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KSR's five best takeaways from Kentucky's win over No. 11 Texas A&M

Jack PIlgrimby:Jack Pilgrim•about 9 hours
TAM-321989
Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio

There was so much to love about yet another top-15 win for the Kentucky Wildcats — a 5-0 start in such games this season. After an ice-cold opening segment, things finally came together and it led to a double-digit victory for the good guys.

What were the best moments from the 81-69 finish inside Rupp Arena to move to 14-3 on the year and 3-1 in the SEC? KSR narrowed it down to five (plus another bonus addition).

Jaxson Robinson proves his breakthrough is real

Kentucky had a nightmarish start, hitting just 1-11 from three to start the game despite earning essentially nothing but clean looks. The shots were there, but nothing was falling — and then Jaxson Robinson woke up to get the party started. His 1-5 start turned into 4-9 from deep going into the break for 15 points on 5-10 overall. That led to yet another 20-point effort coming off his breakthrough performance in Starkville, arguably the best game of his career with 27. He finished with 22 points in this one on 8-17 overall and 5-13 from deep.

Impressive, exactly why you push to bring in a player of his caliber (and the resources that takes) — but not the best part of his night, though.

His greatest impact actually came on the glass, Robinson tying a career high with eight rebounds while adding two assists and zero turnovers in a game-high 33 minutes. There was an intensity and relentless fight, knowing he was going against the top-ranked offensive rebounding team in college basketball and it would take an all-in effort to win that battle. He’s had better scoring performances in his career, but has he had a better all-around night? I’d have to see it to believe it.

Pope doesn’t believe he has.

“I think it’s probably the most well-rounded I’ve seen him play,” he said.

Amari Williams has his best game as a Wildcat

Speaking of rebounding, how about the big fella inside stepping up once again? Williams was very good at Mississippi State, then played even better in the follow-up against Texas A&M. His numbers won’t blow you away, finishing with eight points on 3-6 shooting with 12 rebounds, four assists and three turnovers in 23 minutes, but my goodness, he played like a man possessed with freakish size and physicality — the guy we’ve been waiting all year to see put together a complete game.

Williams turned heads by pointing out “a lot of people tried to say we were soft the past few games” after the win in Starkville, adding “we wanted to change the narrative” and “we did just that.” He talked his talk, then backed it up against a tougher, more physical, higher-ranked opponent just a few days later.

“He looked like a man child on the glass, didn’t he?” Pope said. “My goodness, he was a man on the glass. I was really proud of him tonight.”

Robinson and Williams finding themselves with Kentucky ranked inside the top 10 and 14 conference games to go in the regular season is a dangerous predicament for the rest of the college basketball world.

About those rebounding numbers…

Williams (12) and Robinson (8) were the individual standouts, but the team combined for 40 total rebounds compared to just 30 for the Aggies — 12 below their season average. Digging deeper, the top-ranked offensive rebounding team in the country averaging 17 boards on that end per game finished with just 11 while the Wildcats pulled down 12.

There was a thought that if Kentucky could keep Texas A&M from dominating on the offensive glass, everything else would take care of itself. Down star guard Wade Taylor IV, the Aggies entered the matchup at a serious talent disadvantage with their only shot at pulling off the road win being a bully-ball effort where they out-worked and out-toughed the home team. Instead, the Cats were the hammer, setting the tone as the aggressor in a gritty, lunch-pail victory.

Once considered a weakness, Kentucky has shown some serious fight the past two games — both against top-15 competition — and deserve a ton of credit.

Travis Perry hits pair of triples for career-high

We talked about Perry’s growing confidence as the team’s backup point guard, Lamont Butler and Kerr Kriisa coming together to show him the ropes as he got his feet wet. Drowning in early reps this season, the Eddyville native has officially found his footing, earning buckets in five consecutive games with the latest being a career-high.

Perry entered the day with 12 points on 4-6 shooting in four matchups to go with four rebounds, one assist and one steal in 34 minutes. Tonight, he went for six points on 2-4 from three while adding a steal in 10 minutes.

He missed his first three, then followed it up with two quick (and crucial) makes from deep in the opening segment of the second half to push Kentucky’s lead from five to 12. Texas A&M would cut it to six with seven minutes to go, but the game never really felt in doubt once Perry got hot.

“I definitely felt more comfortable tonight,” Perry said. “I got a little bumped there early and had a couple open shots and hit them. [I’m] definitely getting more comfortable.”

You used to just pray he could hold his own when he checked in, but now, you can expect him to step in and contribute, typically in the form of a 3-point dagger.

“TP, he’s terrific, isn’t he?” Pope said. “… It was big shots, really big shots. Right?  It made us feel a whole lot better.  He’s got no fear.”

Otega Oweh throws down the poster of the year (and keeps his streak)

The junior guard entered the day scoring in double figures every single game as a Wildcat. It was a pretty phenomenal streak, certainly when you factor in this team’s ridiculous schedule and the highs and lows every team faces over the course of a season. No one would blame Oweh if he slipped up once or twice up to this point.

Riding a 15-game streak coming in, though, No. 00 fought through to do it again, hitting four big free throws in the final minute to bring his total to 11 points on the night — got it by a hair. He would finish shooting 2-5 overall and 7-10 at the line while adding four assists, three steals, two rebounds and a block in 28 minutes.

Only two of those points are worth discussing right now, however, because Oweh threw down what may be the dunk of the year and belongs on the list of top posters in recent Kentucky basketball memory.

Losing his defender on a drive from the right wing, he came barreling down the floor and lifted for the one-handed tomahawk slam all over Pharrel Payne. No stuff at the rim on that one.

First, the in-game angle:

Then all of the other angles from UK:

It was the highlight of the night and will undoubtedly be included on the season reel once things wrap up in March (or April, hopefully).

BONUS: Three players got their 1,000-point balls

Ansley Almonor, Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr and Amari Williams all scored 1,000 career points prior to signing with Kentucky, but a trio of others joined the list at various points this season. Jaxson Robinson scored his against Florida while Koby Brea hit the mark against Colgate and Kerr Kriisa joined against Gonzaga — all three being wins.

Those three were finally honored for their career achievements with the Aggies in town, Robinson, Brea and Kriisa all coming out after the game to receive their 1,000-point game balls while being surrounded by teammates.

May be an image of 9 people, people playing basketball and text

That’s what it’s all about. Travis Perry is only 975 points away from getting his.

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2025-01-15