Kentucky Basketball returns to action Tuesday night in a must-win SEC matchup against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena, with tip-off set for 7:00 PM ET on the SEC Network.
The Wildcats, who once sat at 17-7 and 8-3 in SEC play, now find themselves at 17-10 and 8-6 in the league after dropping three straight games to Florida on the road, Georgia at home, and Auburn away. This marks Kentucky’s first three-game losing streak since the 2020-2021 season and the fourth consecutive year
the Wildcats have suffered 10 or more regular-season losses.
Kentucky’s most recent setback came Saturday night in a heartbreaking 75-74 defeat at Auburn, a game in which the Wildcats led by nine early in the second half before a series of scoring droughts and late-game miscues allowed the Tigers to come back and steal the win. The loss drops Kentucky further in the SEC standings with only four games remaining.
Meanwhile, South Carolina enters Tuesday’s game in the midst of a difficult season at 12-15 overall and 3-11 in SEC play, tied for second-to-last in the conference. Although the Gamecocks have struggled, Kentucky has not played well in Columbia in recent years. Historically, the Wildcats dominate the series 55-15 and are 33-11 against USC since 2000. However, on the road since 2000, Kentucky is just 13-7, and more recently, the Wildcats are 2-3 in their last five trips to Columbia dating back to 2016. Since 2020, Kentucky holds a losing road record of 1-2 in the matchup.
The numbers may not inspire confidence, but with South Carolina’s struggles this season, Kentucky will look to capitalize. They will once again be without key rotation players Jaland Lowe (shoulder), Jayden Quaintance (knee), and Kam Williams (foot), all of whom remain sidelined.
What to Watch For
South Carolina’s Balanced Scoring Attack
Despite their record, the Gamecocks feature balanced scoring with four players averaging double figures. Leading the charge is guard Meechie Johnson at 17.1 points per game. He is joined by guard Mike Sharavjamts, guard Kobe Knox, and forward Elijah Strong, all of whom also average over 10 points per contest.
South Carolina may have four players who consistently produce offensively, but the team itself does not score at a high clip, averaging 76.7 points per game. For Kentucky, the priority will be slowing down Johnson while preventing any secondary scorer from catching fire.
Gamecocks’ 3-Point Struggles
South Carolina’s perimeter shooting has been a season-long weakness. They shoot only 31% from 3, though they attempt 25.4 3s per game and make 7.9. While the efficiency is poor, the volume is high, which means Kentucky must avoid defensive lapses.
This is especially important considering Kentucky’s struggles defending the perimeter this season. The Wildcats have been burned by teams such as Michigan State, Florida, and Georgia, all of whom found success from deep despite inconsistent averages. If South Carolina sees a few 3s fall early, the Wildcats could be in trouble.
Rebounding Advantage Favors Kentucky
One key area where Kentucky holds a significant advantage is rebounding. South Carolina averages 32.9 boards per game, far below Kentucky’s 38.1. While Kentucky has struggled at times on the glass, especially in late-game situations, it did outrebound Georgia and Auburn in two of its last three games.
However, offensive rebounds have hurt Kentucky during this losing streak. Both Georgia and Auburn produced second-chance points at crucial moments, swinging momentum away from Kentucky. To blow this game open, the Wildcats must dominate both the offensive and defensive glass and eliminate second-chance opportunities for USC.
Players to Watch
Meechie Johnson
The most familiar face in the matchup, Johnson has had an unusual college journey: two years at Ohio State, two years at South Carolina, one more year at Ohio State, and now his sixth and final year back at USC. He is 2-0 against Kentucky, including a 26-point performance in South Carolina’s shocking 71–68 win at Rupp Arena in 2023. In 2024, he added 14 points in USC’s dominant 79–62 win in Columbia.
Johnson is a 6-foot-2 guard who can score at all three levels and has historically played some of his best basketball against Kentucky.
Mike Sharavjamts
A 6-foot-8 forward in his first season with USC and his fourth school overall, Sharavjamts averages 11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 48.3% from the field and 33% from 3. His length allows him to play multiple positions and rebound in traffic.
Elijah Strong
A 6-foot-8 junior forward in his first year at USC after transferring from Boston College, Strong brings muscle and efficiency. He averages 10.7 points and 2.6 rebounds on 46.1% shooting.
Kobe Knox
A 6-foot-5 guard with stops at Grand Canyon and South Florida before arriving at USC, Knox averages 10.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 50.3% shooting. He’s a physical guard who can attack the rim and defend multiple positions.
Additional Contributors
Eli Ellis (9.4 PPG), Myles Stute (6.1 PPG), Grant Polk (4.0 PPG), Jordan Butler (3.3 PPG), Kentucky-native EJ Walker (2.9 PPG), and Hayden Assemian (2.4 PPG) round out a deep but inconsistent rotation.
Kentucky Basketball vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Game Time: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET
Location: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina
TV Channel: The SEC Network will have television coverage of this matchup.
Online Stream: WatchESPN, ESPN App
Radio: Tom Leach & Jack Givens on the UK Sports Radio Network
Replay: WatchESPN and ESPN Network (check local listings)
Rosters: UK | South Carolina
Stats to Know: UK | South Carolina
KenPom: UK | South Carolina
Team Sheets: UK | South Carolina
Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook has Kentucky favored by 5.5 points with an over/under of 147.5 points. EvanMiya gives UK a 79.3% chance of winning. KenPom (69%), ESPN (75.6%), BartTorvik (64%), and DRatings (75.7%) also favor the Cats to win.
Predictions: EvanMiya (79-70), KenPom (77-71), BartTorvik (76-72), Haslametrics (77-70), and DRatings (83-75) all have the Cats winning.
Kentucky and South Carolina will only play once this season, like they did last year in Lexington, where Kentucky was the more dominant team throughout. With Kentucky desperate for a bounce-back win after losing three straight, and South Carolina playing with nothing to lose, this matchup carries major implications. Lamont Paris is 2-1 against Kentucky since taking the job, but 0-1 against Mark Pope. Kentucky enters with pressure, while USC enters with freedom, which is a dangerous combination.
This will be a close contest, but the Wildcats find a way to close it out. I’m going with an 84-77 victory, Kentucky!
How do you see this game playing out? Drop your thoughts below in the comments section!
And Go Cats!
