It was an anemic beginning of the season for the Kentucky Wildcats, a squad that has a reported 22 million dollar NIL-infused roster. The consensus belief is Kentucky has the highest payroll for a collegiate roster, with Duke ranking right behind the Wildcats in roster expenditure.
In light of those NIL numbers, the alarms sounded off when Kentucky entered SEC play with a record of 9-4. Now, all four losses were to Top 20 opponents, but the Wildcats, regardless of economics, are always expected to do better than 0-4 against Top 20 teams during the pre-conference schedule.
Results did not improve for Kentucky at the start of the SEC slate, with the Cats losing by 15 at Alabama and then suffering a surprising five point loss at home to Missouri. At 9-6 and 0-2 in the conference, the program was at a crisis point, and nothing really indicated that there would be a sudden improvement.
(Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Why Kentucky Struggled Early
Reasons for the poor record to begin the season included a lack of physicality inside. Opposing big men were having their way enforcing their will on the Kentucky bigs around the basket. There was a lack of rim protection, and Kentucky was being bullied for position and for the basketball.
On the perimeter, the defense was porous. There just wasn’t that grit and connection that a high level team must have.
Offensively, the Wildcats did not have crisp action and a decisive intent. The offense looked like a hodgepodge of dribbling and meaningless passing. Frankly, it looked like the Wildcats thought they would win because of the Kentucky on the jersey and their own perceived talent.
Wildcat Reckoning
Well, there has appeared to be a reckoning where the Wildcats felt the humiliating sting of losing. Wanting to win is never enough, but a team changing its ways can turn losing into winning.
Right now it looks like the Wildcats have changed their ways.
Coach Mark Pope‘s crew got off the snide on Jan. 10 with a convincing 92-68 win at home against Mississippi State. Regardless of Kentucky’s poor beginning, this win was expected. What was not expected was for Kentucky to go on the road four days later to LSU and stage a comeback from down 18 in the second half for a last second 75-74 victory. Last Saturday, the Cats traveled to Knoxville, found themselves down 17 late in the first half, and came back for an 80-78 win over Tennessee.
Wow! Those comebacks and wins on the road were not expected. Then those wins were followed up by a solid win at home against Texas on Wednesday.
Kentucky now sits at 13-6. In the SEC, it is tied for third with a conference record of 4-2.
Texas head coach Sean Miller says Malachi Moreno is one of the best freshmen in the country and these plays show why. His defense and ability to match physicality have stood out all season. #BBN @FOX56News pic.twitter.com/ywxqII6bxm
— Colby Wilson (@colbyywilsonn) January 22, 2026
What Led Kentucky’s Turnaround?
So what happened for Pope and his team that got things rolling in the right direction?
One, attention to detail and playing with a purpose has improved. The offense has become crisper, and players are executing so that they are getting touches where they can be effective.
Otega Oweh has continued to be a standout and has even upped his game on both ends.
Most importantly, 6-foot-5 transfer guard Denzel Aberdeen has come into his own as a primary ball handler and playmaker. He is seeking his shot and has given the team some offensive purpose. In fact, Aberdeen has led the team in scoring the last two games.
Also, Collin Chandler has found his stride. He is playing better defense and playing more efficiently offensively. The team is also doing a great job of getting Chandler the ball in better situations.
On the interior, 7-foot freshman Malachi Moreno is finding his game. This has taken place over the last four games while big man Jayden Quaintance has been out with an injury. Moreno didn’t all of the sudden get bigger and stronger. But the highly skilled big man is exerting himself with more energy and is setting the pace more than just trying to keep up. Kentucky has helped him by making him a more focal point of the offense.
There are always reasons for winning and losing. Luck has little if anything to do with it.
Playing with more toughness, more connection, and better intention vastly improves the chances of winning. The last four wins indicate that the Cats are learning the lessons of winning.
The lead national recruiting scout for Rivals.com and 247sports.com for a 20-year span, Jerry Meyer grew up in basketball as the son of legendary coach Don Meyer. Jerry set the all-time career assist record for college basketball (1,314) and was a two-time Mr. Basketball in Tennessee. He coached at the pro and high school level, was previously an assistant at Vanderbilt and co-authored “Basketball Skills and Drills”.
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