passé. Led by coach Craig Skinner, the Wildcats won a national championship in the coronavirus-delayed 2020 season. And they’ve captured the SEC regular-season crown seven years running — and on the cusp of their eighth, with four matches remaining before the postseason begins.

It’s that type of mind-numbing excellence Brooks hopes to one day achieve.

For now, he’s more on par with another first-year coach on campus: men’s basketball’s Mark Pope, who’s also undefeated (3-0) and fresh off a win over one of Kentucky’s most bitter rivals: Duke.

“My Instagram, I can’t even get to the funny stuff, because it’s always something with the men’s popping up with a big win,” Brooks said, “and that’s because BBN is so special. And it’s why I came here: the possibilities.”

The primary objective: taking UK to the Final Four for the first time in program history.

In that sense, the Kentucky coach most analogous to Brooks is the leader of the baseball program, Nick Mingione. Three seasons into his tenure, UK moved into a sparkling new facility. Kentucky Proud Park.

The price tag: $49 million.

With that came expectations. And pressure. For as big a commitment as UK had made financially into baseball, an even bigger albatross weighing down Mingione was history itself: Prior to last season, Kentucky was the only program in the SEC that never had punched a ticket to the College World Series.

The 2024 Wildcats changed that.

Now, Brooks is in a similar spot.

He’s tasked with guiding Kentucky to college basketball’s promised land. In a league as treacherous as any in the nation. Last season, eight SEC teams made it to the NCAA Tournament. That’s not even including new conference members Oklahoma and Texas, which earned bids in their farewell season as Big 12 schools.

Three-fourths of the SEC’s 16 programs — or 75%, for those who aren’t fans of fractions — have made it to the Final Four at least one time. The group on the outside looking in: Florida, Kentucky, Missouri and Ole Miss. Of that quartet, only Ole Miss (five) has more Elite Eight showings than UK’s four.

“I came here because of the things that were wanted here,” Brooks said. “Our administration, they laid it out: They want to win, and that’s why I’m here. I wouldn’t be here if they didn’t tell me that they really wanted to win, because I was winning. But … I want to go to a different level.”

That dream, if it’s realized, is nearly five months away.

Until then, the Wildcats will take things as they come. The first order of business: transitioning from the hunter to the hunted.

“Everybody that comes in here, they’re going to try to take a swipe at you. And so now that’s the next thing we need to teach: You have a responsibility when you have that little number beside your name,” said Brooks, referring to Kentucky’s ranking, which surely will rise after Saturday’s overtime thriller. “You have a responsibility with the program that you represent. You take everybody’s best shot. And that’s the next step for us is trying to learn how to protect that.”

If Saturday’s outcome is an accurate indicator, UK will meet the moment.

And perhaps, five months hence, finally hang a long-awaited banner in the rafters of Memorial.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.