In March, it’s just about surviving and advancing. That’s exactly what Kentucky Basketball did Wednesday afternoon in the First Round of the SEC Tournament, outlasting LSU 87-82 to advance to the Second Round Thursday afternoon against Missouri.
Several players stood out for the Cats on Wednesday. Let’s highlight them in our Stars of the Game.
Stars of the Game
1. Brandon Garrison: 17 pts (7-9 FG, 2-3 3-PT FG), 1-2 FT, 5 rebs, 2 ast., 2 blk, 2 stl, 26 mins
Kentucky does not win this game without Brandon Garrison. In
the second half, he seized control of the game with back-to-back 3-pointers. Who could have expected that, with Kentucky clinging to a one-point lead against the No. 16-seed LSU?
Mark Pope said after the game that his favorite play from Garrison, ironically, was his missed dunk on the possession before his consecutive 3-pointers. Pope praised Garrison’s physicality and determination to get the rebound off the missed dunk, which he corralled to get fouled and go to the free-throw line to make a free throw that put Kentucky up 65-62.
Garrison isn’t known for 3-point shooting, and it’s common for Big Blue Nation to tense up when he launches a 3-pointer. But in the second half, you saw the confidence BG can play with, and it proved to be the difference in a back-and-forth battle.
2. Otega Oweh: 23 pts (8-19 FG), 7-10 FT, 8 rebs, 3 ast, stl, 39 mins
It’s those 39 minutes that many Wildcats fans are probably the happiest about. Oweh sat for just one minute. That’s what Kentucky needs from its star player. Fatigue? Never heard of her.
3. Denzel Aberdeen: 16 pts (6-13 FG, 1-5 3-PT FG), 3-4 FT, 2 rebs, 3 ast., 1 stl, 37 mins
Like Oweh, Aberdeen rarely came out on Wednesday. He only sat for three minutes of the game. That’s how Pope needs to play Aberdeen this entire Postseason.
4. Mouhamed Dioubate: 7 pts (3-6 FG), 1-1 FT, 7 rebs, 2 ast, 21 mins
A big theme of the Cats’ postgame press conference was Mouhamed Dioubate. Pope, Oweh, and Aberdeen mentioned how every team needs a player like him, and the Cats really needed him on Wednesday. All seven of Dioubate’s points came in the second half, including an and-one with the game still tighter than a brand new pair of shoes on a rainy day (S/O Red Barber for that catchphrase).
5. Kam Williams: 3 pts (1-3 3-PT FG), 2 rebs, 1 ast., 1 stl, 17 mins
Williams’s 3-pointer midway through the first half conjured a loud ovation from Big Blue Nation inside Bridgestone Arena. It was incredible to see Williams return from a broken foot sustained back in January. Seeing him return is a testament to his resilience and work ethic, and it clearly had a positive impact on the Cats.
