The Wildcats’ offense was expected to be better Friday night against Valparaiso, but how many Wildcats fans expected that prolific and efficient a performance Friday night? From the starting gates, the Wildcats were
in full command in every facet on the offensive end. It was beautiful to watch the flow Kentucky had on the offensive end Friday night.
Another beautiful element of Friday night’s game was the numerous Wildcats who delivered star-of-the-game-worthy performances. In fact, we’re going to highlight all six players who scored in double figures Friday night as the stars of the game.
Stars of the game: Highlighting the six Wildcats who scored in double figures Friday night
1. Malachi Moreno: 18 pts (8-14 FG, 2-4 FT), 10 rebs, 3 ast., 1 blk, 21 mins, +/- 29
Moreno is coming into his own, showing that the moment isn’t too big for him. Compiling a double-double in just his second collegiate game, in the state he grew up in, is an indicator that Moreno could be a major contributor for the Wildcats this season.
2. Collin Chandler: 14 pts (4-8 3-PT FG, 2-2 FT), 5 rebs, 4 ast, 1 blk, 23 mins, +/- 25
Chandler has the opportunity to be a major player on this year’s Wildcats team. Playing the expanded minutes he got last season, when both Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler prepared him to be one of Kentucky’s key players this season.
He’s not afraid to let it fly from three-point range. The Wildcats don’t have a defined sharpshooter yet, but Chandler may become that. Not only does he put up a lot of three-pointers, but he makes them. Shooters keep shooting, and that’s what Chandler looks like.
3. Otega Oweh: 15 pts (6-10 FG, 1-3 3-PT FG, 2-2 FT), 5 rebs, 3 ast, 22 mins, +/- 32
It’s a great night for the Wildcats when Otega Oweh quietly has 15 points on 6-10 shooting. Like, oh by the way, Oweh had 15 points on a solid 6-10 shooting from the field. Not to mention, he had five rebounds and three assists to finish with a +/- of 32.
When Oweh quietly has that kind of night, that’s an indicator of how good this Kentucky team is going to be this season. Oweh getting lost in the shuffle of stars and still having a night like this is a sign that Kentucky has a lot of depth that can overwhelm opponents.
4. Mouhamed Dioubate: 14 pts (5-8 FG, 1-3 3-PT FG, 3-4 FT), 5 rebs, 1 blk, 1 stl, 2o mins, +/- 33
Everything Dioubate does on the floor is a positive. He plays so hard, and he’s really a stabilizing force on both ends of the floor. Leading the team with a +/- of 33 shows just how valuable he is to this team.
5. Denzel Aberdeen: 12 pts (3-3 FG, 1-1 3-PT FG, 5-5 FT), 4 rebs, 2 ast, 1 stl, 19 mins, +/- 29
Aberdeen, like Jaland Lowe, is a key reason the Wildcats’ offense has much more flow when he is on the court. It’s amazing to think that transferring to Kentucky is going to take Aberdeen from a role player on last year’s Florida national championship team to a potentially star player on this year’s Wildcats team.
6. Brandon Garrison: 12 pts (4-4 FG, 4-4 FT), 4 rebs, 4 ast, 1 blk, 18 mins, +/- 19
Garrison can bring a rollercoaster experience for Kentucky fans, but Friday night was an efficient and effective performance. A perfect 4-4 from the field, four assists, and no turnovers. This is the kind of performance Wildcats fans want to see from Garrison.
