Postgame Text Machine Takes

02/15/2025 09:40:01 PM

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FINAL: Texas 82, Kentucky 78

02/15/2025 09:29:43 PM

That’ll do it. Kentucky falls to 17-8, 6-6 in SEC play with the 82-78 loss to Texas in Austin. Kentucky led by five with just under four minutes to go but collapsed down the stretch. From there, the Longhorns outscored the Cats 18-9.

This loss takes Kentucky’s record in Quad 1 games to 8-7. Texas, which is on the NCAA Tournament bubble, needed this win more. They sure played like it in the final four minutes.

Score Update: 18.0 2H – Texas 80, Kentucky 75

02/15/2025 09:28:15 PM

A Travis Perry three keeps hope alive, kind of. Kentucky trails by five with 18 seconds to go.

Text Machine is sad

02/15/2025 09:27:09 PM

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Score Update: 45.4 2H – Texas 76, Kentucky 70

02/15/2025 09:21:57 PM

It ain’t looking good, folks. Texas now leads by six with 45 seconds to go. The Longhorns are on a 12-1 run over the last 2:51. Just a two-possession game, but that feels like it given how the Cats are playing right now.

Score Update: 1:35 2H – Texas 74, Kentucky 70

02/15/2025 09:18:28 PM

Pets heads are on high alert. Tre Johnson only made one of two free throws, but Kentucky gave up an offensive rebound, giving Texas another opportunity to score. Kadin Shedrick tipped in a missed layup by Johnson, stretching the Longhorns’ lead to four with 1:35 to go.

Texas takes the lead

02/15/2025 09:16:30 PM

It’s going to come down to the wire in Austin. Texas took the lead on a pair of free throws by Tramon Mark. Speaking of free throws, Kentucky is just 18-26 (69.2%) from the charity stripe tonight. Those misses might come back to haunt them.

2:02 2H – Texas 71, Kentucky 70

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Score Update: 3:36 2H – Kentucky 69, Texas 66

02/15/2025 09:09:20 PM

Tre Johnson will not go quietly. Texas’ star freshman just muscled his way to the basket and could complete a three-point play after this timeout. Meanwhile, Amari Williams and Otega Oweh are doing their best to push Kentucky to the finish line, scoring Kentucky’s last two buckets. Andrew Carr has fouled out.

Here’s a look at Oweh’s steal and score after Texas’ Kadin Shedrick beat Amari Williams to a rebound after a missed free throw. Oweh is up to 14 points, Williams 18.

Score Update: 5:35 2H – Kentucky 65, Texas 60

02/15/2025 09:00:49 PM

Kentucky’s bigs are going to work! Amari Williams and Andrew Carr just pushed the Cats’ lead to five with 5:35 to go. Williams now has a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Cats are on a 6-0 run in the last 1:32, prompting Texas to call a timeout.

Text Machine Takes

02/15/2025 08:55:32 PM

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Score Update: 7:46 2H – Kentucky 58, Texas 58

02/15/2025 08:52:03 PM

At the Under-8 timeout, we’re still tied up at 58. Amari Williams will head to the free-throw line after the timeout. Kentucky has made only one of its last 11 field goals and has gone over three minutes without a field goal. The Cats are only 4-20 from the three-point line tonight. Oof.

Koby Brea ties it at 58

02/15/2025 08:49:27 PM

Kentucky usually goes as Koby Brea goes. With 8:44 to go, Brea has zero field goals (0-5), all four of his points coming from the free-throw line. His most recent makes tied the score at 58, but man, the Cats could desperately use a three.

8:44 2H – Texas 58, Kentucky 58

Text Machine is concerned

02/15/2025 08:40:51 PM

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Score Update: 12:00 2H – Texas 54, Kentucky 51

02/15/2025 08:39:45 PM

Kentucky needs some points. Texas has taken a three-point lead, 54-51, with 12:00 to go. The Cats haven’t scored in almost five minutes. Meanwhile, the Longhorns are on a 6-0 run. Andrew Carr just headed to the bench after picking up his fourth foul.

After a foul on Tramon Mark, the Cats will be at the line after the timeout.

Tyler Herro wins the NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest

02/15/2025 08:35:47 PM

While Kentucky is trying to take care of business on the road, a former Cat just won some hardware. Tyler Herro just won the 3-Point Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend. Congrats to The Bucket. The current Cats could use some threes to finish the Longhorns off.

Score Update: 15:44 2H – Kentucky 48, Texas 44

02/15/2025 08:27:00 PM

At the Under 16 timeout, the Cats lead by four, 48-44. After a foul on Koby Brea, Jordan Pope will be at the line after the timeout.

The streak continues

02/15/2025 08:22:06 PM

Water is wet, Otega Oweh scores in double figures. Oweh’s latest layup brings his point total to ten, meaning he has scored in double figures in all 25 games this season. He’s the only player in the SEC with such bragging rights and the first Kentucky player to do it in 25 straight games since Malik Monk in 2016-17.

17:45 2H – Kentucky 45, Texas 39

Halftime Text Machine Takes

02/15/2025 08:14:01 PM

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HALF: Kentucky 41, Texas 37

02/15/2025 08:01:27 PM

After 20 minutes of play, Kentucky leads Texas by four in Austin. The shorthanded Cats are battling hard, with Amari Williams leading the way with 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. Otega Oweh and Ansley Almonor both have eight. The fact that the Cats are leading at half after shooting just 3-13 from three — with zero makes by Koby Brea — is impressive. After a shaky start on the boards, they’re also outrebounding the Longhorns 22-18. Trent Noah has played a part in that, pulling down four rebounds to go with his seven points in 11 minutes.

Freshman Tre Johnson leads all scorers with 15 points, followed by Tramon Marks with 11. The Longhorns are shooting 44% from the floor and 21% (3-14) from three.

Score Update: 1:17 – Kentucky 39, Texas 37

02/15/2025 07:59:21 PM

Kentucky led by five thanks to buckets by Brandon Garrison and Otega Oweh, but Texas tied it back up at the 1:41 mark. Cats are back on top after two free throws by Ansley Almonor.

Trent Noah puts the Cats back on top!

02/15/2025 07:51:48 PM

Trent Noah is not scared, my friends. The freshman just nailed a three from deep to put the Cats back on top by one. He’s up to seven points and four rebounds.

3:26 1H – Kentucky 33, Texas 32

Amari Williams three?!

02/15/2025 07:48:48 PM

What can’t Amari Williams do? With the shot clock winding down, Kentucky’s 7-foot point center just hit his first three as a Wildcat to pull Kentucky within two. Unfortunately, Texas’ Tre Johnson responded with a dunk. Williams is up to 7 points and 4 rebounds so far.

5:21 1H – Texas 30, Kentucky 26

Text Machine is worried

02/15/2025 07:46:28 PM

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Score Update: 7:42 1H – Texas 24, Kentucky 21

02/15/2025 07:40:37 PM

One thing Kentucky doesn’t need more of: injuries. Trent Noah came up limping after a hard fall, less than 30 seconds after hitting a really tough bucket to pull Kentucky within three. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious for the Mountain Mamba.

Kentucky timeout after a terrible possession

02/15/2025 07:36:54 PM

Well, that was some ugly basketball. Kentucky had several chances to score on that possession but couldn’t finish, leading to a Brandon Garrison turnover for an easy Tre Johnson layup in transition. Timeout Kentucky. The Cats could use some threes. they’re 1-9 from behind the arc so far.

8:45 1H – Texas 25, Kentucky 19

Texas takes its first lead

02/15/2025 07:33:48 PM

Tramon Mark just gave Texas its first lead of the game with a three-pointer, the Longhorns’ second of the night. Otega Oweh had a chance to tie it up with an and-one, but missed the free throw.

10:19 1H – Texas 20, Kentucky 19

Amari Williams breaks the tie

02/15/2025 07:27:59 PM

After a very cold start, Texas is heating up. Jordan Pope tied the game at 15 with a three-pointer, but Amari Williams responded with what may turn out to be a three-point play of his own. Williams was fouled on a bucket and will head to the line after this timeout. While we wait, enjoy Otega Oweh’s big dunk at the 12:27 mark, made possible by an assist from Brandon Garrison, his second dime of the night.

11:33 1H – Kentucky 17, Texas 15

Score Update: 15:28 1H – Kentucky 9, Texas 6

02/15/2025 07:18:49 PM

Texas just went on a 4-0 run to cut the lead to three at the first media timeout. That Travis Perry three before the last timeout prompted some “Go Big Blue” chants from the many Kentucky fans in the house.

Travis Perry with a MONSTER three!

02/15/2025 07:16:08 PM

It’s all Kentucky so far. No, really. Even though the score is 9-2 Kentucky, the Cats are responsible for all 11 points thanks to a goaltend by Amari Williams. Williams started the game with a pair of free throws. Otega Oweh followed them up with a bank shot, Ansley Almonor got a bucket, and Travis Perry, making his first start, connected on a monster three to push the lead to seven and prompt Rodney Terry to call a timeout.

16:33 1H – Kentucky 9, Texas 2

The game is tipping off on ESPN News RIGHT NOW!

02/15/2025 07:10:01 PM

Predictably, North Carolina vs. Syracuse is still running long, so the start of Kentucky vs. Texas has been moved to ESPN News. Switch over now!

Tipoff pushed to 8:10 PM

02/15/2025 07:01:29 PM

North Carolina vs. Syracuse is still happening on ESPN, so tipoff of Kentucky vs. Texas has been pushed to 8:10 p.m. I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets moved to ESPN News as well, but we’ll see.

Blue is getting into the Moody Center

02/15/2025 06:45:41 PM

Jack Pilgrim is in Austin for us tonight. Based on his pregame videos, plenty of blue is making its way into the Moody Center.

Travis Perry will start

02/15/2025 06:36:50 PM

During his pregame conversation with Tom Leach, Mark Pope said that Travis Perry will START for Kentucky tonight vs. Texas, a first in his young Kentucky career. He won’t be the only player running point tonight; Pope said that the Cats will rotate four players in the “hybrid point guard” role.

The rest of the starting lineup:

11 Travis Perry
00 Otega Oweh
04 Koby Brea
15 Ansley Almonor
22 Amari Williams

Texas up to a 4.5-point favorite

02/15/2025 06:20:32 PM

Texas opened as a 1.5-point favorite yesterday. That’s now up to 4.5 points on FanDuel, with the total set at 157.5 points. If you’re feeling good about the Cats’ chances, you can get them at plus odds on the moneyline, +162.

Some more odds as we wait from FanDuel:

Kentucky Total Points: 77.5
Texas Total Points: 81.5
Amari Williams Points: 11.5
Tre Johnson Points: 21.5
Otega Oweh Points: 18.5
Koby Brea Points: 12.5
Amari Williams Rebounds: 8.5
Amari Williams Total Points + Rebounds: 20.5

Collin Chandler is first on the court

02/15/2025 06:00:37 PM

Lamont Butler is usually the first player on the court for warmups. With Butler and Jaxson Robinson out tonight, freshman Collin Chandler is doing the honors. 60 minutes until tip…

No. 1 Auburn beats No. 2 Alabama

02/15/2025 05:45:22 PM

The game of the day just wrapped in Tuscaloosa. No. 1 Auburn beat No. 2 Alabama 94-85. The Crimson Tide rallied to tie the game with 7:23 to go, but the Tigers were just too good down the stretch. Auburn improves to 23-2 and 11-1 in the SEC, while Alabama falls to 21-4 and 10-2.

Here’s the rest of the SEC scoreboard on this soggy Saturday:

No. 1 Auburn 94, No. 2 Alabama 85
No. 5 Tennessee 81, Vanderbilt 76
No. 8 Texas A&M 69, Arkansas 61
No. 21 Missouri 87, Georgia 74
Oklahoma 35, LSU 29 – Half
No. 22 Mississippi State 35, No. 19 Ole Miss 31 – 1:48 1H
8:00 PM – No. 15 Kentucky at Texas
8:30 PM – South Carolina at No. 3 Florida

Tonight’s officials…

02/15/2025 05:30:02 PM

…are Doug Shows, Keith Kimble, and Todd Austin. This season, Kentucky is 1-2 in games officiated by Shows, 1-0 in games by Keith Kimble, and 2-0 in games by Todd Austin.

Arthur Kaluma is OUT

02/15/2025 05:25:51 PM

It’s not just Kentucky that’s shorthanded tonight. Texas will be without Chendall Weaver (hip) and Arthur Kaluma (knee). Kaluma hurt his knee in Tuesday night’s loss to Alabama. The senior forward is averaging 12.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game this season. He was listed as doubtful on the initial SEC Availability Report last night. Devon Pryor is available after missing the Alabama game with a calf injury. He averages 4.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.