LIVE BLOG: Kentucky vs. Gonzaga
Kentucky took its first loss of the season at Clemson on Tuesday. Can they bounce back in a late-night top-ten showdown? KSR’s LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Climate Pledge Arena as No. 4 Kentucky takes on No. 7 Gonzaga (10 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
Gonzaga is 7-1 this season, the lone loss being in overtime to West Virginia in the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Bulldogs sport wins over Baylor, Arizona State, and Indiana and are No. 5 nationally in scoring (90.4 points per game), four spots behind Kentucky at No. 1 (92.9). They also limit teams to just 66.1 points per game and 24.5% from the three-point line. This is the third game in a six-year series between the two schools, with Gonzaga winning the first two at Spokane Arena (88-72) and Rupp Arena (89-85).
Refresh the feed below for updates and our takes on the game, from both Seattle 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).
Mark Pope gives KSR a shoutout in the postgame presser
12/08/2024 12:03:39 AMAs if we needed another reason to love him.
Victory photos
12/07/2024 11:51:13 PMI can never get enough of them. You can hear “Go Big Blue” chants in the background of Goose Givens’ interview with Otega Oweh.
KSR LIVE BLOG Text Machine is HAPPY
12/07/2024 11:43:13 PMThere were some skeptics at halftime, but after Kentucky clawed back from a 16-point deficit to beat No. 7 Gonzaga in overtime, we are all believers once again. The text machine is happy.
FINAL: Kentucky 90, Gonzaga 89 OT
12/07/2024 11:37:13 PMThat. Just. Happened. The Cats outlasted Gonzaga in an instant classic winning the Battle in Seattle 90-89 in overtime. We’ll be pumping out content from this one until dawn. GO CATS!!!!
Jaxson hits a clutch bucket, so does Hickman
12/07/2024 11:30:31 PMWe’re trading clutch buckets. Jaxson Robinson hit a huge shot to put Kentucky up four, but Nolan Hickman followed it up with a three. It’s Kentucky 90, Gonzaga 89 with 4.3 seconds left.
Breathe…
Score Update: 32.9 OT – Kentucky 88, Gonzaga 86
12/07/2024 11:28:32 PMKoby Brea picked up his fourth foul, and after Ike hit one of two, Mark Pope called a timeout with 32.9 left on the clock, 20 on the shot clock. The Cats have the possession arrow.
More national praise for the Cats
12/07/2024 11:26:21 PMWe’re still in a timeout, so I’ll share more tweets from some national writers enjoying this awesome game.
Score Update: 1:09 OT – Kentucky 88, Gonzaga 85
12/07/2024 11:23:50 PMAndrew Carr is putting his team on his back inside, hitting a jumper to push Kentucky’s lead back to three with 1:09 to go. He has a team-high 17 points.
KSBar is excited:
Nembhard hits a three to pull Gonzaga within one
12/07/2024 11:21:29 PMRyan Nembhard isn’t going away quietly. He just drained a huge three to pull Gonzaga within one, 86-85 with 1:34 to go.
Score Update: 2:48 OT – Kentucky 86, Gonzaga 79
12/07/2024 11:20:15 PMKentucky’s starting to pull away from the Zags in overtime. Otega Oweh just hit one of two free throws to extend the lead to seven.
Score Update: 4:06 OT – Kentucky 83, Gonzaga 79
12/07/2024 11:15:15 PMThe Cats are the aggressors so far in overtime! Dunks by Otega Oweh and Amari Williams have Kentucky on top of Gonzaga by four with four minutes left to go, 83-79. Shoutout to Jaxson Robinson for some impressive point guard play.
We can hear those “Go Big Blue” chants loud and clear!
We’re going to overtime
12/07/2024 11:11:07 PMOtega Oweh drove the lane and had a good look but it was blocked. Koby Brea grabbed the rebound but his jumper wouldn’t fall. As Aaron Flener would say, it’s time for free basketball.
Still tied with 24.5 seconds to go!
12/07/2024 11:08:57 PMMark Pope just called a timeout with 24.5 seconds to go. Cats have the ball. What will Pope draw up?
ANDREW CARR TIES THE GAME
12/07/2024 11:06:10 PMWe’ve got a tie ball game, folks! Andrew Carr just tied things up at 79 with a gorgeous stepback jumper. 58.1 seconds to go. This is bonkers.
1-POINT GAME
12/07/2024 11:02:46 PMA CLUTCH bucket by Jaxson Robinson makes it a one-point game, Kentucky trailing Gonzaga 78-71 with 1:29 to go. What a huge response. Robinson is up to 16 points.
Score Update: 2:54 2H – Gonzaga 76, Kentucky 71
12/07/2024 10:57:41 PMIt’s a back-and-forth battle. At the final media timeout, Gonzaga leads by five, 76-71. Andrew Carr is back in with four fouls and is playing fantastic, throwing down a big dunk. Jaxson Robinson’s long two attempt took a wild bounce and fell back in to cut Gonzaga’s lead to three but Khalif Battle responded with a bucket of his own to push it back to five.
For the second game in a row, Kentucky has battled back after a poor first half, but it may be too little too late…
Score Update: 5:57 2H Gonzaga 67, Kentucky 65
12/07/2024 10:53:11 PMTwo free throws by Ansley Almonor has Gonzaga’s lead down to two with just under six minutes to go. The fouls are starting to mount, though, 18 on Kentucky and 11 on Gonzaga.
Andrew Carr picks up his 4th foul
12/07/2024 10:50:04 PMGood news: Andrew Carr is playing great. He’s up to 15 points and just threw down a big dunk. Bad news: he just picked up his fourth foul. Ben Gregg hit one of two free throws to make it Gonzaga 66, Kentucky 61 with 6:35 to go…
Kerr Kriisa is cramping
12/07/2024 10:42:33 PMKerr Kriisa just went down with a cramp and is receiving treatment on bench. Somebody get the pickle juice.
Gonzaga 65, Kentucky 59, 8:41 2H
Kerr Kriisa is pumped
12/07/2024 10:37:42 PMCan Kerr bottle some of that energy up for us to use tomorrow morning?
ESPN seems to have forgotten about Kentucky’s win vs. Duke
12/07/2024 10:36:15 PMThe Worldwide Leader needs to check their facts or risk the wrath of an angry BBN.
National love for the Cats’ second-half fight
12/07/2024 10:32:15 PMI shared the criticism Kentucky faced after a rough first half so it’s only fair to share the praise the Cats are getting for an inspired start to the second half. Kentucky is on a 16-2 run over the last 6:31.
KOBY BREA THREE!!!!!
12/07/2024 10:29:52 PMThere’s the Koby Brea three we needed! Brea finally connected from the outside, sinking a three to make it 58-55 Gonzaga. Brea just picked up a foul trying to block a shot but you love to see the fight this group is showing.
Kentucky trails by three with 11:25 to go…
Score Update: 14:49 2H – Gonzaga 56, Kentucky 52
12/07/2024 10:26:00 PMWe’ve got a two-possession game, folks. The Cats are on a 13-0 run to cut Gonzaga’s lead to four, 56-52.
This pass from Kerr Kriisa to Andrew Carr for the score was awesome.
Gonzaga fans are having too much fun
12/07/2024 10:21:24 PMBig Blue Nation traveled, but Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle is Gonzaga’s house so far, and they’re having all the fun tonight. From the start, the Zags have controlled the game and the energy in the building, drowning out any pro-UK chants and cheers from the audience. There is still a lot of basketball left, so maybe things turn around for the better. But as I write you, this is all Gonzaga and the Bulldogs are loving it.
It doesn’t help that the KSR crew is watching this game from the Space Needle.
Score Update: 16:43 2H – Gonzaga 56, Kentucky 46
12/07/2024 10:17:10 PMHere come the adjustments. Kentucky is on a 7-0 run to pull within ten. The Cats are also playing a zone. ::eyeball emoji::
Text Machine has thoughts
12/07/2024 10:14:32 PMThe KSR LIVE BLOG Text Machine has been pretty quiet up until tonight. With the Cats trailing the Zags by a big margin, it is lighting up. Here are a few takes. You can share yours by texting 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).
Where is the fight?
12/07/2024 10:07:19 PMIt was nonexistent in the first half. Gonzaga bullied its way right through the ‘Cats. They dominated on the glass and in the paint. It was men against boys. Kentucky showed the ability to bounce back in the second half against Clemson, but it shouldn’t have to get to that point in the first place. It might be too late for a second half comeback at this stage.
National takes on Kentucky vs. Gonzaga
12/07/2024 09:59:17 PMCollege Basketball Twitter is weighing in on the Cats vs. the Zags and the reviews for Kentucky are not kind.
HALF: Gonzaga 50, Kentucky 34
12/07/2024 09:54:17 PMIt ain’t pretty, folks. Gonzaga leads Kentucky by 16, 50-34 at half. The Cats are shooting just 33% from the floor, 29% from three. Kentucky has no answer for Graham Ike or Ryan Nembhard — or really, any of the Bulldogs, who are shooting 54% from the floor and outrebounding the Cats 25-16.
Just a really disappointing showing from the Cats so far, who are getting pushed around for the second game in a row. Yeah, Lamont Butler is out, but even if he played, I’m not sure if would be enough to slow down the Zags.
Score Update: 0:42 1H – Gonzaga 46, Kentucky 42
12/07/2024 09:51:43 PMThat didn’t last long. Kriisa is back in for Perry.
Travis Perry is now in
12/07/2024 09:49:03 PMTravis Perry is now running point for the Cats. So far, Jaxson Robinson missed a bucket inside and Perry missed a three. Kentucky has missed its last six shots and hasn’t scored in almost four minutes. Meanwhile, Gonzaga’s Graham Ike already has 18 points and 8 rebounds.
Someone want to step up and be the spark? Please?
Score Update: 4:18 1H – Gonzaga 44, Kentucky 32
12/07/2024 09:43:36 PMGonzaga’s lead is up to 12. Some threes from Koby Brea would help, but his last attempt just hit the side of the backboard.
Brandon Garrison picks up a cheap technical
12/07/2024 09:39:13 PMBrandon Garrison just picked up a very cheap technical foul after celebrating an and-one. Completely ridiculous.
In other Garrison news, he hit the first three of his career on Kentucky’s previous possession.
Score Update: 7:42 1H – Gonzaga 30, Kentucky 21
12/07/2024 09:33:33 PMFourth time was the charm on that possession for Kentucky, as Ansley Almonor finally got a three to fall after two missed attempts by him and one by Jaxson Robinson. The Cats are now 3-11 from the three-point line tonight.
Gonzaga now leads by 12…
12/07/2024 09:28:12 PMNot great, Bob. Khalif Battle just threw down a huge dunk to make it 30-18 Gonzaga with 8:58, prompting Mark Pope to call a timeout. This is the most Kentucky has trailed a game at any point this season. The Cats are getting exposed on the defensive end.
Score Update: 11:46 1H – Gonzaga 21, Kentucky 12
12/07/2024 09:22:24 PMGonzaga lead is almost double digits. The Cats are now shooting 4-14 (29%) from the floor, missing eight of their last nine shots. Kentucky has also turned the ball over three times.
Lots of time left (and of course Kentucky is without Butler) but Gonzaga looks like a much better team so far.
Brandon Garrison breaks the drought
12/07/2024 09:20:32 PMA very pretty pass from Jaxson Robinson to Brandon Garrison just broke Kentucky’s scoring drought. Unfortuantely, Garrison turned it over on the next posession. Collin Chandler also just committed a turnover.
Gonzaga 19, Kentucky 12 with 12:02 to go until half.
Score Update: 13:39 – Gonzaga 17, Kentucky 10
12/07/2024 09:19:04 PMIt feels like Gonzaga can’t miss and Kentucky can’t make a shot. The Cats have now missed their last six field goals, making only one of their last nine. They’re 3-11 from the floor. Yuck.
Score Update: 15:44 1H – Gonzaga 11, Kentucky 8
12/07/2024 09:12:02 PMFast-paced and high-scoring game so far. Kentucky sank back-to-back threes to get things rolling but has only made 1 of their last 7 shots. Six lead changes thus far.
Kriisa’s 1,000th career point gets the Cats going.
12/07/2024 09:09:10 PMKentucky needs Kerr Kriisa to play well to win. He started the game with a three, which takes his career point total to 1,000. Congrats, Kerr. Keep shooting.
Here come the Cats
12/07/2024 09:02:49 PMLet’s do it.
Kentucky’s starters vs. Gonzaga
12/07/2024 08:52:39 PMAs we know, Kerr Kriisa will start in Lamont Butler’s place. From there, it’s the usual lineup.
77 Kerr Kriisa
00 Otega Oweh
02 Jaxson Robinson
07 Andrew Carr
22 Amari Williams
You know you’re a Kentucky fan when…
12/07/2024 08:42:54 PM…your name is actually Kentucky. Really.
Reminder that Kerr Kriisa caught a fish with his bare hands yesterday
12/07/2024 08:39:11 PMThe Lamont Butler news is a bummer, but Kerr Kriisa has a huge chance for redemption after a bad outing vs. Clemson. And let us not forget that Kriisa caught a fish with his bare hands yesterday at Pike Place market. Hopefully that kind of control bodes well for tonight.
Pope confirms Lamont Butler is OUT
12/07/2024 08:30:19 PMThe writing was pretty much on the wall, but Mark Pope just confirmed that Lamont Butler (ankle) will NOT play tonight and Kerr Kriisa will get his first start in his place.
“Lamont is out today. The performance team has been working like crazy trying to get him back. Just couldn’t quite get him back healthy where he was able to be on the floor and be explosive. Kerr will start tonight.”
From there, Pope said Jaxson Robinson and Travis Perry will spell Kriisa when he needs a break.
“It’s going to be by committee. Jaxson plays some one. TP will give some time at the one, kind of balance that as we go.”
30 minutes from tip
12/07/2024 08:25:49 PMWe’re inching closer to tipoff. While we wait, here’s a reminder of how you can watch or listen. Plus, a look at Koby Brea’s very pink shoes.
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Television: ESPN2 (Jon Sciambi, Jimmy Dykes)
Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
Online Radio: iHeart
Satellite Radio: Sirius 106 or 190
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Some more pleasant pregame scenes
12/07/2024 08:11:32 PMThe Butler news is not great. According to Matt Jones, the word around the arena is Kerr Kriisa is expected to start with Jaxson Robinson backing him up at point guard.
In other news, the Cats seem to have found their shot in Seattle, at least in warmups.
Lamont Butler appears to be out
12/07/2024 08:06:41 PMButler has joined the team for warmups…but he’s wearing sweats. It looks like Kentucky will be without its starting point guard vs. the No. 7 ‘Zags due to the injury he suffered vs. Clemson. Ugh.
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