The all-time series is tied, 2-2. UK is 2-0 on neutral floors
This was the third straight season that Kentucky and Gonzaga have squared off
Mark Pope is now 195-109 as a head coach, including 8-1 at Kentucky
Next for Kentucky: The Wildcats return home to take on Colgate on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. inside Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. The game will air on ESPN 2.
Team Notes
Kentucky is 2-0 against AP top 10 opponents this season. It is the quickest (nine games) into a season that the Cats have two victories over AP top 10 opponents since 2014-15 (eight games)
The Cats matched the largest halftime deficit overcome in school history, coming from 16 points down at the intermission to win. Other comebacks in program history when trailing by 16 at the half:
at Louisville (Dec. 18, 2004)
at LSU (Feb. 15, 1994)
UK is now 104-72 all-time in matchups involving two AP top 10 teams
The Wildcats snapped a streak of 175 games that Gonzaga has won when leading by 10 or more points at the half
It was the first OT game for the Cats since last season’s home contest against Florida on Jan. 31, 2024
It marked the first OT win for Kentucky since the victory over St. Joe’s on Nov. 20, 2023
Kentucky led for a total of 6:38 on the night
Five players scored in double-figures. It is the fourth time this season that UK has had at least five players total double-digits in the scoring column
In the second half and overtime, Andrew Carr and Jaxson Robinson were a combined 12-14 from the field and scored 28 points. They played 16:11 minutes of game time between them with four fouls
The Cats held Gonzaga to just 6-27 (22.2%) shooting from beyond the arc. It is the sixth opponent that UK has held to less than 25 percent from deep on the season
Player Notes
Andrew Carr was the leading scorer for Kentucky finishing with a season-high of 19 points. Carr is averaging 18.0 points per game against AP Top 10 opponents this season and has been Kentucky’s leading scorers in both such contests. He played the last 9:55 of game time with four fouls
Jaxson Robinson had 18 points, 15 of which came in the second half, and registered a season-best five assists. He played the last 6:16 of game time with four fouls
Kerr Kriisa reached 1,000 points for his collegiate career when he buried a 3-pointer on Kentucky’s first possession of the game. He finished with eight points and four assists, but left the game with an injury with 8:41 to go in the second half
Brandon Garrison made the first 3-pointer of his collegiate career and scored a season-high 10 points while also securing a season-high nine rebounds
Koby Brea has made at least one 3-pointer in every game this season and 24-straight games overall
Otega Oweh has scored in double figures in every game this season. He finished with 13 points and six rebounds (five on the offensive glass) in a team-high 38 minutes of action
Amari Williams totaled 12 points and finished with two blocks. He has multiple blocked shots in six of his last seven games
In the First Half
Kentucky’s starters were Kerr Kriisa, Otega Oweh, Jaxson Robinson, Andrew Carr and Amari Williams
First subs were Kerr Kriisa and Brandon Garrison at 15:44
Kentucky went the last 5:06 of the first half without a field goal and trailed by 16 heading into the break, the team’s largest deficit this season
Brandon Garrison was Kentucky’s high scorer in the opening 20 minutes, scoring eight points
In the Second Half
Kentucky began the second half with the starters
Gonzaga scored first in half number two to take its largest lead of the game, 52-34
A 7-0 Kentucky spurt fueled by an Otega Oweh layup, an Andrew Carr “and-one” and a dunk by Amari Williams cut the deficit to 56-46 and forced a Gonzaga timeout at 16:43.
Kentucky extended the run after the timeout to a 13-0 spurt, bringing the score to 56-52. The 13 straight points were tied for the second largest run by UK this season
A jumper from Andrew Carr with 58 seconds to go tied the game at 79, the first tie of the night
Koby Brea had a look at a mid-range jumper as time expired, but the shot bounced off the front of the rim
In Overtime
Kentucky scored the first seven points of the overtime to lead, 86-79
Gonzaga responded with the next six points to pull within one at 86-85
The Wildcats went up by four on a jumper from Jaxson Robinson with 14 seconds to go
The Bulldogs responded with a 3-pointer from Nolan Hickman to bring the score to 90-89 with 5 seconds remaining
Andrew Carr was fouled but missed the ensuing two free throws. He was able to disrupt the Gonzaga fast break, however, and the Bulldogs did not get off a final shot before the horn
I know many didn’t enjoy Jimmy in the past but I liked him and his quirky sayings. He has always been complimentary of UK but I swear his tone has changed this year. Was he a Cal fan or a UK fan because he clearly has a different tone of UK to me this year.
Clemson is a quality team and road games in college basketball are always going to be difficult at this level but Kentucky didn't respond well enough to Clemson's physicality.
Kriisa struggled defensively and the +/- for him reflects that. That's going to come under some scrutiny because it was noticeable. But Kentucky didn't respond well offensively and they're going to face other teams that can play them just like that or even tougher.
The stats are interesting in a lot of respects. We talk about this team's balance and depth but they didn't get much from the bench tonight. That's when Clemson had by far their best stretches.
Against much inferior competition Kentucky didn't have as much trouble finishing inside the arc as tonight.
Schieffelin dominated on the glass but missed a lot of shots.
You don't expect Kentucky to struggle as much to generate offense from three as they have recently.
Worked as a student manager at Columbia. I could be mistaken but does this count as a true road game for KenPom purposes? I remember we played UConn in Hartford and were told it was neutral site for KenPom. Absurd if it does not. Of course, the committee will see it as a true road win. I’m just curious. Let’s go!!!! Way to overcome adversity. Big win for the boys.
How does the offense changing for better and so convincingly with Jaxon at the 1 change anything moving forward. Should it? I really loved this look. Of course, there was no tape for a scout against it, but I want more.
But but but but. I read stupid Sh*t on here tonight like.
Pope is worse than Cal.
And the Clown who made a thread who has since deleted it saying Pope isn't cut out for big time basketball.
🤡 🤡
