LEXINGTON — One of the overarching themes of Kentucky basketball this season — much to the chagrin of its ever-vocal fan base — was how, with mind-numbing efficiency, it dug itself a double-digit hole in first halves against high-major foes. At times, UK was able to rally for victories. At others, the deficit was too much to overcome.
Saturday, then, represented a welcome change for the Wildcats and their supporters: They weren’t on the receiving end of first-half punishment on this afternoon. Instead, they were dishing it out.
Vanderbilt dealt with the damage: Kentucky led by as many as 20 points in the first half. UK went into intermission ahead 46-31. The Wildcats didn’t let up in the final 20 minutes, romping to a 91-77 win at Rupp Arena.
“That was a great feeling,” UK senior guard Otega Oweh, who tied for the game-high point total (23), said of the halftime lead. “I think we should do that more often.”
The result was a bit of sweet revenge for Kentucky (19-10, 10-6 SEC) and coach Mark Pope: Last month in Nashville, this same Vanderbilt club clobbered the visitors in a 25-point victory at Memorial Gymnasium. Afterward, the Commodores (22-7, 9-7) gloated, saying they viewed the Wildcats’ physicality (or lack thereof) as a weakness they could exploit.
“We saw a couple clips from their press conference after the game and took those to heart,” Kentucky freshman center Malachi Moreno said. “So, I think today we were just gonna punch them in the mouth early and we’re just gonna let ’em know that’s not us.”
UK certainly had its way Saturday.
Vandy entered No. 21 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll and No. 25 in the AP Top 25. The 14-point triumph marked Kentucky’s largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in Pope’s two-season tenure.
The Cats outscored the ‘Dores at the free-throw line and beyond the 3-point arc. In points off turnovers, fast-break points and second-chance points.
For as well as Kentucky played, its performance Saturday is the type of effort required going forward, as it will be an underdog in its final two regular-season outings (at Texas A&M on Tuesday, then senior day versus league leader and defending national champion Florida on March 7). After that, UK has a minimum of two contests remaining, first in the SEC Tournament, then March Madness.
Most important in Pope’s eyes was how his team’s intensity never waned.
Regardless of the score.
“I was really proud of the guys for staying really aggressive,” he said. “As Vanderbilt tried to extend the press, our guys just attacked it. It’s what we do when we’re at our best. There’s not second guessing. … And that’s how you want your guys to feel.”
It’s just easier said than done.
“Every time we were together, every time we were talking, it’s just, ‘Keep going,'” said sophomore guard Collin Chandler, who scored a personal-best 23 points, equaling Oweh for top scorer honors Saturday. “It’s ‘playing to win,’ not ‘playing not to lose,’ right? That was our mentality: We got up, we’ve gotta keep going. We’ve got to keep putting the pressure on them.”
The Commodores noticed.
“Credit to Kentucky,” Vandy coach Mark Byington said. “I thought they were ready to play. Defense. Offense. I thought they were sharp. I thought in the second half, we were better, but it’s just too big of a deficit to come back in here and not have everything be right (for) us.”
Very little went wrong for Kentucky on this afternoon in Lexington. Though he was talking only about this win, the wise-beyond-his-years Moreno perfectly summed up what he and his teammates must do to ensure they extend their season as long as possible.
“Our vibe is just to keep going and to not let up,” he said. “Just crush their spirits.”
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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