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OXFORD, Miss. — At least Kentucky basketball didn’t make the wrong kind of history Tuesday. At one point during its game against Ole Miss, UK was on pace to suffer its worst loss in a series that dates back more than a century.
Instead, the Wildcats settled for a 98-84 setback at The Pavilion.
But the final score couldn’t be less revealing of the game itself.
Kentucky, ranked No. 14 in both major polls (USA TODAY Coaches and Associated Press), didn’t look the part of a ranked team Tuesday. The Wildcats (15-7, 4-5 SEC) were thoroughly outclassed in their worst first half under first-year coach Mark Pope. And even a second half in which UK shot 63% from the field — including 46% from 3 — couldn’t cover up the flaws from the opening 20 minutes.
Ole Miss led by 23, 54-31, at the end of the half. It was the largest halftime deficit Kentucky ever has had against Ole Miss. And it was the biggest end-of-first-half gap for UK, in any game, since it trudged into the locker room down 24 (50-26) at Tennessee on Feb. 16, 2013. The first game after Nerlens Noel’s devastating ACL injury that brought his season to a tragic end.
That Wildcats team went on to go one and done in the National Invitation Tournament. This season’s squad is still a near-lock to earn an NCAA Tournament bid.
Still, the setback to the Rebels (17-6, 6-4) marked the Wildcats’ second defeat in as many games, following John Calipari’s triumph over his former program in Arkansas’ 89-79 win last week.
Kentucky will try to bring its two-game skid to a stop Saturday. And, on paper, the SEC schedule makers did UK a favor: It welcomes South Carolina to Rupp Arena. The Gamecocks are 10-12 overall, with an 0-9 mark in conference play.
Saturday’s game is slated to start at noon.
ESPN2 will carry the national television broadcast.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared…
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Author : The Courier Journal
Publish date : 2025-02-05 02:08:00
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