FINAL: Kentucky opens Mark Pope era with 103-62 beatdown of Wright State

The Mark Pope era of Kentucky men’s basketball got off to a terrific start.

On Monday night in Rupp Arena, No. 23 Kentucky (1-0) opened the 2024-25 season with a no-nonsense win, boat-racing the Wright State Raiders from start to finish to the tune of a 103-62 final score. A nearly-full crowd in Lexington created a feel-good atmosphere that helped fuel the Wildcats. Six different players finished in double-figures as Kentucky shot 60 percent from the field and 46 percent (11-24) from deep.

Otega Oweh led the way for UK with a game-high 21 points on 8-9 shooting (3-3 from deep). Not far behind was Koby Brea, who was equally efficient with a 7-8 shooting clip, including a perfect 4-4 mark beyond the arc, for his 18 points. Lamont Butler chipped in 14 points, five assists, and five rebounds while Amari Williams posted a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double. Andrew Carr and Ansley Almonor rounded out the double-digit scoring with 11 points a piece.

Kentucky’s defense showed out as well, holding Wright State to just 35 percent overall shooting and under 20 percent (5-27) from long range. The Raiders dished out just eight assists to 12 turnovers (compared to 30 assists and seven turnovers for the ‘Cats). UK won nearly every statistical category in a game where the winner was never in doubt.

With an energized crowd behind them (and a suit-wearing Pope coaching them up), Kentucky came out with plenty of energy that the fans quickly fed off of. The Wildcats took a 10-point lead before the first media timeout could hit. Williams was looking spry on both ends of the floor while Robinson was already heating up. Big Blue Nation was loving every second of what they were seeing.

Brea soon got in on the action with back-to-back triples. Williams continued to wreck Wright State too. By the half, the seven-footer had eight points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Five different Wildcats were up to eight points at the intermission as Kentucky held a 46-24 lead. UK didn’t even need to light it up from the perimeter (4-9 through 20 minutes) either — they were content having their way against the Raiders’ interior defense all half.

It didn’t take long out of the locker room for Kentucky’s lead to grow over 30. It was Oweh’s turn to make some noise as he canned a pair of three-pointers early in the half. The Oklahoma transfer continues to establish himself as the early-season surprise. The overall team defense continued to surprise, too. Wright State had just three made field goals through the first eight minutes of the second half. At this point, Williams was up to a double-double, the first of the Pope era.

Kentucky kept the foot on the gas from there, soon pushing the lead to 40 points thanks to a three from Brea (where he turned to the crowd before the shot even fell in). After some “We want Noah” chants broke throughout the gym, both Trent Noah and Travis Perry — the two Kentucky natives — checked into the game to close out the night.