The Kentucky Wildcats pulled off a stunning upset over the No. 9 Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday night, winning 81-74 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats snapped a three-game losing streak against the Jayhawks and improved to 15-6 on the season, while the Jayhawks dropped their fourth straight game and fell to 16-5.
Kentucky’s balanced attack
The Wildcats had four players score in double figures, led by sophomore forward Oscar Tshiebwe, who had 23 points and 15 rebounds. Tshiebwe dominated the paint and outplayed Kansas star Jalen Wilson, who finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. Tshiebwe also hit a clutch 3-pointer with 1:17 left to give Kentucky a 77-72 lead.
Kentucky also got 18 points from freshman guard TyTy Washington, who returned from an ankle injury that sidelined him for the previous game. Washington hit four 3-pointers and added six assists and four steals. Senior guard Davion Mintz chipped in 14 points and six assists, while sophomore forward Keion Brooks Jr. had 13 points and seven rebounds.
Kansas’ shooting woes
The Jayhawks struggled to find their rhythm on offense, shooting just 39.7% from the field and 28.6% from 3-point range. They also committed 15 turnovers and missed eight free throws. Kansas trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half and could not complete the comeback.
Kansas was led by senior guard Ochai Agbaji, who had 22 points and four assists. Agbaji, who leads the Big 12 in scoring, hit five 3-pointers and kept the Jayhawks in the game with his clutch shooting. However, he did not get much help from his teammates, as only Wilson and sophomore guard Christian Braun (12 points) reached double digits.
What it means for both teams?
The win was a huge boost for Kentucky, which is trying to make a case for the NCAA Tournament after a slow start to the season. The Wildcats have won five straight games and are now 5-2 in the SEC, tied for second place behind No. 2 Auburn. Kentucky has also improved its resume with wins over No. 4 Tennessee, No. 18 LSU, and now No. 9 Kansas.
The loss was a devastating blow for Kansas, which is now in danger of falling out of the top 10 and losing its grip on the Big 12 title race. The Jayhawks are now 6-2 in the conference, one game behind No. 1 Baylor and No. 7 Texas Tech. Kansas has not lost four straight games since the 1988-89 season, when it finished 19-12 and missed the NCAA Tournament.
