LIVE BLOG: No. 14 Kentucky vs. South Carolina
Kentucky has hit a skid, losing four of the last five. Today, they have a chance to bounce back against the worst team in the SEC. KSR’s LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Rupp Arena as the No. 14 Wildcats host the South Carolina Gamecocks (12 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
Tuesday night’s loss at Ole Miss dropped Kentucky to 15-7, 4-5 in SEC play. South Carolina is at the bottom of the SEC standings, 0-9 in conference and 10-12 overall. That said, Lamont Paris is undefeated against Kentucky, with the Gamecocks winning the last two meetings. They’re led by sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles, a projected first-round NBA Draft pick who is averaging a team-high 15.5 points and 8.8 rebounds. Although South Carolina is winless in the SEC so far, the Gamecocks have given several teams a scare, losing to Auburn by three, Florida by one, and Mississippi State by five in overtime.
Will Kentucky get back on track or do we really need to worry? Refresh the feed below for updates and our takes on the game, from both Rupp Arena and the couch. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread or by texting your observations to 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).
FINAL: Kentucky 80, South Carolina 57
02/08/2025 01:16:59 PMKentucky desperately needed to get back in the win column and they did it today, beating South Carolina by 23 to improve to 16-7 and 5-5 in the SEC.
It came against one of the worst offensive teams in the league, but the Cats turned in an impressive defensive performance, limiting the Gamecocks to 57 points on 32.8% shooting. Having Lamont Butler back helped. Kentucky’s floor general played 23 minutes, finishing with 8 points, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, a rebound, and a steal. Otega Oweh led all scorers with 17 points, followed by Brandon Garrison with 15 points.
We’ll have postgame content flowing all afternoon.
Otega Oweh autograph signing at KSBar tomorrow
02/08/2025 01:16:03 PMThe best way to celebrate big wins? Autograph signings. Otega Oweh will be at KSBar tomorrow from 2-3:30 p.m. to meet fans and sign autographs. Oweh led the Cats today with 17 points.
Score Update: 2:39 2H – Kentucky 73, South Carolina 52
02/08/2025 01:11:27 PMThis game is still going on, yet another to cross the two-hour mark. The Cats still lead comfortably, 73-52. South Carolina hasn’t scored in almost three minutes, but will head to the free-throw line after this timeout.
Score Update: 4:00 2H – Kentucky 69, South Carolina 47
02/08/2025 01:01:55 PMKentucky’s lead is now 22 with four minutes to go. With the outcome seemingly in hand, Lamont Butler checked out and received a big ovation from the Rupp Arena crowd. If his day is done, he’ll finish with 8 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound, and a steal in 23 minutes.
It’s been a rough day for South Carolina, which will fall to 0-10 in SEC play, but shoutout to Zachary Davis, who made a point to help a young fan up after crashing into the sideline going for a ball.
Score Update: 5:27 2H – Kentucky 65, South Carolina 45
02/08/2025 12:55:47 PMKentucky’s cruising, up 20 with 5:27 to go. Lexington has turned into Dunk City in the last segment, with Otega Oweh slamming down a Koby Brea missed three, which brought Rupp Arena to its feet. He’s up to 11 points, extending his streak of scoring in double figures to all 23 games. Oweh is the only player in the SEC with that bragging right.
Poster dunk by Amari Williams
02/08/2025 12:51:14 PMThe Cats are starting to find some separation. This dunk by Amari Williams has them up 17 with 7:45 to go.
Score Update: 7:59 2H – Kentucky 55, South Carolina 41
02/08/2025 12:44:53 PMA five-point run by Otega Oweh has pushed Kentucky’s lead back to double digits. Oweh hit a three and then got a steal and slam to make it 55-41 at the Under-8 timeout.
Andrew Carr’s fourth foul is confirmed
02/08/2025 12:41:08 PMAfter a lengthy review for a potential hook and hold, a common foul on Andrew Carr is confirmed. It’s Carr’s fourth, which will send him to the bench. Collin Murray-Boyles just scored to cut Kentucky’s lead to single digits. It’s his first bucket of the half. Don’t need him getting hot.
10:39 2H – Kentucky 50, South Carolina 41.
Technical foul on Brandon Garrison
02/08/2025 12:36:06 PMOfficials just called a technical foul on Brandon Garrison for doing a finger gun gesture to celebrate a three-pointer, which put the Cats up 13. South Carolina’s Jacobi Wright hit both free throws to pull the Gamecocks within 11 at the Under-12 media timeout.
In other news, for the second time this half, Jaxson Robinson checked out holding his right wrist. Hopefully, the rest of the Cats take care of business so he can just rest it the rest of the game.
11:12 2H – Kentucky 50, South Carolina 39
Today’s Y: Jimmy Dan Connor
02/08/2025 12:25:38 PMKentucky leads South Carolina 43-30 at the 13:51 mark, and during the media timeout, Jimmy Dan Connor came out as the honorary Y. Connor and the rest of the 1975 NCAA runners-up were honored at halftime.
Score Update: 14:49 2H – Kentucky 41, South Carolina 30
02/08/2025 12:17:58 PMSouth Carolina’s not going away just yet. The Gamecocks are on a 6-0 run to cut Kentucky’s lead to 11, prompting Mark Pope to call a timeout. Kentucky hasn’t scored in almost three minutes. For all the progress the team has made on defense this game, that was a bad segment.
Jaxson Robinson checks out holding injured wrist
02/08/2025 12:15:12 PMSome potentially bad news: Jaxson Robinson just checked out of the game holding his right wrist, which he injured on Friday during practice. Robinson was trying to save a ball from going out of bounds but stepped on the line. Cats lead by 15.
16:37 2H – Kentucky 41, South Carolina 26
Lamont Butler is on the board
02/08/2025 12:12:41 PMLamont Butler just scored his first bucket of the game, and he did it using his left shoulder. Butler worked his way under the basket, banging around with that left shoulder to get position. He scored to put Kentucky up by 18.
19:07 2H – Kentucky 37, South Carolina 19
Text Machine loves having Butler back.
02/08/2025 12:08:22 PMYou can text your observations to 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).
HALF: Kentucky 33, South Carolina 19
02/08/2025 11:51:06 AMKentucky came into this game needing to improve on defense. So far, they’ve done pretty well, limiting South Carolina to 19 points, the fewest by an opponent in the first half of a game this season. The Gamecocks, who are not a great offensive team in general, are shooting just 8-24 (24%) from the floor and 1-11 (9%) from three. Collin Murray-Boyles, who went to the bench early with two fouls, has ten points.
On Kentucky’s end, the Cats finished the half on a 12-1 run over 4:11. After a very cold start, Kentucky is shooting 13-32 (41%) from the floor and 4-11 (36%) from three. Andrew Carr leads the way with 9 points, followed by Koby Brea with 8. Amari Williams started to get hot towards the end of the half, scoring all five of his points in the final minute.
This no-look pass from Brea to Garrison was just beautiful
02/08/2025 11:49:03 AMThis game hasn’t been the prettiest, but this no-look pass from Koby Brea to Brandon Garrison was gorgeous, capping off a 7-0 Kentucky run.
Score Update: 2:40 1H – Kentucky 26, South Carolina 18
02/08/2025 11:40:36 AMAndrew Carr is giving the Cats some life. Carr hit a three to end Kentucky’s 4-plus minute scoring drought and made another layup to put the Cats up eight with 2:40 to go. Carr is up to nine points so far. Trent Noah is also playing well, pulling down four rebounds and dishing an assist (to Carr on that three) in six minutes.
Collin Murray-Boyles, Andrew Carr pick up 2nd fouls
02/08/2025 11:35:55 AMCollin Murray-Boyles sure looks like a projected first-round draft pick so far. He’s up to 10 points and 5 rebounds but just headed to the bench after picking up his 2nd foul. Andrew Carr also has two fouls now, but remains on the floor.
5:33 1H – Kentucky 21, South Carolina 16
Back-to-back threes force a SC timeout
02/08/2025 11:26:26 AMNow we’re talking! Things were starting to turn ugly again but Jaxson Robinson and Koby Brea just hit back-to-back threes to put Kentucky up 19-11 and force Lamont Butler to call a timeout. The Cats are on an 11-0 run over the last 4:18 and have made seven of their last nine field goals.
8:24 1H – Kentucky 19, South Carolina 11
This is a look
02/08/2025 11:21:48 AMWould love to know the thought process behind this one.
Koby Brea three gives Kentucky the lead
02/08/2025 11:17:22 AMAfter a very cold start, things have finally picked up a bit. Koby Brea hit Kentucky’s first three of the game to give the Cats a 13-11 lead. Kentucky has hit its last five shots.
11:06 1H – Kentucky 13, South Carolina 11
Score Update: 15:18 1H – South Carolina 4, Kentucky 2
02/08/2025 11:09:29 AMIt hasn’t gotten any prettier. At the first media timeout, South Carolina leads Kentucky 4-2. The Cats are just 1-9 from the field to start things off, the Gamecocks 2-7. Koby Brea is on the floor, maybe he can heat things up…
Rupp Arena is happy to have Lamont Butler back
02/08/2025 11:08:35 AMHow happy is BBN to have Lamont Butler back on the floor? Listen to the pop he got during the introductions.
Otega Oweh finally gets Kentucky on the board
02/08/2025 11:07:50 AMBoth teams are off to a very cold start so far. The Cats are 1-7 from the floor, with Otega Oweh finally getting Kentucky on the board at the 17:02 mark. South Carolina’s only points are off a questionable goaltending call, which will be reviewed during the first media timeout. Brandon Garrison is the first sub off the bench.
16:49 1H – Kentucky 2, South Carolina 2
Today’s officials…
02/08/2025 10:49:42 AM…are Jeb Hartness, Olandis Poole, and Patrick Evans. Here’s Kentucky’s record in games called by each this season:
Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler will both START
02/08/2025 10:45:07 AMIt’s confirmed: Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler aren’t just playing, they’re starting. Here’s the complete lineup, which still has Ansley Almonor in Andrew Carr’s usual spot.
01 Lamont Butler
02 Jaxson Robinson
00 Otega Oweh
15 Ansley Almonor
22 Amari Williams
Pope on how he’s challenging his guys on defense
02/08/2025 10:41:21 AMAfter Tuesday night, defense is an obvious area of improvement. Pope shared some specifics on how they’ll be changing things up on defense today.
“We’d like to have some presence on the ball. And it’s not presence on the ball, three-quarter, half court but we’d like to have a confident zone vibe, where every catch inside the three-point line is really challenged, where maybe we’re a little bit more aggressive bringing to the ball and the post and on ball screens, and where guys have more urgency in their rotations, getting to the catch. And we just have to find some way to force some discomfort on the offense without giving up easy stuff. And so striking that balance. We don’t want to go straight overkill, but striking that balance is really important.
Mark Pope says both Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson are game-time decisions
02/08/2025 10:27:17 AMDuring his pregame conversation with Tom Leach, Mark Pope gave updates on Lamont Butler (shoulder) and Jaxson Robinson (wrist). Although Butler was not on the final SEC Availability Report, meaning he’s available, Pope said both he and Robinson are considered game-time decisions.
“Jaxson took a shot to his wrist yesterday, a pretty heavy collision so he’s going to warm up and see what he can do. Imaging was clean but a little scary last night and he’s been treating it kind of nonstop since and we’ll see what he can do. Lamont is in that space where we’re probably going to make a game-time decision on him based on how he is in warm-ups.”
Pope also said Andrew Carr (back) continues to improve. Carr played 23 minutes vs. Ole Miss, finishing with 10 points and 4 rebounds.
“He’s had some soreness come and go a little bit but he’s finding his way back. I thought he looked more like himself at Ole Miss offensively. Defensively, that’s going to be the part that the back, you know, he’ll get better every day. He’s working so hard and our performance team is working hard and he’ll continue to get better.”
Kentucky still on the 4-seed line in Bracketology
02/08/2025 10:14:12 AMToday is the first of two Quad 3 games left on Kentucky’s schedule. That makes it even more a must-win for the Cats with March Madness just around the corner. Coming into today, Joe Lunardi still has Kentucky on the No. 4 seed line (No. 15 overall), but said he’ll drop them if the Cats lose to the Gamecocks.
Jaxson Robinson is arming up with his right shooting wrist taped
02/08/2025 09:44:20 AMThe Cats already got good news with Butler returning to the lineup after a three-game absence. How about more good news? Jaxson Robinson is on the floor and currently warming up ahead of UK vs. USC — a sign he could give it a go this afternoon.
The bad news? It’s his right shooting wrist, which is currently taped up as he gets shots up at Rupp Arena. He’s hitting shots and moving comfortably now, but his first couple of attempts were clearly tight as he knocked the rust off trying to get loose.
We’ll get official confirmation from Mark Pope shortly whether he’ll play or not, but he’s warming up like a guy ready to suit up for the Cats.
Lamont Butler is good to go
02/08/2025 09:41:44 AMShortly after being removed from the injury report, Butler was the first player out on the floor for the Cats ahead of the matchup vs. South Carolina. He was favoring his shoulder, but is going to give it his best shot against the Gamecocks after missing three games, last suiting up at Vanderbilt on Jan. 25.
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