BOX SCORE: Kentucky makes worst SEC offense look like worst SEC offense

The matchup against South Carolina at Rupp Arena on Saturday afternoon was a get-right opportunity for Kentucky. With point guard Lamont Butler returning to the lineup, the Wildcats needed to create some momentum and get a W in the win column.

Kentucky accomplished the mission in a 80-57 home win — and made the worst offense in the SEC look like the worst offense in the SEC.

South Carolina has only scored over 70 points once in SEC play this season. The Gamecocks had scored 65 points or less in seven league games entering today. Head coach Lamont Paris saw his team have their worst scoring performance since a 85-50 road loss to Mississippi State on Jan. 4.

Kentucky held South Carolina to 57 points in 66 possessions (0.86 points per possession) on .328/.182/.652 shooting splits. The Cats forced nine turnovers and allowed only nine offensive rebounds. The Gamecocks got 22 points on dunks/lay-ups but struggled to generate offense elsewhere shooting 8-of-42 (19%) away from the rim. The poor shooting output prevented the double-digit road underdog from ever truly threatening.

The Wildcats scored 80 points in 68 possessions (1.18 points per possessions) against a top-50 defense on .484/.348/.923 shooting splits. Kentucky’s turnover rate (13.2%) took a step forward with Butler back in the lineup and a 47-point second half allowed the Cats to get rolling after a slow start in the first half. Otega Oweh (17 points) led all scorers. Brandon Garrison scored a season-high 15 points on eight field goal attempts. UK got 39 points off the bench with Koby Brea and Andrew Carr providing some big minutes.

Kentucky accomplished the mission against South Carolina. The defense put the clamps on a bad offense and the offense was efficient after a slow start. That turned into a much-needed blowout win to improve to .500 in SEC play.

BOX SCORE: Kentucky vs. South Carolina