Content by – Ron Hamblin for
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Nashville, TN 1-27-26 – UK fans across the nation are trying to figure out what that smell was coming from Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville last night during the UK Wildcats and the Vanderbilt Commodores. Vandy did what other ranked teams have been doing to UK this season by beating the brakes off the uninspired Wildcats.

Kentucky stunk up the place and it’s not the first time this has happened this year to the Cats. Vandy would end up beating UK 80-55 and it really wasn’t that close. It was another in a long line of humiliating games for Mark Pope’s Wildcats. Kentucky had won 5 straight and looked like they had straightened their season out. Apparently, they have not.

Some things to look at after this game courtesy of UK Athletics;

• Kentucky is 14-7 overall, 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference, ending a five-game winning streak.
• Vanderbilt is 18-3 overall, 5-3 in the SEC.
• Kentucky leads the series, 158-51, including 62-29 in games played in Nashville.
• Next for Kentucky: the Wildcats conclude their two-game road swing Saturday at Arkansas. Game time is 6:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30 p.m. Central in Fayetteville) and it will be televised on ESPN. (It must be noted, Arkansas is playing extremely well and Coach Cal would like nothing more  than to embarrass UK in this matchup. Sports View America will be in Fayetteville for this contest)

Player Notes  

• Otega Oweh had 20 points, his eighth 20-point game of the season, all coming in the last 12 games.
  • He has tallied at least 20 in six of eight SEC games.
  • He has scored in double figures in all 21 games this season. He has a total streak of 24 games dating back to last season.
  • He is the first Kentucky player to have two 20-point games against Vanderbilt in Nashville since Tayshaun Prince in 2001 and 2002.
  • He also led the team tonight in assists and steals with three each.
    • The team leader in steals, it is the sixth game this season he has had at least three swipes.
  • Denzel Aberdeen notched 15 points. He has hit double figures in 14 games this season, including five of the last six.
  • Malachi Moreno had four points and led the team in rebounding with eight.
  • Mo Dioubate had two points, seven rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots.
    • He tied Moreno for the most blocked shots in a game this season.
  • Kentucky is currently missing Jayden Quaintance, Kam Williams and Jaland Lowe because of injury. Lowe is out for the season.

How bad had UK been away from home against top teams? They have lost 5 times away from Rupp Arena by an average of 20.0 points a game including last nights 25 point stinker and the 35 point loss to Gonzaga. In 4 of their 5 losses away from home, UK has been beaten by at least 15 points. By contrast, in their two home losses to Missouri and North Carolina, they lost by 5 and 3 respectively and both games should have been won.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH UK
If you ask the sideline fans/coaches, they will tell you it is the team has not heart, they don’t care or it is simply that they are getting paid now and those type of players are harder to coach. Fans are saying Kids now do not play for the name on the front of the Jersey but more for the face on their money.

Kentucky is, if you listen to some reports, near the top in NIL money at over 20 million. Kentucky entering the season was also ranked at or near the top with talent. So, what is wrong with UK. Last night they genuinely STUNK. There was no heart. One thing that is a glaring issue is this team is selfish. When your passing leader is your scoring leader with ONLY 3 assists, there is no ball movement. 

I don’t know what the solution is or if it cam be fixed before March Madness begins. At this point, can you even see a way for UK to make the tournament? If Kentucky doesn’t rack up a bunch more wins in the SEC, they may be destined for the NIT, and no one wants to see that happen. Let’s hope they come out with a little more heart against Coach Cal and the Razorbacks, because I can guarantee you this, Cal will be ready and willing to walk all over UK Saturday and won’t think twice about running up the score early and often.