It wasn’t clean, but this time of year, style points don’t matter. All that matters is moving on.
That’s exactly what Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats did Wednesday afternoon in Nashville, defeating LSU 87–82 in the opening round of the SEC Tournament to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Entering the tournament as the No. 9 seed, Kentucky found itself playing on Wednesday — something Big Blue Nation isn’t used to seeing. Still, the Wildcats did what they needed to do, taking care of business and advancing
to the next round.
Otega Oweh leads the way
As has been the case much of the season, Otega Oweh once again provided a steady presence for Kentucky.
Oweh finished the afternoon with 23 points and 8 rebounds, including a big jumper late in the game that helped the Wildcats maintain control in the final minutes.
Throughout the season, Oweh has consistently been the player Kentucky can turn to when it needs a basket or a moment of stability on the offensive end.
Brandon Garrison provides the spark
While Oweh led the way, Brandon Garrison delivered one of the biggest performances of the day.
With Kentucky’s frontcourt dealing with foul trouble, Garrison stepped into a larger role and made the most of the opportunity. The freshman finished with 17 points, highlighted by a stretch in the second half where he knocked down two key 3-pointers during an important Kentucky run.
It was the kind of performance the Wildcats have been hoping to see from the talented big man.
Kam Williams returns
Another encouraging development for Kentucky was the return of Kam Williams, who had been sidelined with a broken foot.
Williams logged valuable minutes and provided additional spacing on the floor as Kentucky continues to get healthier at an important time of the season.
If the Wildcats are going to make a run in Nashville, having Williams back in the rotation could play a key role.
Looking ahead
LSU was led by Max Mackinnon, who finished with 28 points, but Kentucky’s balanced effort and timely plays proved to be enough down the stretch.
The Wildcats shot 50 percent from the field, committed just five turnovers, and executed well late to secure the victory.
With the win, Kentucky advances to the second round, where they’ll face Missouri, now needing four more wins to capture the SEC Tournament title.
For now, though, the goal remains simple.
Survive and advance.
After the game, Pope and select players met with the media to discuss the win. Here is a recap of what they had to say via KSR and myself.
